Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-05-12
RICHMOND TIMES.
RICH MOND, VA.
The Meeting Monday Evening.

Inc meeting at the City Hall on Monday even
ing was fully attended, embracing very large
proportion of the worth, responsibility and inte-
gence of our city. Much excitement prevailed
in consequence of the action of the House of
Delegates in relation to the removal of the Capt.
tai, and the attempt made by Gel sain speakers in
that body to identify the meeting of Friday with
the rioters in the Public Square, and t, hold the
former responsible for what was done by the lat
ter. Whilst all united in condemning the disor-
derby scenes that were enacted within the purlieus
of the Executive Mansion, stern determination
was evinced to adopt no resolutions that should
bear the sen:blance of duplicating the former
meeting in those disorders, or should reflect in
the remotest degree upon its proceedings.
We regret our inability to furnish sketch of
the whole debate. We subjoin, however, the sub
stance of the speeches of Messrs Mayo and
Loyns.
Mr. Mayo said that after the many unfounded
statements which had been circulated, in refe-
renee to the meeting held at this hall, last Satur-
urday evening, and the occurrences which after
wards took place, in front of the Governors man
sion, no felt it incumbent on him to say some
thing in vindication of the meeting, and of him
self, While no man deprecated more than he did,
the disorderly conduct of the few persons (mostly
boys) who assembled before the Governors house
on that occasion, yet he denied most emphati-
ealy that anything of a mob spirit pervaded the
crowd, or that their assenblage on the square was
the necessary result of the meeting at the Hall.
Those who endeavored to blind the two meetings,
were guilty ofthe grossest injustice towards the
orderly and law-lovng people, who had met in
this Hall for the exercise of their undoubted and
unquestioned right in censuringa public function
airy for an act which inflicted gross injury upon
this community. He entirely approved of the
object of the meeting here. He was a member
of it; participated actively in its proceedings,
and should on all similar occasions, pursue the
Identical course which his sense of duty prompt
ed him take on that night. Having made these
explanations in regard to the meeting here, he
| felt constrained to notice the unfounded and ma
lignant charges which had been industriousy cir
cnlated against him in several quarters of the city,
Even inthe Legislative Halls, he understood, his
conduct had been ar1aigned and made the subject
ofsevere animadversions and that too by men
who chose to lend i willing ear to every idle re-
port in circulation without taking the trouble to
arrive at the truth by investigation of all facts
connected with the case. 1t had been said in
the Senate, he was informed, that instead of adop-
ting the means best calculated to dispense the
crowd, he had merely asked them as a favor not to
commit any act of vioence-not to pull down the
Executive mansion, which was a beautiful house,
erected at the expense of the people, and that its
4
treasury Now, said Mr.. NJ, to all such char
as this, care not from what source they en-
anate, nor in what quarters they reiterated
give the lie direct, in the most emphatic and I'M
qualified manner.
Mr.. M. said that at the request of Mr.. Vim. F.
Richie. he went to the Governors house, as soon
as the crowd around it had manifested symptoms
of disorderly conduct. He invoked them to dis
perse atonce, without offering any indignity to
the chief executive officer of the State, who
had been put there by the voice of the people,
He told them, moreover, that there were ladies
in the house who would undoubtedly be excited
by any indications of tumult or hot on the part
of the crowd, and that as good citizens and law
observing people, it became them to return quiet
ly to their homes. 1t was ust and proper to state,
however, that he himself did not witness any
act which deserved to be characterized as mob
proceeding. If, however, any such act was COM
mitted, itwould be brought to light by the search
ing and diligent enquiry which he had this day
directed to be instituted into the whole affair."
Ii the guilt of any should be brought to light by
this investigation, he pledged himself, as the
Prosecuting Attorney of the city, to pursue such
offender to the full extent of the law. Moreover,
in his charge to the grand jury, he had directed
them to enquire ii any officer present on that oc-
casion had failed promptly to discharge his duty.
In this way the public would arrive at correct
history Of the whole affair, for it was the sworn
duty ofthe grand jury to elicit the truth by ever
mode authorized by the law. If, in the progress
of this enquiry, it should appear that he himself
hadvioated the law, or connived at the guilt of
any man, instead of prosecuting others, he would
deserve TO be treated as criminal himself.
Mr.. Lyons was unwilling to see it put upon re-
cord that any in Richmond had participated
II mob The crowd before the Gov ernor's house.
he understood from reliable information, was com
posed mainly of a few shrt-sleeve boys, who me-
oitated no serious harm to anything or to anybody
Many members of the Legislature helped to swell
the crowd; and but for this circumstanc e he be-
iieyed the whole affair would have dwinded into
lnsigniicance. In conversation with the May
Or On this subject, he was informed by that officer
that the moment he saw any appearance of disor-
der he sent for about 20 of the Watchmen, with
directions to repair Immediately to the Governors
yard. Before, however, they could be rallie to
the spot, the crowd by his persuasion, had all dis
persed. Now, in the name of all that is reasona-
BILE, said Mr. Lyons, what sort of mob could this
have been! Loud applause. In reference to
the meeting which was held at the City Hall last
Friday night Mr.. L. said he most heartily appro-
we'd OF the object for which it assembled; and be-
fore he would surrender his right to meet on all