Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1865-09-05

A MASS MEETING IN RICHMOND.


''mass meeting of the citizens of Richmond,
convok ed for the purpose of testifying to the
country the loyalty Of that community to the con-
sttution and laws of the United States took place
in the Capitol Square, Tuesday evening, the
29th ult.
Shortly after FIVE o'clock, Mr.. r. R. Howison,
in behalf of the Committee of Arrangements, call
ed the meeting to order. The crowd then gath
cred in front of the stand and maintained perfect
order whilst Mr.. Howison proposed the following
list of officers
President.-Judge VIM. H. Lyons.
Vice-Presidents-Je6erso Ward.-Dr. Jno Dove,
Loften N. Elicit, VIM. Taylor, R. O. Haskins, Al
len Y. Stokes.
Madison Ward-W. H. Mcfarland, Chas Pal
mer, H. A. Claiborne VIM. G. Allen, R. Barton
Haxall.
Monroe Ward-Horace L. Kent Abraham War
wick, David ]. Sanders, Alexander II. Sands, Geo.
W. Smith
secretaries.-A. NJ. Baily, John Crane, Jr.,
Charles III. Wynne, Richard F. Walker.
No objection being made to the officers proposed
Mr. H owison invited Jud ge Lyons to the stand.
He went forward and when the applause with
which he was greeted had subsidized, addressed the
meeting.
Raleigh T. Daniel, Esq, then read the following
resolutions
We the people of the City of Richmond, in mass
meeting assembled, to express our opinions in the
present exigency of public affairs, do
/. ResolUe, That we have witnessed with Just
indignation the persistent and wicked efforts of
portion of the press and people of the Northern
States to brand the people of the South with per-
6dy and insincerity in the honest attempts they
have made, and are making, to resume their for
mer relations with the Union by questioning their
fidelity and truth in the oaths of allegiance which
they have taken, and, by vague and unsupported
charges, that they desire, if they do not contem-
plate, farther resistance to its authority Such
imputations are not only false, but mischievous,
being calculated to retard if they be not designed
to defeat, that perfect and constitutional restora-
ton Of the Union which the war was professedly
waged against the seeded States to effect, and
which good and patriots ia all sections of the
country earnestly desire to accomplish And it
being Of the last Importance that the minds Of the
whole people be dsabused of these errors and
particularly that the authorities at Washington
be truly informed of the temper and disposition, of
the Southern people, we do solemnly pronounce
| these and all other imputations upon; them Of a
kindred character, no matter from what source
| they come, to be utterly unfounded and false
g Resolved, That the general temper and dis
position of the Southern people, including our
own, to accept and acquiesce in the results of
| the late sanguinary struggle and to resume the
duties of citizenship in the Union That the men
enced public sentiment neither advise nor intend
anything different from the discharge Of their du-
ties as citizens of the United States, and are set
| ing an example of full and ready submission to
the authority Of its Government; and counsel
full recognition of the facts of the actual situation
including the accepted and irreyersible abolition
! of slavery.
| 3. Re8olred That we, the people of Richmond,
fully and thoroughly comprehending and accept
ing the results Of that struggle in all their force
and significance, and one Of the most impor-
tant, the abolition of slavery, already effected by
the restoreds Constitution of the State under which
we live and which we are sworn to support, do
pledge ourselves to support the Reconstruction
Policy CT the President which purposes restored
equality of rights and privileges to all the States
including the power in each to regulate the right
Of suffrage for itself, as distinguished from the
reckless and pernicious theories of the so-called
Radical party, which propose to the Southern
States the alternative Of negro suffrage or an in
definite exclusion from the benefits of a common
and equal Union; and that we viii support the
National authority and the supreme rule of law
and order everywhere as the only sure guarantee
for the re-establishment Of the rights and prvle-
ges of our own and Of the other Southern States,
under the Constitution, in the Union.
f. Resolued, That we earnestly recommend to
our w-citizens throughout the State to hold
meetings as soon as practicable in their respective
counties and towns, and adopt suitable resolutions
expressive of (as do not doubt they will be) Of
their entire sympathy in the motives, purposes
! and objects herein declared; that no cloud of
doubt, no shadow of suspicion, may rest on the
integrity, honor and good faith of their expressed
desire and honest attempts to resume the duties
of allegiance to the United States.
S. Resolved, That it is no less pleasure than
duty ON our part to give public expression to
the esteem and respect which we feel for tbs pre-
sent Chief Magistrate of our State, whose con-
ciliatory bearing, frank and manly manners. and
firm and ell-considered craftsmanship, have en-
abled him to grapple successfully with the unu-
sual difficulties of his position. With the oppor-
tunity to see us face to face VIC are he has the
wisdom to appreciate the true character of our
people He has thrown himself without reserve
on their candor, truthfulness and conscientious.
ness and they have met, and will continue to
meet, him in like spirit of cordial confidence
Mr.. Daniel then addressed the meeting in sup
port of the resolutions. He was followed by
Hon. VIM. H. Mcfarland. The meeting was
then addressed by Hon. James Lyons. In the
course of his address, Mr.. Lyons gave expression
to the following sentiment:
.'The North having relieved us our slaves, he
wished to God it would relieve of their pres
ence as freedmen He would say-Give us our
country to ourselves. Let the negroes go away
to the public lands to themselves
All the speakers spoke in the most compliment
tary terms of Gov Pierpont
Mr.. Lyons concluding, the resolutions were put
and unanimously adopted.
Mr. Mcfarland arose and moved committee
of three, to be appointed from gentlemen compo-
sing the meeting, to communicate to President
Johnson an invitation to visit Richmond, as ex-
pressed by the sense of the meeting, and to con-
vey to his Excellency copy of the resolutions.
Adopted.
The motion was adopted and the Chairman ap-
pointed Messrs. VIM. H. Mcfarland, Chas. Pal
mer and Robert Ridgway.
The meeting thereupon adjourned.
tIA letter from Charlestown, S. G.
says: "Ihe accounts which are re-