Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-09-06
BURKE COUNTY DEMOCRACY.
A Division In Democratic Ranks
Proceedings of q supplemental
Meeting Called After the Regular
Meeting Had Adj0urned-ApPea
TO Ihe People.

TO ate People Of Burke County: AS COM
mittee appointed by the recent Democratic
mass meeting that was held in Waynesboro
on Saturday, September ID inst, we ubmit
to you the following address:
Several weeks ago the Democratic Execu-
tive Committee of the county met and
passed the following:
"On motion ordered that a mass meeting
be called to meet at Waynesboro on Satur-
day, September ID, 1882, to send delegates
to the Congressional and Senatorial Con-
Ventlons and to pass upon the question of
nominating candidates for the Legislature
and mode of nomination.
"Ordered that the proceedings be pub
ished In the WsYnesbOro Herald.
"RANDoLPH RIDGELEY, Chairman.
81. h. MACKENZIE, Secretary.
" "WdqneSbOrO, Ga, July 1871, 1882"
The foregoing resolution was duly pub
lshed, and in response to the call large
number OF the Democrats of the county,
recognizing the right to be called together,
came TO Waynesboro on the day mentioned
for The purposes stated In the published an
nouucement.
Before the meeting had fully assembled
Hon. II. Il. Perry, on motion of Hon. J. j.
Jones, was selected as Chairman. After
the organic alton, and before SnY motions
were offered, it was stated that the name of
Hon. E. A. Perkins would not be before the
body for the purpose of securing delegates
TO the Senatorial Convention favorable to
his nomination, although he was satisfied
that majority Of those present were favora-
BILE to him, his refusal to allow his name to
be used being in the interest Of perfect har-
mony.
Immediately after this, Hon. J. ]. Jones,
standing on one side of the hall, stated
that he saw persons present who in the past
had refused to abide the action of conven-
dons; but when called upon to do so, he
declined to give any names, but requested
all who favored a nomination, and who
would abide the action of the con-
Vention, to cross over on his side,
whereupon a small minority of those
present arranged Itself on his side of
the house. 1t will be borne in mind that
this was not In the shape OF a mo-
tion made, seconded and put to q vote At
this point strong and earnest appeals were
made for harmony and for O little time in
which to dispassiOnately discuss the matter
for which the meeting was called. The
Chairman, however, stated that the time
had come for the chair to declare which
side he would recognize as the Democratic
party OF the county, and that It would re-
to Mr.. Jones. The Chairman positively
refused to put any, motions emanating
from the majority of the convention, hav-
ing first decided that the minority, and the
minority was about One-fourth OF those
present, constituted the Democratic party.
The motions of Mr.. Jones were then
put in rapid succession and declared car
ried, the votes OF the majority not being
recognized or counted in any waY whatever
The minority splaptp6 6nlarataa IN tho Hop-
gresslonal and Senatorial Conventions, and
also the names Of three gentlemen as candi-
dates for the Legislature from this county,
and then declared an adjournment, and
most OF them left the hall. The majority
then selected Hon. G. o. Warnock as Chair
man and proceeded to act in accordance
with the objects of the meeting, and select
ed delegates to the Congressional and Sen
atorial CoventiOns, and passed resolution
that it was inexpedienJ to make nomina-
tiOns for members of the Legislature, aud q
committee Of three, composed of w. A.
wilkins, I. j. McElmurrY and 7. s. Blanch-
ard, was appointed to prepare and issue an
address to the people.
We deem the foregoing statement of the
facts necessary to clear understanding of
the situation by those who were absent and
did not participate In the meeting, and
submit the following for your careful con-
sideration: First, the meeting was in
obedience to the call of the Executive Com
mittee OF the county, made through its
Chairman, and the fact that the members
OF the convention recognized the right to
be thus called together attested their al
legiance to the party. The fact that the
majority OF the convention selected dele
gates to the Congressional and Senatorial
Conventions is proof positive that they
recognize the necessity for party organiZa-
tiOn and desire that the nominees of these
conventions should be elected. 1t is true
that upon the question of whether nomina-
tiOns for members to the Legislature should
be made there was division OF sentiment.
By reference, however, to the foregoing
call Of the Chairman, 1t will be seen that the
decision Of that question was left to the
Democrats In mass meeting assembled.
mating candidates for the Legislature
and the mode of nomination"
is the language of the published
call. The Executive Committee having
failed to even determine whether nomina-
tions should be made, but instead thereof
stating in unmistakable terms that the matter
should be determined by the people in mass
meeting, was not that one of the questions
to be decided, and must the fact that the
majority decided not to have nominations
be evidence of faithlessness to Democratic
principles The Executive Committee in
submitting that question to the people vir-
tually said that majority on that question
must control.
The minority of the convention did not
even determine first among themselves the
question Of making q nomination, and,
secondly, II one should be made, what
mode should be adopted, but simply pre-
sented the names of three gentlemen for
your suffrage. The meeting was not called
to nominate, but to say whether nomina-
tions should be made. Hence it will be
readily seen that the minority failed to act
In keeping with the call, while the majority,
by its resolution, determined the question
for which the meeting was called.
There is, therefore, no nominated ticket
for members to the Legislature, and no gen.
tlemen can claim yourt support as the nomi-
nees OF the party unless the undemocratic
idea OF minorities governing msjorities is to
be made the test of party fealty.
By what power or authority did the Chair
man say that he would not recognize the
majority? Why was not the proposition of
Mr.. Jones made before any Organization of
the meeting was perfected? 1t was simply
proposition, not motion.
The majority have decided that 1t is mex
pedient to make nominations at this time,
and we confidently feel that such decision
meets the hearty approval of the Democrats
of our county. Must one-fourth say to
three-fourths, you must follow our dictates
and do our bidding, or your Democracy Will
not be genuine? Does unsdulterated
Democracy consist In which side of the hall
you occupy ?
1--WE appeal to you as Democrats to main
tain your allegiance to the grand principles
of our honOred party, and to earnestly and
zealously work for the triumphant election
of its nominees, but we also urge you to re-
buke that spirit which says minorities are
clothed with all power and only with them
is lodged the keeping of pure Democracy.
W. A. WILKINS.
T. j. MCELLMURRY.
T. 8. BLANCHARD.
Chinese Travellers.