The Albany news. (Albany, Ga.) 186?-1880, August 19, 1880, Image 1

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OLD SERIES—Vol. 37. > ALBANY, GEORGIA, THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 1880. <! NEW SERIES—Yol. 14, No. 52. TEAT I All ITILI IBAB«VABTEBS WIIMSW’GMAHB The Minority’s Action. r,abn,thmtl czury a splendid Mock of General Merchandise, Fine Liquor*, Tobaccos, Cigars, etc. ^ on ia*j«k» mj goods before baying elsewhere. ▼«y 'HEMS. LAWYERS Z. J. 0D0H* ATTORNEY AT LAW, ALBANY, OA. JESSE W. WALTERS. W. T. JOKES. JONES ft VALTERS, Attorneys at Law, ALBANY. GA. r Centra.' Railroad Bank. Lott Warr en, ATTORNEY AT LAW, ;aleant, oa. DOCTORS- Dra. Holmes & DeMoss, Bcnzm ALBANY, i Office, Washington may 2,1879-ly HV. A. STROTHER, If. D. ALBANY. GEORGIA. OSes over GiMs Dre Store. ^JMentenlca at the Drag Scot* will rooeijrofTOBj* Dr. E. W. ALFRIENP, UKSPBCTFOLLT tender, hi. .ervices.'ln there. Xb rim branches ol bio pratarioti, to UieeJtlren. m Albany ondoorroandlngcoanlry. Office oppcnll* Coait Hoaoo. os Pine street. HOTELS The Old Reliable BARNES HOUSE, n>e SI., llkiij, Cs„ THE JOHNSON HOUSE, 8MITHVIH.E. GA. I* the place to stop and get a GOOD, SQUARE MEAL. PI MARKET SQUARE, SAVAinVAB, GA. Rates $1 AO to $2.00 per day, according to location of rooms. JOSEPH HERSCHBACH, April 20, 1880—ly. PROPRIETOR J. W. JOINER, WATCHMAKER and JEWELER LOCATED AT W. fl. Gilbert, Ag’t, & Co., BROAD STREET. J AND JEWELRY! STOCK COMPLETE ! Kbpairixo a Specialty ! MfCaMcu solicited. Fob 10, 1100-161 aov 23. To the people of the State of Geor gia : The Gubernatorial convention which assembled here, under a call of the State Democratic Executive Com mittee, oa the 4th insL, aa you well know, tailed to mako a nomination of a candidate for the office of Governor. The dutiea imposed upon the conven tion were to nominate a Governor, State House officers, and Presidential electors. All the duties were perform ed except that of nominating a Gover nor. Before the convention there were four candidates other than Governor Colquitt, vix: Hons. Rufus K. Lester, Thomas Hardeman, Jr, General L. .1. Gartrel! and Judge Hiram Warner. It was apparent upon the assembling of the convention that there was a majori ty for Alfred H. Colquitt How that majority was attained is well known to you. While all the other candidates remained at home except Colonel Har deman and Gen. Gartrell, each of whom made a few speeches during the canvass,' Governor Colquitt took the stump, and aided by his friends, can vassed the Stale at large. By appealing to the people on the ground that he was persecuted for religion's sake, and the hearing being exparte, he succeeded in getting a majority of the delegates to the convention. We will not pause at this moment to show the utter fallacy of the position taken that t e was perse cuted, bat will content ourselves by simply referring to the fact that in 1876, the minority delegates in the late con vention and their constituencies over the State who were so bitterly opposed to Governor Colquitt's administration, unanimously assisted in electing him by a majority of 80,000 votes. Nothing was then said about his religion, and nothing has been said since then except by a few individuals scattered through out the State, who have made reference to the fact that he has too frequently left his office to attend religious meet ings in the South and in the North. The true issue before the people then and now, which is the incompetcncy of the executive and the scandals which have grown out of his official acts dur ing his administration, was not discuss ed in that canvass. By earnest and personal appeals to friends throughout the State that majority in the conven tion was obtained. We believe that it was not a fair expression of your opin ion, and yet, though so believing, if Governor Colquitt could have obtained a two-thirds vote of that convention, the minority representing the four oth er candidates named above, pledged themselves upon the floor of the con vention that they would not only abide by the nomination, bat would support him at the polls. On the assembling of the convention. General P. M. B. Young, a delegate from Bartow, in advance of the report of the committee on rules, announced on the floor of the convention, as the friend of Governor Colquitt, that the majority desired the adoption of the two-thirds rule for nomination, and that he was authorized to say it was Governor Colquitt's wish that it should be adopted, and that Governor Colquitt would not accept a nomination unless it was made by a two-thirds vote. The committee then reported the following rules among others, and the convention, without debate, adopted it as the law of the convention: '1. No vote shall be counted for any person whose name has not been pre viously placed in nomination as a can didate for the office voted for. * 2. No name shall be placed in nomi nation for State office, unless the dele gate proposing shall state in his place that he has the authority of gentleman proposed so to do." On the first ballot for Governor Thursday, Governor Colquitt received 208 votes. During Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Monday and Tuesday thirty- two ballots were had, and from the first to the thirty-first ballot, Governor Col quitt’s vote fluctuated between 205 and 212 and a fraction. The last ballot, which was had under peculiar circum stances, which we will hereafter nar rate, gave him 210 and a fraction, as reported by the clerk, though the mi nority claim that there was an error in the count in his favor. You will observe that one of the above rules of the convention, and which were strenuously objected to by all the opposition to Governor Colquitt, the convention wag limited in its ballot ing to a choice of one of the five gen tlemen first named for Gouernor. These rules were, of course adopted by a majority vote, and that majority were the friends of Governor Colquitt. Their object in adopting that restrictive rule was clearly to compel the minority in the end to accept Governor Colqnitt or nobody. They believed they would and could thereby force the minority to abandon their convictions of right and doty to accept a candidate whom the minority opposed on principle. The minority saw their purpose, as the sequel proved, and solemnly resolved that, as freemen charged with a high trust by you, they would never surren der so long as they were denied the right which Delongs to every freeman in America, to cast his ballot for any man he may prefer. That undemocrat ic tyrannical rule enforced the gag law and denied to the minority who oppos ed Governor Colquitt freedom of the ballot—a right which, even under Bul lock's administration, was never denied to a citizen of this State. On the second day of the balloting Dr. H. H. Carlton, a delegate from the county of Clarke, presented to the con vention the following list of names of distinguished gentlemen in the State, every one of whom you will recognize at sight of his name, to be a man of the highest character and in every way fit for the office of Governor: General Lawson, T. N. Norwood, J. C. C Black, M. H. Blandford, M. .1. Crawford, Clif ford Anderson, .lames Jackson, George Hillycr, H. I). McDaniel, A. J. McIn tyre, M. A. Candler, John I. Hall, T. G. Lawson, A- H. Stephens, General Jack son, J. B. Camming, J. M. Smith, P. W. Alexander, A. O. Bacon, H. G. Turner, Aug. Rccsc, G. T. Barnes, W. H Dsb ncy, A. D. Hammond, D. K. Butler. R. P. Trippe, Dr. Miller, N. J. Hammond, J. Blount, and stated to the majority that the minority were willingto accept any gentleman whose name was on tlm list, and vote for him unanimously; or for any other man in the State whom the majority would agree upon. This proposition was repeated times without number during the balloting for Gover nor, and every time met by jeers and laughs from the majority. On Friday Hon Patrick Walsh, of Richmond, the general spokesman of the Governor, made a speech in which he declared that the majority had come there "to nomi nate Alfred 11. Colquitt and nobody else!" On Saturday the minority, through Dr. Carlton, offered the major ity the name of Hon. Alexander II. Stephens, with the declaration that if acceptable to tho majority the minority would vote foi him unanimously. This proposition was met by the derisive question, “by what authority is the name of Mr. Sctcphcns presented to this body ?" and no further notice of the offer was taken by the majority, ex cept the cry of “ballot!” Again on Saturday. Mr. lteid, a dele gate from Putnam, who was earnestly patriotic and deprecated the possibility of adjournment without a nomination, pu* in nomination Judge T. G. Law- son, of Putnam county, as a com promise candidate. He did so with the assurance of the minority that if Judge Lawson should secure such a vote from the adherents of Governor Colquitt as to raise a hope of his nom ination, the minority would change their votes to him. The ballot result ed in only 2?£ votes actually cast for Judge Lawson. On Monday Mr. Imboden, a delegate from Lumpkin, and a supporter of Colonel Lester, made tho proposition to the majority that they might name any sufferable man in the State of Georgia and the minority would accept him unanimously. Again on Saturday a proposition was made by the minority to raise a confer ence committee, in which there should be a majority of the friends of Govern or Colquitt for the purpise of agrecii.g npon a name to be presented to the con vention. This proposition slso was met hy laughter and cries of “ballot!” On Monday and on Tuesday this prop osition was repeatedly renewed and every effort made to induce the major ity to consent to a nomination of some one else than either of the candidates before the convention. All these efforts were met by a reso lution offered in the convention Tues day morning by the Hon. Patrick Walsh, which was as follows: "Resolved, 1. That the Democratic party of Georgia, in convention assem bled, hereby renew its expression of devotion to the great principles of the Democratic party of the union, and pledges the united and enthusiastic sup port of the Democracy of Georgia to General Winfield S. Hancock and the Hon. William U. English, the nominees of the Cincinnati convention. “2. Whereas, after a long and tedious session of this convention and a contin uous balloting, it appears that no nom ination of a candidate for Governor can be made under the two-thirds rule. "Therefore be itresolvcd, That this convention recommend to the people of Georgia General A. H. Colquitt as the Democratic candidate for Governor of Georgia at the ensuing election, pro vided that this resolution does not go into effect until three ballots shall have been taken under the two-thirds rulo and it is demonstrated that no nomina tion can be effected thereby. “3. Resolved. That a committee of nine, consisting of one from each Con gressional District, be appointed by the Chair to notify Governor Colquitt of the action of this convention and re quest his acceptance.” Upon this resolution the majority called the previous question, thus pre venting all discussion, and it was adopt ed against tho protest of the minority by a strictly majority vote, excepting the votes of Colquitt delegates from two or three counties who were unwil ling for the convention to adjourn with out a nomination. That resolution of recommendation was adopted on Tuesday afternoon. On Wednesday morning the electors and State officers were nominated, and the work of the convention, except the nomination of a candidate for Governor, was finished. The majority, instead of adjourning sine die, took a recess until 3 p. m. This object was a caucus se cret, and was unknown by even some of the Colquitt delegates. The minori ty supposed and hoped their purpose was to rescind the resolution of recoin ■ mendation and to resume the ballot for Governor; but after the adoption of the usual complimentary resolutions, a Col quitt delegate moved an anjoiinnnent sine die, which the minority opposed and demanded a call of the counties on the vote. Every delegate of the minor ity voted against adjournment and all the Colquitt delegates voted for it ex cept about ten. After the vote on ad journment was taken and before the chaiV announced the result the dele gates from Harris county changed their four votes to Governor Colquitt, which, added to the last ballot for Governor taken the day before, gave Governor Colquitt 223 votes. These facts are stated that you may understand under what pressure that number of votes was obtained. The object of the recess till 3 p. in. was not to give the convention an opportunity to ballot again for Gov. ernor, but it was, as wc afterwards heard, to have time to learn if the mi nority were intimidated by the pros pect of adjournment without a nomina tion for Governor, and with the hope that they would cravenly surrender to the one-man' power and tyranny, which from first to last, subjugated that con vention. We have thus laid before you in de tail the actions of the Colquitt delegates and the various offers of the minority for a compromise and to preserve har mony and the organization of the Dem ocratic party, that yon may judge who are to blame for the schism produced by tho failure to make a nomination for Governor. We, speaking for tho mi nority, wero not sent to the convention as the tools or slaves of any man. We came as representatives to nominate randidates for the united siillragc of the Demecracy, and not to disorganize and divide the party because our claim or preference was not nominated. We belong to no man. We set no msn above his psrty. We hold the unity of our psrty and the peace and prosper ity of our State dearer to us than the gratification ol the ambition or greed for office, of any one man, or clique or syndicate. Wo loath and detest one- man-power. We would not then, and we will not now, submit to it. When we were put npon notice that the Co - quilt delegates eame "to nominate Col- q litt or nobody,’’ we accepted the defi ant declaratienaud inflexibly resolved, to a man, that we would never consent to his nomination. To have dene oth erwise would have been degradation and a surrender of your rights. Gov ernor Colqtii t is your servant, not your master. You made him and you havo the right (o unmake him. That defi ance was to you, as the convention was only the people of Georgia assembled by representation. And had you been unitedly assembled, even though you ■night have come together unanimously infavirof Governor Colquitt, we mis take your manhood and patriotism and self-respect, if you would not have met such a demand hy a unanimous and indignant rebuke. If it he said that Governor Colquitt was not responsible for that declaration, we reply that Mr. Walsh wis the recognized leader of the Colquitt delegates; that the declar ation was known by Governor Colquitt, and he never authorized any one to deny it in the convention; that his course during the convention corrobo rated the statement of Mr. Walsh, and clearly proved that he was resolved that no other man in Georgia should be nominated except himself. This is proved by the fact that he attended the caucus of his delegates on Saturday night, and made a pathetic appeal to them never to desert him by the fact thut the Augusta Chronicle, Mr, Walsh’s paper, announced on Sunday morning following that caucus that no nomina tion for Governor would be made; and by the farther fact known to you all, that when Governor Colquitt and his delegates became convinced that his nomination by a two-thirds vote was impossible, they determined to pass the resolution of recommendation, and he agreed to go before you as a candidate on that certificate alone. Besides this proof we present the further facts that Governor Colquitt had a brother on the floor, though not a member of the con vention, every hour of its sitting, close ly observing and actively at work, and that an advisory cancus was held in the executive office during each sitting, and after each adjournmen t. In view of these facts we submit the grave question of the responsibility of a failure to nominate a candidate for Governor, to your decision. The Col quitt delegatus proposed the two-thirds rule and the convention adopted it Mr. Walsh, on the first day of the con vention offered a resolution declaring it to he the sense of the convention that the majority rule should be adopted by all future Gubernatorial conventions. On a call of the counties, which is virtually a vote by ayes and nays, the convention refused to indorse the majority rule. Thus the convention declared the two-thirds rulo to be the ltw of that body and that it ought to be the law of all future Gubernatorial con ventions. The law of the convention, therefore, was that no man could go to the people as its nominee unless and until he should obtain two-thirds ol the votes cask That vote Governor Col quitt never got. He is, therefore, not the nominnee of the Democratic party, but is a self-appointed candidate with the indorsement of the Colquitt dele gates. Those delegates insist that as he is almost a nominee, therefore he is a nominee. They say he had a large majority in the convention. That is true; but they enacted the law that no man should go out of the convention and tell you he is a nominee unless they gave him a two-thirds vote. That law was not repealed; and when the Colquitt delegates and Governoi Col quitt claim for him the right to your support as a nominee, they and he arc doing so in defiance of the law of their own making. For while lie had a per sonal following of a numercia! majority he had a minority and received a minor ity vote under the law which required a two-thirds vote os a majority. Gov- erner Colquitt, therefore, coincs be fore you not as the nominee of your delegates, but as a candidate recom mended by a number of the citizens of Georgia. After the adjournment of the conven tion the delegates who constituted the minority remained in the representative hall to consider what course should be taken to give you the opportunity to hare a choice of men for the high of fice ef Governor. With Governor Col quitt alone in the field you could not do otherwise than tamely submit to what we feel to be a great wrong. We had agreed in the convention to give you a nominee as a candidate for whom a united Democracy could vote. We were willing and anxious to present to you any one of over a hundred good and true men in Georgia. Governor Colquitt held his delegates with an iron hand for six days, and would not con sent for you to have any other man in Georgia but himself. Crushed und ;r his grasp, the convention broke up, and unless another candidate were present ed you would have been left with no right to choose. Wc believe it to be our duty to you to give you the op portunity to express your choice be tween Governor 'Colquitt and some other man. As your representatives had failed to make a choice out of so large a number of able and honorable men in the State, it is your right tj exorcise the power which you dele gated to them, and which they refused to exorcise for you. Wc therefore de- communication inviting ina to be a can- termined to consult with citizens from [Concluded on fourth page.] different sections of the Btate in order to decide first, whether you dosired another candidate, and secondly, who would probably bo your prolerence for Governor. Wc soon heard sn almost universal demand for a Democratic candidate to opposo Governor Colquitt, and wo decided in a largo meeting of citizons of tho State, including many of tho majority in the late convention, in tho representative hall, that the people for the good of the State and in asser tion of the manhood of the Democratic party, which personalism had ruled and mastered in the convention, should have 'another candidate. We say for the good of the State, because scandals which have grown out of the very pccu liar administration of affairs of State in Georgia, during the last three years call aloud for action anil redress. Tho in- cuinpetency of the administration does not admit of a doubt. The division of opinion is not on tho incompetency of tho present administration 'but relates to still graver matters, and when criti cism on the administration made by a large portion of the Democratic party is as severe as was made on Bullock's administration, it is time for the Demo- eracy to move for reform and purifica tion. What tlic acts of the present executive are, that have provoked such grave charges, are familiar to you, as they have been published ill the press of the State and undergone review, and discussion, until the opposition to an executive almost unanimously elected in 1876 will, we believe, work his de feat in the coming election. In order therefore, that the facts herein set forth may be properly repre sented to the people of Georgia and that the voters and tax-payersjjof the Slate may have an opportunity to pass judgment upon the administration of Governor Colquitt, is it deemed proper and neccessary that a candidate be brought forward who will reflect, not only the wishes of our constituents, but of a large number of the people who have thus far taken do part in the pres ent contest. Upon this point of select ing a suitable candidate we have happi ly found but little difficulty. The occasion itself indicates the pro per person to be presented to the peo- >1e for their suffrages; but if we had ieen in doubt, the manifestations of puolic opinion in all parts of the State would have dispelled that doubt. The people in the cities and townsand along the lines of railways, as well os in the country where they could be reached, have not been content with a single ex pression of their preference, but they have resorted to the rails and the tele graph to swell the popular voices. Yielding then, to the unmistakable voice of the people of Georgia, and in obedience to its mandate, we herewith present the name of that spotless patriot and gifted statesman, the Hon. Thomas M. Norwood, of Chatham. Whilst we found no difficulty in making a suitable choice of a candidate it is but just to say that it was only af ter repeated calls and earnest appeals that Mr. Norwood gave his reluctant consent to enter the contest as the standard bearer in the cause of reform and good government. He had no thought or desire to occupy the posi tion of a candidate, and it was]only at the last moment that he consented to sacrifice his personal feelings and buoi- interests, and to take the position to which his fellow citizens have called him. Should the call now made ratified by the people at the polls, we feel sure that they will never find it necessary to “investigate” Mr. Norwood’s official conduct at every turn nor to submit to such painful scandals as those at which they now hide their faces; nor would he, at the close of his administration, coine before the country and ask for a renomination in order to “vindicate" himself against the criticisms of his friends and supporters who shall have elevated him to the high and responsi ble position of chief magistrate of the State. [Signed by the committee.] Josiah L. Warren, Chatham. R. F. Lyons, Bibb. H. U. Carlton, Clarke. P. W. Alexander, Cobb. I). B. Harrei.l, Webster. F. G. Wilkins, Muscogee. J. W. Staten, Echols. F. M. Imboden, Lumpkin. II. T. Hollis, Marion. Geo. M. McDowell,.Pike. Walter R. Brown, Fulton. IIon. Thomas M. Norwood, Atlanta ■Dear Sir: As the representative of the large and patriotic minority of the late Democratic convention which as sembled in this city on tho 4th instant, and in obedience, as we believe, to the wishes of a majority of the people of Georgia, it becomes our pleasant duty to inform you that you havo been se lected as their candidate for the office of Governor at the approaching elec tion, and to request that you allow thorn the use of your name for that high and responsible position. e are aware that you do not desire and have not sought tho nomination, yet we trust you will yield to the gen eral wish, and permit your name to be presented to the people of your native State for the highest office within their gift Meanwhile we remain, dear sir, yours very truly, [Signed by trie committee.] Josiah L. Warren, Chathan. R. F. Lyon, Bibb. H. H. Carlton, Clarke. P. W. Alexander, Cobb. D. B. Harrell, Webster. F. G. Wilkins, Muscogee. J. W. Staten, Echols. F. M. Imboden, Lumpkin. H. T. Hollis, Marion. Geo. M. McDowell, Pike. Walter R. Brown, Fulton. MB. NORWOOD'S LETTER OK ACCEPTANCE. Atlanta, August 13, 1880.—Messrs. Josiah L. Warren, R. F. Lyon, II. H. Carlton, P W. Alexander, D. B. Har rell, F. 0. Wilkins, J. W. Staten, F. M. Imboden, 11. T. llollis, George M McDowell, Walter R. Brown : Your J. w. SHEFFIELD, W. 8. BELL, . Albany, Ga WHOLESALE AMD BBT ALL SEAL BBS ZM HARDWARE! TINWARE, UIUU 9 HOISlFlEIISHINfl GOODS I IpeT BUILDER’S MATERIALS, &c. c£S41 SPECIALTIES: Table and Pocket Cutlery, Buggy & Wagon Wheels Timbers, Plow Stocks and Plow Hoes. WE ALWAYS KEEP ON HAND Rubber Belting, Lace Leather and Belt Hooks, NAILS, IRON and STEEL, G-uns. Pistols, Powder, Shot, Caps & Cartridges And in fact EVERYTHING that ought to be found in a First-Class Hard ware Store. We respectfully invite yon to call and see our stock. SHEFFIELD & BELL, Next Door to Gilbert’s Drug Store, BROAD STREET, Albany, Ga. Imported and Domestic FRUITS, GANDIES, AlfilBO FANCY AND UluAflOi FAMILY TOBACCOS, GROCERIES. FISH, OYSTERS, &c Next Door to Postofllce, WASHINGTON STREET, ALBANY, GA. J. FARRINGTON, MHCHANT TAILOR, }outicm to hts friends and former patrons that he bu opened a Mcrcbant Tailoring EstablisbneBt In n r Ullngham 4 sBaUdinc, upstairs. Will cut and make Coats, Pants and Vests in first-class style end u cheap u any house In the State. 1 keep always on hind a full line of Cloths. Come and oxamine my goods, and have your 8prlng8uita made right away. Respectfully, O. J. FARRINGTON. HEADQUARTERS -FOR- GREEH ID DRIED FRUITS. when STOP YOU UO TO AT LA XT A A T THE HARK HAM. Office of T21G RAILROAD COMMISSION, Atlanta, Ga, June IV, 1850. lb. maximum rates as to Cotton. Fertilizer, mod Lumber: .ml on all other classes (100) one hundred licr rent, on the “Standard Kata" Is allowed as a maximum. JAMES M. SMITH, Chairman. R. A. BACON, Secretary. . june!99*4t