The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-06-23
LATEST NEWS BY MAIL.
Mas. Meeting In Monument Square,
RaIttm0re-LarGe Conservative De-
nonstration speeches by Governor
Swami and Others.
From the Sun oil yesterday.

meNt square last evening ol tnoSc SHStaill-
ing the policy of President Johnson, and al
the same time supporting Governor Swami
in placing himself ON this platform and in
opposition to negro suffrage, drew forth a
very large asscmblagc of citizens. The
organization was effected with Governor
Swami as president of the meeting, and Il
long list of vicc-prcsidcntS, embracing
names of many wcll-known citizens IN dii-
tcrcnt positions.
Governor Swami, upon presenting i'p'-
self, was received with cheers, ana pro-
cccded to address the meeting.
| The chief interest oi the meeting u "''
| sperch of Governor Swami. III embraces
a lucid exposition of the policy upon "h'cf
tho President. walking in the initial steps
and following the announced principles IN
th,t regard of Mr.. Lincoln, and the Con-
rr,ss who had up to that time sustained
| him set ont 10 rchablitatc the Union after
! the war was over, restoring the States
| lately in rebellion to their constitutional
relations 10 the Government in the most
direct manner possible. Mr.. Swami I'M
mi<takably shows consistent record III
this matter, and that the Legislature OF
the State, composed overwhelmingly OF his
party, last January heartily endorsed the
policy of the President and his own dccla-
rationS in his annual message on the sub
icct, notwithstanding the contrary turn
which some politicians Of the same party
have since sought TO give affairs III the
State. Hence ne argues il is they, and
not himself, that have changed, and
rcpcls pointcdly the charges that all
are either "copperheads or disuni"n-
lists" that do not 60 with the radi-
cal changclingS. He can sec no good
reason why the people of the States
should not again be united, and does not
consider that il was our policy to degrade
those of the south. He argues fully the
negro equality, and holds that they will
DESTROY the State of Maryland, If they ito
not bring ruin upon the negro race: ana
shows that while the ne,r p0rtH as he terms
it, in the State have set up the prctcnce
that negro suffrage is not III issue, they
have fraternizcd almost exclusively with
negro suffrage radicals, and approved
their measures. The effects of the Civil
Rights bill, passed over the President ;
veto, are also alluded to As overriding "thc
constitutional powers of the States 10 de-
tcrminc what persons born within their
respective limits acquire by birth citizen
ship OF the United States: and ii the
! proposed constitutional amendment be ra-
tilted, declaring the negro 10 be citizen
| with all the "privilcgeS and immniticS
of such, and Congress has power TO enforce
| this provision with appropriate legislation
| he well asks what will the word ,ritite, EN-.
| bodied in our State Constitution, avail
against negro suffrage, their right to sit on
iurcS, and 10 hold Office
In regard to our present registry law
about which so much has been SAID, and
on the construction and administration OF
which we would add 50 much must depend
in sustaining in this State the great ma
tional and statcsmanlikc policy of the
President, Mr.. Swami declares that he
stands where he stood in his annual mes.
sage to the Legislature in January last
He SAYS: " As the executive Of the State,
| shall do my duty in Executing that as
we'll as all other laws upon your statute
book, and | shall take care, so far as my
influence extends, that the registration
act is not made the instrument of degra.
dation to our people, in the hands OF vim,
dictivc and radical agents, to force ncgr,
suffrage and negro equality upon us.
shall see that it is fairly, impartiallv, and
Justly administered, by the appointment OF
men OF undoubted Union antcccdcntS and
unquestoned loyalty, in the spirit in which
it was created by the Legislature, and
not by intolerance and oppression, IF rh'ch
regret to sag, there has been too much N h'
past" The spirit Of this declaration
seeing that a law of such character as the
State Registration act does yet mar oul
statute books-can scarcely be expected
to. Whoever might be Governor, as long
as the law remains, would be responsible
for its execution, as well as its abuse: but
no other idea should be tolerated than thai
! its most odious features are To be modified
or wholly repealed, and that clause Of til,
| Constitution of the State bearing on tn,
| subject, through the means provided by thai
| instrument itself, remodcllcd accordingly
Other conservative speakers addressed tho
I meeting.