The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1880-05-18

manent organization. At kalfpast two the con
vention adjourned for one hour; but ], was ave
O'Clock before the delegates reassembled, and
then, the committees not being ready to report,
the convention was adjourned until ten o'clock
Thursday
After the adjournment Dennis, witherspeon,
Menard, Wallace, Harmon. and others addressed
the crowd Of delegates, and such residents as had
gathered around, from fhs vcrandas Of the Ar
lington House Menard, Hn his speech, avered
that the Democratic partyFsas one of retrogres-
sion and ecution--thS whenever q Demo
cratic victory was proclain5sd At the North some
Bourbon Democrat at thS South would 20 out
cunning for nigger-that they had been trying
to enact laws detrimental to the colored race
for every chicken or pig they happened to steal,
a habit handed down from alavery-that they
had robbed their children Of the advantages of
education-that the Republican party must win,
and that its fate depended On the Northern ele-
ment along the St. Johns river, together with
the Cuban vote, both ofWh.ch must be secured
to insure success.
Harmon, in the course of his remarks, said
that the Democrats had enacted no laws detri-
mental TO any race-that they didn't need any
laws, but acted independent and in defiance of
all law-that they took away their schools, their
liberty, their life-robbed thousands of Repub-
lcans of their right to vote-that if the Repub-
lican party nominated Devil, they would sup
port and elect him. He was followed by Da-
Costa, of Manatee, an alleged white man.
The sentiments uttered by most Of the speak
ers were Characteristic of party teeming with
fraud, rotten with corruption, rife with misrep-
reservations = party whose platform was of
lbad-faced lies, founded in hatred, malice and
falshood, and one waving aloft, as their chosen
banner, tine bloody shirt"
SECOND DAY
1t was something after 10 o'clock on Thursday
when the convention was again called to order
1t was first moved that Rev. e. Fl. Pearce (col. J
be requested TO offer prayer. The motion was
carried and Mr.. Pearce complied with the re-
quest. Next the committee on credentials offered
a unanimous report. In the cases of the delega-
tions from the counties of Franklin and Monroe,
which had given most trouble and were of
most interest and importance, it was in favor
of JAS. N. Coombs from the former and the
" Wicker delegation" from the latter. A motion
was made to adopt the report. Objections were
urged TO acting upon il ar whole and it was sug
gested that it be taken up by counties-that their
cases be severed and separately acted upon
Here much debate arose and proceedings were
seriously delayed. A good deal of amusement
was afforded, too, to lookers-on. One fellow
wanted it taken up by precincts. Another took q
point of order for Information, and the house
was kept in an uproar for some time. The pre-
vious question was called for and this gave rise
to more discussion and debate. Charges of un-
fairness were made by many, foremost among
whom was Dennis. Elder Pearce got up to
speak but was silenced, and his voice was not
heard again in the convention. Ii appears that
he was proxy TO an alternate, and that that al
ternate was present, which excluded him.
The motion to take up the report by counties
was laid on the table Sy q vote of 80 to Al.
Then followed motions substitutes to motions
and substitutes to substitutes, amendments and
amendments to amendments, motions to lay on
the table, and so forth and 80 on, which con-
sumed much time, and the order maintained
meanwhile was anything but good.
A motion was made by Dennis to allow the
contesting delegations fifteen minutes each in
which to state their cases. Ii was objected to
and laid on the table by vote of S3 to 55.
Cessna seemed to get mad--declared that such
injustice beat Democracy all to smash-wouldn't
vote for man for Governor or anything else
who would be guilty of taking part in such
moved that they be allowed twenty minutes, but
was ruled out OF order.
Next in order was decided entertainment
Mr.. Washington (GeOrgel, "a gentleman from
Alachua," of unquestionabie color and q voice
like fog horn, took possession of the floor i'm
mediately in front of the grand stand, Mr.. Co
nant being temporarily in the chair. Mr.. Wash
ingtOn roared like crocodile in spring, though
no one ever found out the point he was continu-
ally going to make. The house also roared re-
sponsivs from the time he got up until he was
seated perhaps an hour and half. The fire.
quently repeated calls to "pint of order"
only served to lend fuel to the fame-YOlume
to his voice. There might be some there who
considered themselves better informed than he
he wasn't certain about that, but he intended to
give them his views whether they wanted to hear
him or not. Another gentleman would request
him TO yield the floor for q moment. With
withering glance he would wave a dirty hand
kercheif and cigar stump frantically above his
head and thunder mo! mol! no!l!"-didnt
propose to yield to any man in the house Ia
brother delegate, rose to q point of order, and
when asked to state it said make him set down p
Another On pint of order" wanted the
speaker laid under the table. Mr.. Conant kept
insisting that " Mr.. Washington speak louder
louder Mr.. Washington" But there was little
necessity for it, for Mr.. Washington got louder
every minute. When called TO order by the
chair he said of course he would submit to the
ruling of the chair proVided the chair ruled
right!-Roars of laughter followed The chair
man (Mr ConanD finally decided that the per-
formance had lasted long enough and that the
gentleman must take his seat, which he very re-
luctantly consented to do, but did amid deafen-
ing cheers. The whole house was in an uproar
and confusion, the band, occupying portion Of
the grand stand (stage ct Ropers Hal) struck up
lively air, spliniers few from the gavel in the
desperate efforts made by the chairman to restore
order, and he, infuriated, turning to the band
yelled, " stop !-sroP !-G-d d-R that band /!
STOP! eDery d-R one Of yOu PA motion
was made to adjourn but failed to be carried.
When degree Of good order was restored fur
ther discussion ensued concerning the adoption
of the committees report. 1t was, after much
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