WIRES.
General Belch was right. Abel had to begin very soon. The committee met
and called the meetings. The members of the committee, each in his own
district, consulted with various people, whom they found generally at
corner groceries. They were large, coarse-featured, hulking men, and were
all named Jim, or Tom, or Ned.
"What'll you have, Jim?"
"Well, Sir, it's so early in the day, that I can't go any thing stronger
than brandy."
"Two cocktails--stiff," was the word of the gentleman to the bar-keeper.
The companions took their glasses, and sat down behind a heavy screen.
"Well, Sir, what's the word? I see there's going to be more meetin's."
"Yes, Jim. Bodley has resigned."
"Who's the man, Mr. Slugby?" asked Jim, as if to bring matters to a
point.
"Mr. Abel Newt has been mentioned," replied the gentleman with the
diamond ring, which he had slipped into his waistcoat pocket before the
interview.
Jim cocked his eye at his glass, which was nearly empty.
"Here! another cocktail," cried Mr. Slugby to the bar-tender.
"Son of old Newt that bust t'other day?"
"The same."
"Well, I s'pose it's all right," said Jim, as he began his second
tumbler.
"Oh yes; he's all right. He understands things, and he's coming down
rather strong. By-the-by, I've never paid you that ten dollars."
And Mr. Slugby pulled out a bill of that amount and handed it to Jim, who
received it as if he were pleased, but did not precisely recall any such
amount as owing to him.
"I suppose the boys will be thirsty," said Mr. Enos Slugby.
"There never's nothin' to make a man thirsty ekal to a 'lection,"
answered Jim, with his huge features grinning.
"Well, the fellows work well, and deserve it. Here, you needn't go out of
your district, you know, and this will be enough." He handed more money
to his companion. "Have 'em up in time, and don't let them get high until
after the election of delegates. It was thought that perhaps Mr. Musher
and I had better go to the Convention. It's just possible, Jim, that some
of Bodley's friends may make trouble."
"No fear, Mr. Slugby, we'll take care of that. Who do you want for
chairman of the meeting?" answered Jim.
"Edward Gasserly is the best chairman. He understands things."
"Very well, Sir, all right," said Jim.
"Remember, Jim, Wednesday night, seven o'clock. You'll want thirty men to
make every thing short and sure. Gasserly, chairman; Musher and Slugby,
delegates. And you needn't say any thing about Abel Newt, because that
will all be settled in the Convention; and the delegates of the people
will express their will there as they choose. I'll write the names of the
delegates on this."
Mr. Slugby tore off a piece of paper from a letter in his pocket, and
wrote the names. He handed the list, and, taking out his watch, said,
"Bless my soul, I'm engaged at eleven, and 'tis quarter past. Good-by,
Jim, and if any thing goes wrong let me know."
"Sartin, Sir," replied Jim, and Mr. Slugby departed.
Mr. William Condor had a similar interview with Tom, and Mr. Ele took a
friendly glass with Ned. And other Mr. Slugbys, and Condors, and Eles,
had little interviews with other red-faced, trip-hammer-fisted Jims,
Toms, and Neds. These healths being duly drunk, the placards were posted.
They were headed with the inspiring words "Liberty and Equality," with
cuts of symbolic temples and ships and lifted arms with hammers, and
summoned the legal voters to assemble in primary meetings and elect
delegates to a convention to nominate a representative. The Hon. Mr.
Bodley's letter of resignation was subjoined:
"FELLOW-CITIZENS,--Deeply grateful for the honorable trust you have so
long confided to me, nothing but the imperative duty of attending to my
private affairs, seriously injured by my public occupations, would induce
me to resign it into your hands. But while his country may demand much of
every patriot, there is a point, which every honest man feels, at which
he may retire. I should be deeply grieved to take this step did I not
know how many abler representatives you can find in the ranks of that
constituency of which any man may be proud. I leave the halls of
legislation at a moment when our party is consolidated, when its promise
for the future was never more brilliant, and when peace and prosperity
seem to have taken up their permanent abode in our happy country, whose
triumphant experiment of popular institutions makes every despot shake
upon his throne. Gentlemen, in bidding you farewell I can only say that,
should the torch of the political incendiary ever be applied to the
sublime fabric of our system, and those institutions which were laid in
our father's struggles and cemented with their blood, should totter
and crumble, I, for one, will be found going down with the ship, and
waving the glorious flag of our country above the smouldering ruins of
that moral night.
"I am, fellow-citizens, your obliged, faithful, and humble servant,
WATKINS BODLEY."
In pursuance of the call the meetings were held. Jim, Tom, and Ned were
early on the ground in their respective districts, with about thirty
chosen friends. In Jim's district Mr. Gasserly was elected chairman,
and Messrs. Musher and Slugby delegates to the Convention. Mr. Slugby,
who was present when the result was announced, said that it was
extremely inconvenient for him to go, but that he held it to be the
duty of every man to march at the call of the party. His private affairs
would undoubtedly suffer, but he held that every man's private interest
must give way to the good of his party. He could say the same thing
for his friend, Mr. Musher, who was not present. But he should say to
Musher--Musher, the people want us to go, and go we must. With the most
respectful gratitude he accepted the appointment for himself and Musher.
This brisk little off-hand speech was received with great favor.
Immediately upon its conclusion Jim moved an adjournment, which was
unanimously carried, and Jim led the way to a neighboring corner, where
he expended a reasonable proportion of the money which Slugby had given
him.
A few evenings afterward the Convention met. Mr. Slugby was appointed
President, and Mr. William Condor Secretary. The Honorable B.J. Ele
presented a series of resolutions, which were eloquently advocated by
General Arcularius Belch. At the conclusion of his speech the Honorable
A. Bat made a speech, which the daily _Flag of the Country_ the next
morning called "a dry disquisition about things in general," but which
the _Evening Banner of the Union_ declared to be "one of his most
statesmanlike efforts."
After these speeches the Convention proceeded to the ballot, when it was
found that nine-tenths of all the votes cast were for Abel Newt, Esquire.
General Belch rose, and in an enthusiastic manner moved that the
nomination be declared unanimous. It was carried with acclamation. Mr.
Musher proposed an adjournment, to meet at the polls. The vote was
unanimous. Mr. Enos Slugby rose, and called for three cheers for "the
Honorable Abel Newt, our next talented and able representative in
Congress." The Convention rose and roared.
"Members of the Convention who wish to call upon the candidate will fall
into line!" shouted Mr. Condor; then leading the way, and followed by the
members, he went down stairs into the street. A band of music was at
hand, by some thoughtful care, and, following the beat of drums and
clangor of brass, the Convention marched toward Grand Street.