, 1865-02-14
FROM THE SOUTH.
Great Richmond Rebel War Dane e

FROM THE SOUTH.
Great Richmond Rebel War Dance.
Especial Dispatch to the Chicago Tribune.]
WASHINGTON, Feb.'12. 1867
The Richmond papers Of Friday are full OF the
great war meeting at the African Church on Thurs
day. Tho following account Is principally made
up from the Sentinel Of Friday:
In response to the published call, Z vast throng
assembled at The African Church on yesterday at
nuon to copsider the state Of the country and the
duties Of the present hour. On the opening Of the
doors the spacious building was quickly cranamed.
and q large multitude was unable to gain admis-
sion. It s much to be regretted that the state Of
the weather prevented the holding OF the meeting
in the Capitol Square, Is waH intended az first.
The aesemblage was called to order by Hon. R.
II. T. Hunter. Feryent prayer was offered bJ
Rev. DR.. Page.
Ut The speeches which followed We shall attempt
only .ynopsical sketches.
MR. uuKTEn'a SPEECH.
Mr.. Hunter on taking the Chair explained In 4
speech OF some length the object, and purpose
for which the meeting had been convened. The
most rnomentuous issues address our attention
o s sos sgsi% and
frame work, the protection OF life, liberty and
prosperity are ali involved and at stake. God
grant Us wisdom to conceive and ne energy i9as
eaid Mr. Hunter, for the Wnr which has ragged for
four years and for the blood which has been
spilled. Our skirts are clear. We have contend-
ed OILY for the right Of selfgoyernment. This
ought to have been as dear TO onr enemies as
to Us for II Is our American principle and BY edu-
cation and tradition they had been admonished to
chertshine and maintaining but instead Of that,
they hare ehoses to declare var qpoa Il and npone
cept tho Of Waltenstein andU1lla and the % YER
wsr. The fury and barbarity w1th which It had
been prosecuted were worthy Of the unha1loweo
Mr. Hunter proceeded to notice the legislation
Of the United States government in relation to
the people Of the Confederate States, the conhs-
amendment we're passed ia review. II anything
more were wanted, sad Mr.. H., TO- chow the full
anfo which is exhibited towards us 1t could be
ne whether with our Confederate or State goverus
nents. They negotiate with the meane*t Indian
t1ibr but with a. population numbering between
and will enter into no agreement. Suppose We
were rebeft as they Say We are. No great civil
war was settled without negotiations. the British
nsu eon%ssionerr MI ha7c
esteemed 1t tho part Of duty and Of wisdom, after
Tlndlcating their power, TO extend liberal terms
order to reconcile them to their sway, and make
them contented subjects. The President Of the
United States had proposed nothing Of this sort,
he did nothing snd offered nothing to sooth the
resistance or mitigate the eeVer1ueB OF submfs-
zion. iii. impossible That he could have suppos-
ed peace attainsblc on his terms with such an
ed Ess Is as ] asd
rebel, and A. such responsible for the blood that
has been shed; to submit without conditions to
esed e. oul wnfa 1es
deed that be would show :cniency In the exercise
cl he pn!doning power, but could = people &C.
their property, their secarity at the will Of oae
man, 3nd not under the guaranty Of law. (voices,
'.never, neSer,") IN the government to which
they we're thus required to submit uneond1aonal.
hare voice. # was distinctly left uncertain
whether they should be allowed any representa-
| tive. President Lincoln had told our commts;
Eioners that, should we elect repre;sntat1ves and
| send them to the Washington Congress, ho
president 1ncoln) would be In tayor Of receiving
| them, but he Was only one man. Whether or not
sush @ Wss '1 The ipdueemsnt held out to
| Us, such tho proposed basis Of pactfcaton.
Mr.. Hunter then proceeded to notice some
render to the Washington Government More
than three millions Of slaves worth from twelve
! to fifteen hundred million dollars would at once
be turned loose "a 1dlers and vaEab0nds upon OIL
community. 1t was not necessary to explain the
| evils Of sCch population, nor wonld 1t be al
lowed to Us 10 regulate or restrain them 30 as to
make them useful or correct tAetr yfct0usness.
| The Cntted States Congress Is to have tne power
! to regulate those questions, and would be con.
nnss eeeen ~ tn hs ana and 3. hs
| the hand. Of those who, for one generation Al
least, would be extremely hostile to rs. If the
I N S9 as g
| whut would 1t be under the extremely aggravated
circumstances which would attach 10 1t In the fu
/ The etatus Of this population would he subject
/ Of canseless distraction, and what said Mr. f., Il
to become Of these liberated slaves. The mez
IN large districts, only the women and children
care Of BY their owners who would be bound to il
ion policy hey would inevitably perish even i
tte NAILS cx1ased among them T. due proportion
Emancipation would dee,roy the raee. In com
haman a@e am Wathsrs under he siroceo. % Or th'
n1sts Of the morning disappear under the BEAM
Of the sun. Our system hns been the be-.
oaas de wo1S 1hsh FL hss e. f5 e
| du1getn IN ignorant censnre upon this question we1t
acquainted with or would considerfhe real facts Q
An eminent lady once aaid, "oht Liberty. wha
crimes arc committed IN thy Names" IN like man
ner the African may we'll e3clAim- ;" Obi PhIlan,
those Who, .urder, the pretensc q pro
hts interest inc upon him IL.
I Having tketehed The evils and The ruin in whicl
&c would he hopelessly invaded il We submitted
Happiness 'i IN successful M Resistance: W We shai al
witness. ea1d be, independence and liberty ant
dignity for our wives and children. {Cheert
yotce, that's the ttcket) There was meyer be
glory as re shall Witness never before has tn
world looked coldly On and seen people wHhou
ala sympathy sti2ndRs, up f91 hsF Sests
| the enemy, esa.ed up from intercourse with III
bute1de world. and excluded both commercial.
and eentIucnt,lIy from their aympathiea, but ne!
crthe3ess maintaining the fight with brave heart
and stout hands. Onr success will establish, cor
tiaued ME. Il, eyetem OF Government that ssal
sn 9s vsgS bo G bt hG , TeE s6d
nfltc races Will improve together. Our soldiers
when they return victorious from the wars viii
their brows crowned with sdautcls, wall return Il
Erat,tIde Of their countryncn. When grown old
In the enjoyment Of the love and veneratfon o
their atsoc1atcs, the youths Of another generation
will gather around thrm to hear the story Of th'
present war, and to be Instructed In all that 4
noble ard brave. Could higher motives be pre-
sented to encage our zeal Or to rouse our aciiyf
would be easy O without sac.tnce., oa tie con
trary. It would he arduous and hard, hut far bet
ter to lose life than f,il, Property he threw ont
The question for t5as Tas notht9s IN such eon
| do wonders-1t viii bring back drscr:ers and i
will bring out skulkers. IA soldier Giro 1t Il
e in 5sa9R s1Ee;S ust s,e teR 'nas ;n
lChecfe.1 With devotion and enthusiasm he saw
no reason Why we should tail. We must cultivate
IL Sa 81 sS q
commander once stated, the fight Of bis tsoops
~n3 stayed md exchanged defeat soE victory.
tended 10 See no signs in thu. stars and no por
| tents on the earth; 1rt he believed there was
| righteous God who presides over the affairs o.
Hit 70 hi! and T,cEednc:s 70 PROSPER oaf amy
| will be able 10 conquer In the erd- IA soldier
"1hats ao."] Let no man give place to despon
| dcncy. II he has gloom let him hide It, W1tE
faith md diligence and courage shall assuredl,
1t last MI. Hunter, who had been listened tt
with creat attention, here resumed his seat, ami6
H. ". Shelly, Speaker OF the House Of Delegates
Of Virginia, was next in reduced to the audience
and offered the following resolution:
TIE REVOLUTIONS.
| WHEREAS, Whilst the existing war between tht
United States and the Confederate States has beer
und IL still war Of conquest on the part OF tht
iorner. has been waged BY the latter In defenss
h ena oE ana ne0s 70 saS t
Waeasts, liz Presde9t @ of I he tnlicd State
has recently declared thatth is no goEernment
ate States, with which he can make any terms, ant
shat @ there san be no peace until the Confederate
11es fnsa lay down their arms and submit to III
snd accept the laws Of the came, one Of whiel
tnIeatehs our people with al1 that IL degrading Il
epf3neatlon and all that is cruel In conquest; now
R<solcfd, That the events which have occurred
dut1pg ne prosress Of the war have but confirmed
9ur ollctnal determination to ets1ke for inlepen
deDee, and that, By the blessing Of God, We VII
never lay down our arms till il shall have bee1
| won.
Fesolrtd, That as we belive our resources to b.
sufficient for the purpose, VIC do not doubt bu
that NC shall conduct the war successfully. Ind Il
that tssIei AID wo hereby inroke the people II