Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1886-07-08
Incidents and Witicisms of the
WaSnesboro Convention.

W ~ hcspplV, uuiiuS lut ldbe Cuu-
venticn, was crowded to over-howing
by the many friends of the candidates
but her good citizens did all they
could to make everything agreeable,
and received therefore the unani-
nous thanks of the delegates, ex-
pressed upon motion in the conven-
ton, for kindnesses and courtesies
extended.
So great was the crowd that many
could not find comfortable sleeping
room, some beds having as many as
three occupants. The big delegate
from Hardin was beded with a bigger
delegate from another county, end
both survived the pressure, and the
he'd held up under its ponderous
burden, being now signalized as hav-
ing borne for night more Demo-
cratic flesh to the square inch than
any bed perhaps in the Union. In
one Of these crowded rooms Tuesday
night were many lying upon the floor
and some were lying standing rn
After the story telling had subsidized
and the story tellers had stretched
themselves upon the floor we were
packed mot quite as thick as Her
rings in box-but still we thought
we were full About this time big
fat delegate from Hickman County
came into the room and sat down
upon the one chair and said not
word although he was known to be
a great talker. Here sat until he
grew sleepy, when some one observ-
ing that he was an old greyish gen.
tleman Of respectable appearance said
to him, "lie here Doctor we will try
to make room for you," he replied
mo. no, keep your places gentlemen,
l esteem it high privilege to even
sit under a roof in place crowded
like this" lie was however persua-
ded to lie down and sleep by the side
Of Gen. Dlbrel, who is candidate
for Governor The next MORNING
the old Doctor good-humoredly re-
marked, swell, General Dihrel there
may be man found in Tennessee
who can beat you for governor, but
I'll swear none can be found who
can beat you snoring.
Although places to sleep were
wanted, we had plenty to eat. Not
wlthstanding hogs were dying rap
idly with cholera; we had some pork,
some beef and an abundance of
chickens. / will not state that the
hogs were dying with fear, or that
the beeves and cattle fed IN dismay
on account of the appearance of this
hungry crowd, but it is an actual
fact that the hogs were dying and
that the milch cows belonging to the
leading hotel ran off on the morning
the convention met and did not re-
turn until it adjourned sine die. !
have thought that if it had been II
Methodist conference maybe the
chickens would have done like the
cows.
The only deplorable incident that
occurred in the convention was the
very sudden death Of the Hon. VIM.
Ballentine-a distinguished gentle
man and a prominent delegate from
Giles. He came into the convention
hale and hearty, fine portly gentle
man, in the prime of his manhood.
At the proper time and in the proper
way he arose and put in nomination,
for chancellor, his friend, A. j. Alb
ernathy, and Immediately after
dropped dead at his chair without
uttcring another word. What pity
he could not live to see the success
of his friend before the convention,
and what a striking proof Of the un-
certainty of life. He was christian
gentleman, and to say he was popu-
lar would not expires the full truth,
for he was greatly beloved by all.
This being so, his sudden death was
terrible shock to the convention
from which it did not soon recover.
1t caused deep gloom to settle over
the convention, which shut out many
of the witicisms so common to such
assemblies. But it is impossible to
entirely repress the fun that natur-
ally grows out of such occasions.
The convention was held ont
doors in the shade of trees; horses
and mules were hitchcd all about,
around which delegates had to get
in too close proximity; and among
the many good things that were
enjoyed at the time and not renem-
bered for newspapers, was motion
that sill the horses and dohkies that
were not delegates be removed from
the convention, which raised the
query as to which of the delegates
were donkies and which were not.
Some of the defeated candidates
might answer now that most Of the
delegates were donkies. When the
owners begal~to remove thelr mules
the cry of "here's your mule" was
heard over the convention, which
was remembrance of war times.
After the first ballot there was
scarsely ever change in the sue
ceeding ballots, until when the clerk
would call for the vote Of u county,
the various county chairmen would
respond "no change" The cry OF
mo change" became so monotonous
as to be really tiresome, and some
delegate said in order to change "no
change" he would move an adjourn
ment for short while. This motion
was made and lost so often, that the
aN- al l. l. Ill