The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1894-08-03
alNIaAL nuLLockl pusLIc cAassa.


- ne Ndllos 81 he nanneFs
closed my last article upon 0ener-
Al nullock's public career with a prom
Sc 20 resume II for the benefit Of those
who have come 10 the state In the last
flfleen or twenty years Upon the adj
vent Of carpet bae rule 10 1868 when
General Bullock laid down the official
trust he had - accepIabIy discharged
under the johnson reconstruction
aud which formed an important part
u my last communication.
The General resumed the practice Of
law In connection with farming, Civ
Ing gFras deal Of time 20 efforts to
protect the people from The vandalism
~ their alien rulers. at all times en-
couragsng the people TO stand firm and
The day Of redemption would come In
40 other way than by persistent and
united aston. The people were terri
bis delnorallzrd anc some of the best
citizens gave up In despair and refused
10 qualify BY registration that they
might aid by shelr vote In throwing Off
carpet bag rule. Bullock never ceased
or ALTERED Ia his efforts to encourage
and unite the people, and without ex-
peclion OF aspiration for Office. The
first great effort to defeat radical rule
was made In 1872.
A largely attended convention as
sombled In jacksonville Ia August Of
1872, when B'oxham, very popular
and magnetic young man was nomi-
mated for governor and General Bull
lock for lieutenant governor. Bullock
bad not been previously spoken Of to
any extent and 1t was understood that
he would not be q candidate, but If
candidate at ell he was advocated by
some for congress, but this nomina-
ton was given 10 silas Niblack.
When the convention commenced
nominating candidates for lieutenant
governor, TO the surprise OF Bullock
and his friends a stranger delegate put
Bullock In nomination. Bullock
promptly Announced that he was not
and could not be candidate and
withdrew his name; this was done
three consecutive times, Bullock, at
each, Withdrawing his name, declar-
Ing he could not accept the nominal
ton and gave as q reason that he was
poor man with large family, then
engaged In planting cotton largely
with hired freedmen, and he could
not afford 10 make the sacrifice neces-
aarily involved II he should leave his
business at that season OF the year.
The convention was perplexed 10 get
q candidate suited for that position,
and finally appointed committee to
walt upon Bullock and insist upon
his acceptance. The general reitera-
ted his circumstances 20 the commit
Zee and begged TO be spared the sacri-
nee. The committee persisted and
reminded the general that the times
were such a. 10 demand sacrifices in
the interest Of the common welfare
and that II was his patriotic duty 10
accept. The general could not stand
out against an appeal to patriotic duty
aud he responded promptly In the
memorable words; "Iet the sacrifice
be made,p and when his assent to "let
the sacrifice be maden reached the
committee he was, as / remember,
unanimously nominated, and he made
the sacrifice. He entered the canvass
when Il opened, furnished his own
conveyance, (no railroads In those
days south Of Jacksonvllle) paid his
own expenses and canvassed great
portion Of the state and was absent
from his home except few days till
the day Of election, his interest suffer-
Ing very greatly As everybody knows
who remembers what vigilance it re-
qulred 10 look after cotton growing.
The general has frequently told me
that his losses Of that canvass directly
aud indirectly were very little short
Of two thousand dollars, and am
surprised they were so small, knowing
the circumstances rs did. The
whole ticket was defeated but Bullock
made The reputation Of being one Of
the best stump orators in the state.
Think about what you are doing DEM
ocrats Of Marion county when you are
slapplng old Bob Bullork in the face.
Politically the people are not forgetful
or ungralefnI.
Bullock again returned to his farm
greatly improved In reputation but
terribly worsted in pocket, but he had
discharged noble, patriotic duty.
During the session Of the legislature
In 1873 when Chas. w. Jores was
elected to the United States senate,
Bullock went 10 the legislature as a
citizen TO assist In the election OF
democratic senator. The legislature
stood about equally as to republicans
and democrats, with three indepen-
dents holding the balance Of power,
the votes Of any two Of which with
either party concentrated on candi-
date. elected senator. The struggle
was long and exhausted nearly every
prominent democrat In the state who
was regarded as at all available was
Tried and failed. Bullock did not 60
there except to work for the election
Of democratic senator and SO unset
ilshly did he devote himself to this
duty hat the democratic members of
the leglslatsife became attracted to
hin and he was brought forward and
was the first aud Only democrat who
had on ilrst ballot received q unani-
nous caucus nomination. This oc-
Cured on Saturday nlChf and al H.