The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-07-26
LETTER FROM PETERSBURG.
Correspondence OF the Richmond Dispatch.
PETERSBURG, July IS, 1866.

PETERSBURG, July 80, Aooo'
Nv dispatch of last night will have al
forded your readers pretty good idea OF the
spirit OF the meeting convened Tor the pur-
pose of sanctioning the appointment OF
delegates from this congressional district
to the Philadelphia Convention: The large,
hall at the CONT house was we'll filled, and
no diversity of sentiment manifested itself
in regard to the propriety OF inc move
ment. There are persons--perhaPs not
fev-who have felt some distruSt lest
southern delegates might be subjected on
the assembling OF the Convention to an OBJ
noxious test Of loyalty; hut misgivings OF
This sort ought to give way when 1t Is well
known that President Johnson has ex-
nressed himself as inimical to test, and
that his large catholic spirit will and must
bay. strong influence on the whole Con-
.eryat;ve party. II, however, the northern
element Of the Convention should display
anv narrow mindedness In their views, our
delegates can but quietly withdraw; and
this Possibility is fully provided for in the
terms in which the invitation has been &C
cepted both by the committees at Rich
mond and the meeting In this city. After
ali. the Convention is nothing more than q
meeting for conference, which, under &C.
nervous inspirations, may exercise o potent
influence for good; but even If failure,
can leave US in no worse condition than
the one we now occupy.
II is worthy Of notice that the proceed
ings of the meeting were in marked con-
trast to those which distinguished the po-
litical gatherings Of former days. Colonel
Boiling, on being called to the chair, briefly
explained the object of the call Mr..
Kelly submitted the resolutions, accom-
panying them by few remarks; the reso-
lutions were then read and adopted with
out any prolonged discussion; after which
Captain Lyon was called on for speech,
the delivery Of which did not occupy more
than five minutes. There were none OF
the long haraDgues by excited orators,
such as we were accustomed TO In times
past, to are up the popular heart /; but
everything was done in decency and In
order in the space Of forty or forty-dve
minutes.
The teachers of several Of the Sunday
schools OF the city have INDUCED their
pupils this summer In picnic parties. An.
other Is TO come off early next week, com.
posed Of the children Of the High-street
Methodist Church. This is by far the
largest school in the city, the number Of
pupils being two hundred and thirty, with
IN average attendance of from and hun.
dred and ninety five TO two hundred.
Neither Of the other schools, indeed, can
boast Of more than bali that number. The
committee Of arrangements have selected
. nne oak grove near Ford's depot, In Din
widdie, for the place Of entertainment
and It Is supposed the whole party-teach.
ers, children, and invited guests-will be
upwards Of three hundred. Captain Good.
wyn, Of the Southside road, has offered to
furnish the necessary transportation free
Of charge. 81. a y d
Two Of tbs small craft ussd Cor the
transportation u msrchsndiso between
this port and City Point sunk IN the river
yestcrds5.G Some little effort 10 made for
kgctting the channel of the river in more
bayiGable condition by dredging machines
and the wharves are undergoing repairs
and In some cases renewal; but Q great
deal has yet TO be done 10 restore the Ap.
pomattox TO the state in which It was be.
fore the war. II II to DO feared that the
halfway measures arc prevailing, either
from the want or funds or the lack Of en-.
terprise. should regret TO believe that
Petersburg Is less public spirited than
formerly, but II win require determined
effort 70 maintain the prsstigs ef heS name.