National Republican., 1883-07-11
THE COLORED CONVENTION
Douglass and Gregory Both Elected Delegates
10 Louisville.
Charge OF Fraudulent counting-Anothor
Convention Declared In Order.

The colored convention to nominate three
delegates and threo alternates to the national
colorod convention that meets in Louisville
in September next, assembled last night in
Tmms hall. There were sixty-six delegates
present besides alternatos, representing all
tho old legislative districts. A temporary
organization was effected b. elccting Jocn W..
Freeman, chairman, and W. l.. Chase, secre-
tary. It was apparent at n glance that the
convention was divided in two distinct parties,
one favoring the election of Frederick Doug
lass, and the other selecting Prof. Gregory as
its leader. There were some in the con-
ventiou who were undecided in their opinions
and some who, like Herry of tho Wynd, in
the Scotch novel, who fought for their own
bands. There was, as is usual in such
conventions n graat deal of hubbub, but
Upon the whole proliminaries went of har-
monously. The question of credentials was
referred to q committee of one from each dis
trict, and while they were out deliberating
addresses were made by Judge W. j. Whip
per, of South Carolina, Mr.. Anderson, Rev.
Robert Johnson, Mr.. William Chase, and
Prof. Gregory. The convention was wound
up by these speeches, and when the commit
tee came in to report the meeting was "rcd
hot" While the secretary was calling the
roll of members dozen motions were being
made, all to the effect that the delegates take
front seats in the order Of their districts
After roll call Mr.. c. c. Stewart commenced
TO read resolution but the chair sat down
on him heavily and recognized Mr.. Randall
Bowie Mr.. Bowie addressed his fellows as
brothers, generally profacing the title with
on adjective expressive of his opinion of the
brother in question. The chair was his
dearly beloved brother and a delegate who
did not coincide with him was his weak
kneed brother. Mr. Bowie, with q delicious
disregard for the unites of the lanhuage, was
proceeding to eulogizo somebody. He had evi-
IDENTIFY forgotten his name, however, for his
eulogy was drawn out to such length that
sweet as it was the convention attempted to
drown his voice. Mr.. Bowie didn't drown
worth mentioning. The din of sixty men
talking at the top of their voices was pro-
digious, and the gavel of the chairman was in.
cessanty humping the table, but
amid it all Mr. Bowie could be
seen with his head thrown back, his
eyes closed, his mouth open, and his voice
splitting the din as foghorn cleaves the
roar of stormy sea. When the convention
got tired Mr. Bowie calmly continued nomi-
mating candidate for permanent chairman.
Twenty-seven gentlemen then commenced to
speak, all at once, and after fifteen minutes
the convention talked to tho chair and the
chair to the convention. They each seemed
was nip and tuck between them who shonld
come in first Tuck, in the person of the
chairman, seemed to have n little the best of
it, and finally reached the winning post a
little ahead of tho convention. Everything
was so good n*:nredly noisy that it was
hard to i'm, &c you were in a
political conv sntion. Presently there
came lul, and Immediately afterwards a
cyclone of motions and nominations. Finally
Mr.. A. st. A. Smith, who seemed to keep both
his cool Judgment and his knowledge of par
liamentary law, judiciously presented tho
chair and the convention with some tally"
which lulled the rising conflict. In the mo-
ment's quiet that followed the temporary
officers were made permanent, and then the
work of the committee began in dead earnest.
Mr. G. c. Stewart begen to offer u resolution
when the irreprcssiblc Bowie popped up for
the forty-fifth time, and again tho gavcl
beating against the chairman's desk was the
principal sound distinctly heard by the re-
porter. Bowie stuck to his text however like
swapping turtle to drowned dog
and finally tired out tho convention.
Then he said, with deliberate gravity,
81 want to say one word" Taking breath, the
convention hammered away at him again,
but ever and anon, above the tremendous
hubbub, would Mr.. Bowie's thundcrous voice
be heard, like the Excelsior" that floatcd
down from Alpine heights, 81 want to say just
tones read the resolutions, and Bowie, with a
voice that gained in volume with every word,
continued calmly on making his speech.
When the resolutions were finished Mr..
Bowie dotied tho convention TO tell him what
they were. This WAS the last straw that broke
the Camel's back. The convention became in
dignant. 1t was plain that one man was try
ing to break it up, and that he was utterly
reckless. A sergeant-at-arms was appointed
but Mr.. Bowie defed the sergeant-at-arms
He was lequal to any fate. And for while
the convention became disgraceful pande-
monium of yelling and incohercnt men. FL
nally ms things began to look blue for Mr.
Bowie, Mr. st. Clair Burley took him by the
arm and quietly led him to back seat. What
the convention couldn't do Mr. Burley with,
out n word very etlectually did. For the
time being Mr.. Bowie was squelchGd and or
der was restored.
Nominations were then made of Frederick
Douglass, Robert s. Laws, John r.. Johnson
Prof j. NJ. Gregory, II. c. c. Cuny A. st. A
Smith, X. B. Ruflin, w. c. Chase Rev. Robt
Johnson, and w. Il. Matthews. Mr. Smith, in
nominating Mr. Douglass, made an eloquent
speech that raiseth widest enthusiasm among
the friends of Douglass which Mr.. w. X.
Laws seconded Prof. Gregory's nomination
with splendid burst of eloquence
And then, amid successive cyclones Of
noise, initiating and fairly outdoing Bedlam
The hubbub, although out of all reason, was
thoroughly good natured and immeasurably
funny. Mr.. Boston put in nomination man
who he said didn't amount to anything, had
never done anything Of value, and never
would. For that reason he nominated him
and wanted him elected. Mr.. Perry Carson
declined in favor Of Laws and Douglass. Mr..
ii. g. Quincy, as the voting pro
ceeded, developed unusual strength. Mr.
Bowie every now and then came TO the
surface, but Mr.. Burley lowered in his neigh
borhood, and Mr. Bowie was only quietly
sarcastic. Finally the vote was announced
Douglass, 80; Robert H. Laws, 80; j. NJ. Gre,
CORY, 80. The convention then adjourned
with much noise.
Mr., IL. c. Quincy came into THE REPUBLI,
CAN Office later, and claimed that be wa;
elected, having received a larger number o
votes than any one else, and was cheated out
of the election by Perry Carson, j. w. Free,
man, and others. Mr.. Chase said that Mr.
Curey had been cheated out of his election
and that a new election would be called Mr.
A. st. A. Smith, who engineered tho convcn,
tion deserved a better fate than being left at
tho bottom of the list.
Pension SwIndIe.
A clerk in the examiners division of tht
pension bureau, named j. j. Alley and I