Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-07-08


interest, and is now really delectable
spectacle. l.f + Az
CAMPBELL COUNTY.
Special to the Times.
JAoKsBoRo, TENN, July 4.-Yes-
terday the largest mass convention
ever held in this county met here for
the purpose of sending delegates to
the Republican Congressional Con-
vention to be held at Knoxville on
the oath of August next. The only
candidates mentioned in this district
for Congress are the Hon. VIM. Rule,
editor of the Chronicle, and the pres.
ent incumbent, the Hon. i. q. Houk,
and for week past an active canvass
of the entire county has been made by
the friends of both of the above named
candidates. So, early yesterday morn
ing, they began to swarm in from
the valleys. hills and mountains, and
by 10 o'clock the town, usually SO
very quiet, presented an appearance
rivaling the advent OF circus show,
or even a hanging. And an hour be-
fore the time appointed for the assem-
bling of the convention the crowd,
being over ripe for the occasion, with
out call or proclamation, but with
rush, whoop and yell, suddenly
jammed, crammed and crowded into
the lower court room, where a scene
began that de6es description either by
tongue or pen. Captain VIM. Allen
attempted to call the convention to
order, but everybody yelled and
clamored to address the excited assem-
bly,. Finally a vote was taken for
chairman, and each faction claimed a
majority. A division of the house
was attempted, but owing to the
crowd this could not satisfactorily
be done. At last r. d. Per-
kins, Esq, a prominent leader of the
Rule men, by exercising almost super
human lung power succeeded in
getting something like quiet restored,
when various propositions were made
to the Houk men, among which was
to give the Rule party a ratio of rep
vesentation in the Congressional Con-
vention equal to the representation of
that party ia this convention. This
proposition was denied. Then
it was agreed to 60 out of the house
and get division OF the parties to
determine the election of the chairman,
when they filed out and formed lines
in the middle of Main street, and after
considerable delay it was decided that
the Houk men had majority, aud
thereupon they made rush for the
lower courtroom; the Rule men went
into organization and selected full sets
of delegates, instructing them to vote
for the favorites of the respective
factions.
Resolutions were passed by each |
assembly, and speeches Of denunciatory
character could be heard from each |
assembly at the same time. But |
Houk srecord is SO bad, and presents
such good marks for the assailant's
weapons, that it takes all the time of |
his friends to defeat the charges urged |
against him, which come thick and |
fast from the artful Rule. 1t was amid |
wild excitement that the chairman of |
the Houk convention announced that |
an attempt had been recently made |
to assassinate poor Caesar and recent |
illness of the Hon. Houk was caused |
not by drunkenness, as charged |
by Rule, but was the effects of an |
attempt to poison the unfortunate |
Judge.
The grandest surprise to every one
was that Rule had such following
here, as Campbell was always consid |
cred the stronghold of Houkism. And
the Rule men are led by prominent
men of the county, and show zeal
aud determination that speaks the
death to Houk's bossism in this
county.
The fight has begun. We await the
end with impotence.
P. GREEN, ESQ.
The following appears in the Gin
cinnati Commercial:
WASHINGTON, D. c., July 3 -Pri-
vate dispatches received tonight in.
dictate a possible split in the Republi-
can party in the Tennessee district
now represented by Mr.. Houk. The
Loudon county delegates to the dis
trict convention, which is to nominate
Mr.. Houk's successor, we're chosen
to day. Mr.. Houk carried the county
convention, but the friends of his
opponent, VIM. r. Rule, assert that
he did not have a majority Of the del
egates, and threaten that Rule will
run against him as an Independent.
The Tennessee Democrats here are
chuckling over the prospective split,
and intimate that Rule will receive
the Democratic support in that dis
trict. They will, they say, either elect
Rule or their own candidate.