The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1860-05-17
Republican State Convention OF
Virginia.
EVENING SESSION.
EuiL Of Slareyy- -Amnessies and Rebel
liox-IHe .Sguat Toad-3r.. &c.

fspseial reror. from the Cincinnati Gsz.t.e
The Convention again met at F. NJ,
when the Atheneum was completely crowd
I'd. every inch Of space in both galleries,
parqactte and stage being occupied The
building. calculated to hold three thousand
persons, must now have contained upwards
of that number.
Hon. Francis p. Blair, Jr.. Of Mo-, was
introduced. The applause which greeted
his appearance upon the stand having snbsi-
ded. he said:
Mr.. President and gentlemen Of the Con.
vention: /, is hardly necessary that l shonld
20 over the ground so ably discussed this
afternoon by the distinguished gentleman
from Indiana. Ipresume that there was no
one who sat within the sound of his voice,
who was not satisfied Of one thing-,hat the
Republican party has taken no new posi-
Republican party of the early days OF our
Republic-tha, it holds essentially and pre-
cisely the same doctrines--that they have
found no new doctrine upon this subject OF
Slavery. Passing by with a single glance,
the ground which he this afternoon ALLY
covered in his eloo olent remarks. shall re-
fer to other topics.
Mr.. Wilson here entered the hall. and
IN interruption was caused by the applause
which greeted his appearance
l deem it a good omen for the country
that Virginia has taken the initiatory step
to resume her old Republican attitude. APP
plausc. She is-or ra her was--the moih-
er Of Statesmen and Of the heroes Of our
Revolution, and the men who moulded our
Constitution--ibe statesmen who framed
this great republican form Of government.
and the heroes who led to victory our Revo-
lutionary armies. Under the sentiment-or
1ather-under the principle by which those
illustIious men guided the fortunes Of this
State. she was in truth the "Old Dominion"
swaying this great empire. Now under the
co,insels of this dsgenerate-this apostate
Democracy. hugging to their bosoms this
fatal gift cf Slavery. she has sunk in her
proportions; she has ceased 10 be the COM
manding State in this confederacy: she has
lost her political power: she no longer is the
largest State. with the largest representa-
sion in the Federal councils: she no longer
sways and guiles by her counsel the coun-
ellis Of the nation; but her representation in
the Federal legislature is dwarfed. eompara-
lively speaking: her resources are undevel-
opej, and lie hidden in your mountains; Ter
rivers. and her great bay, her splendid hsr
Dor Of Noriolk-all are unrippled by any
keel, save when the seagull dips. their wa
ters are never moved Much applause
WHY DOES VIRGINIA SINK?
To what can this be attributed Wha:
IL there in the nature OF your soil or climate
which should bring this fatal degeneracy
upon you? Your rivers psrforatiny the en-
tire extent of your territory. bring com
merce to your very doors, both upon your
western and eastern flank. Your fields are
a.
territory is larger. Whence then comes it,
I ask you. that you are diva, fed 10 political
power that you have fallen behind the States
born Of your own loins and which lie within
your view on the other side of the river?-
Whence comes all this. save it be from this
fatal institution. which. while it is the min
lister Of pride to the few. brings destruc-
ton and ruin upon the great mass Of your
people? Much applause
EVILS OF SLAVERY.
Nor do its ills stop there for tho jealousy
Of those who own these slaves has denied
You rightful representation in your Lcgis-
1aturs. To be sure. he people Of Virginia.
as the people Of all the Southern S .ates,
are deludcd with the idea that they are
equal with any Of the other white men in
other Sta;es-,hat you have equal political
/ believe in this State, what is called uni.
versal suffrage. Every white man. Of the
age Of twenty lone years. can throw his bal
lot; but what does it amount to. when it
takes, as / heard from your able report.
forty thousand in this section Of the State
TO bear down, in the political scale. ten
thousand who fortunately lived upon the
sands Of the Chesapeake? Is there any
thing here. in Western Virginia. ,ha, makes
man less than a man of Eas tern Virginia!
DO you acknowledge your interiority?-
These Democrats who live in your midst
who proclaim every where the rights of thes,
people, are they ready TO admit that it take
four of them TO be equal to one man on tn
seashore! Loud replies OF Move = No
You can attribute this enforced iufcriority
this disqualification. this disinfranchisemen
you can trace it to no other source tha
to the jealousy of the STAKEHOLDER. who
not content to own lis slave, bu, must mak
slaves of his fellow white ms n by disqual
fying them in order that he may be tt
more secure in the enjoy meut Of that kin
Of property.
Virginia is not the only instance. Loo
1t your sister State Of Maryland. The ci,
Of Baltimore has one half OF the free viii
people OF Maryland within her border. ar
yet sne Ha> out oue ScuatoT III iuc I-eSisa
ture Of Maryland. against thirty odd; 81
has but ten rpres entAtives out Of sevent
fve; SO that it requires ten white men in q
city OF Baltimore 10 equal one on the Sc
board. where there is nothing but nigge
.and blackbirds. Much laughter and gre
applause.
say that ,his disqualiiica,ion-siis d
franchisemen; of the Tree white men Of d
Slave States is deemed necessary by II
oligarchy for its security.
II breeds caste. Having An inferi
race in your midst. it is IN easy transit
TO have another gradation: and sh,y give
limited extent. to the non -slsveholde'
political power, depriving the negroes Of
altogether. as they should. But there Is
white man upon the soil Of the United Sta.
that has not . right to claim equal priviles