67. CHAPTER LXVII.
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.
[ILLUSTRATION]
Jim And Mr. Slugby.
[Description: 538EAF. Page 385. In-line Illustration. Image of two men sitting talking. One man is seated on a wood bench. He wears a floppy hat and has his sleeves rolled up. The second man sits in a chair and wears a jacket and top hat. Both men have beards. A dog sits on the floor at their feet.]
“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,
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.
