_They go for a Reporter And Catch a Tartar!_
_Large Attendance but Poor Performance._
The exhibition at this place of amusement yesterday was of only
an indifferent character. Unless the managers improve the show in
some way, it will hardly draw for many more performances. True,
the tricks of the acrobats are worthy of mention; the riding
passable, and the performance of the numerous ring-masters
tolerably creditable; but the "dagger pitchers" and
"revolver-swallowers," and inferior parts assigned to the clowns
in the ring, were altogether too limited to please the
amusement-loving public. There must be more robber declarations
and full-blooded excited performances anxious for bloody fames,
or the thing will be a failure. This pretense of fight won't do;
there must be a regular shooting and dying for principle, or we
shall pronounce your cheap show a humbug; and some of you at
least know that no third rate "Punch and Judy" exhibition will be
tolerated by the party in power in South Carolina. With this
warning and introduction, we proceed to give an account of the
performance.
The mob was called to order precisely at 1 o'clock, temporary
President Swails in the chair. The proceedings of the previous
day were read from _The Union-Herald_ in his hand, and called the
attention of the assemblage to an article in that paper touching
upon the subject of the raising of a chair by some member for the
purpose of annihilating the present Governor of South Carolina.
Smalls succeeded in raising a turbulent discussion about nothing,
and a general discussion of the subject by the windy members of
the convention, for some two hours, in which many of the "end
men" took part.
The more intelligent members of the hippodrome took no part in
the discussion, with the exception of the Governor, who, in a
very dignified manner, informed them that he had feared no bodily
harm from any of them; that he had witnessed such scenes before,
and was quietly engaged in preparation for any trap that might be
sprung upon the decent members of the convention, after the riot
should have spent itself.
At this point, Maxwell, the tragedian from Marlboro, obtained the
floor. He is one of the most amusing characters connected with
the big show. He hadn't "seen any chairs raised," and, folding
his arms and throwing himself back in a tragic and majestic
position, said: "I, gentlemen, was the coolest of the cool." This
remark, brought the house down. The worst of them were compelled
to laugh; especially those who know he never keeps cool. He wound
up his harangue by saying that the day was fast approaching when
men would seek their rights on the ... face to face with
newspaper men ... got the floor....
After other speeches, of a like nature, Captain Canton, city
editor of _The Union-Herald_, stepped in front of the reporters
table, read the article, and explained to them how he obtained
his information and what he saw with his own eyes, winding up,
after being interrupted several times, by telling them that
"newspaper men were abundantly able to take care of themselves."
The discussion continued until Elliott moved that the whole
matter be laid upon the table, which was agreed to.
Mr. Keegan, the correspondent of _The Washington Chronicle_, had
listened to their foul language of denunciation of himself and
others of his profession, and seeing the question closed, the
vilified correspondent, sought his hat, and turning round to the
assembled mob, told them they had denounced him like a dog, and
had denied him the right to defend himself. This remark of the
correspondent cowed the more ignorant portion of the gang, and
the resolution was withdrawn, which permitted him to explain to
them as the representative of a Republican paper, a gentleman
and a soldier; that he had fought to free them; fought against
his own father, who owned 150 of their kind, and was a Major in
the 5th Louisiana Regiment; that he fought for principle, while
his father fought for property; that he had been sent to Columbia
to report their doings and sayings, and to see if there was a
possible hope of good government in South Carolina.
This stopped the war upon the newspaper men. We devoutly hope
that when he goes back across the Potomac he may....