The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-10-07
COUNTY POLITICS.
RADICAL MASS MEETIN(
Nomination for Convention.

\ notice published for week before the ap.
pointed day called together an immense crowd
Of negroes on Saturday last At the county
courthouse. Although The weather was ex-
ceedingly inclernent, four hours before the
time designated in the call the free coored citi-
Zens of Henrico began 20 throng the yard and
~ l2 o'clock the courthouse was crowded to
Overlooking.
The assembage was promptly called 10
order; but neither the president nor the secre-
tlry of the elbow Tavern meeting were pre-
sent, and accordingly new officers were
chosen. Nelson Hamilton, colored, was elected
president, and ). I. Anderson, colored, secre-
tary. Immediately after the president took
his seat the usual scenes and confusion at
.endant upon Radical party meetings were
presented. Although our reporter took ex-
tensive notes we cannot waste valuable space
in 4 description of the disorderly proceedings
but we will state in few words and rs mildly
as posi- bic what was done.
wry looking old gentlem named O Hara
was the moving spirit; and the most amusing
feature Of the performance was the activity
with which he hoped about the floor, nov
proposing measure, making motion, call.
ing TO order, speaking, or strutting backward
and forward with his hands in his pockets,
putting in word or two in and out of season.
He suggested that n committee should be ap-
pointed 10 nominate delegate to the Conven-
ton After much hard fighting between the
colored brethren, the motion was carried, and
the following were appointed on the COM
mittee:
Frank Dickman (whte), Michael Harvey
fcoloredl Colonel n. Smith (white), George
Williams and Joe Terrell (coored). Colonel
Smith declined the honor, and much difficulty
was found in finding u complement OF whites
for the committee. The confusion attending
this business having subsidized, the committee
were called up for instructions from the pre-
sident.
a very dark darhy, with belliGerent g"s-
lures, moved that the committee SIT down
and hear speeches about the candidates.
"Twant no use Of gwine into this thing
cries of NO, No. Speeches, Let EN- go
out, Swan Order Smith - accompanied
bv unntellgble groans and yelis, striking OF
sticks and threatenings from the chair.
& tall mrlattc Of very respectable appear
once moved that sergeant arms be ap-
pointed to preserve order and TO Tar that
PLATFORM
Carried.
Brother Page being nominated and
elected Immediately proceeded TO carry out
his instructions, and cleared the platform Oh
all but the chairmah and Il few able and sable
assistants These movements created much
more disorder and great Complaints on t!e
part of the ousted parties. AT length: now
ever, comparative quiet was restored, and the
committee retired for consultation. Nhlie
thus occupied, John Woodrow gained the
floor, and obtained leave TO address the assem-
Dlage Oh benalt OF L C;tlulutle lOi NlioIh hc
Wished the people to vote. He stated that
although he had long been member of the
Republican party. nothing had given him SO
much pleasure rs lie experienced in proposing
the name Of Colonel Norman Smith as dele
gate from Henrico county TO the approaching
Convention Colonel Smith was 4 gallant
soldier and Il true Republican. He had fought
his way through the war, over many bloody
battle fields, and had gained his title rs L Toe
10 slavery.
Mr.. Woodrow had hardly got under way
when the Committee on Nominations came in
and announced that they were prepared with
Il report.
The meeting were anxious to hear il, and
Woodrow was obliged to stop his remarks.
the report recommended DIR. @. W. Swan az
the choice of the meeting for delegate 10 the
Convention. y minority, III the person OF
| &" Mr.. Rock" advocated Colonel Norman
Smith.
Wiry O'Iara, in 4 state Of nervous excite.
mcnt Jumped up. and, prancing around the
floor with hands in his pockets, said such 4
repurt WAS utterly unhcard OF hat did that
committee mean :? Who mHS Mr kockf
\ mulatto man moved that the report be
(which onc?" (Which one p "Qucs-
tom "Speech -
Disorder for about five minutes. Ouara
prancpc Mulatto gestures and threatens.
President raps his hard fist on the desk. Ser
ceant.at-ar,ns Wells for order and hustleS Il
man from the platform. miscellaneous calls
and mournful Sroans. Frantic appeals for
order. Finally the president puts the ques,
ton whether Mr.. Woodrow shall be allowed
ro proceed, and everybody votes aye without
the most remote idea of the question, ana only
because everybody else seems TO DO SO.
Another calm. and Mr.. Woodro" proceeds
w;th his eu,ogy or Colonel Smith, but has
only spoken Il few sentences when the rcspec-
I,hle mulatto before mentioned arose To 4
"p'int of order"
.ls Mr.. Smith in the house?"
Speaker er.-Yes, he is.
Then STOP / protest against discussing Il
mans character when mes nigh by 70 near l..
Sergeant-at- -Arms.-My worthy brother,
will you jest set down ,
| The usual uproar and miscellaneous calls.
| At length Colonel Smith was called on, ap-
| peared npon the platform, and was requested
| 10 yindicate his character. The Colonel stated
| that he was very much embarrassed ana
| hardly knew what to say. He was not accus-
| toned 10 public speaking. From Wllit was ne
| expected to vndicate his character lie
claimed to have been a Republican from u
| lime whereof the memory OF man runneth
not to the contrary" He had llfeu III irsi-
| MIA six ycars--fOur years rs Il soldier OF the
| Union. True, he did not belong TO the secret
| Union League; but he did belong 10 that
| great league which conquered slavery and re-
! bellion-the Army of the Republic. lie adFo-
Gated Il system of free schools, and thought
| the meeting ought 1T once TO adopt some feso-
| luIions on this and other subjects. business
|
| Colonel Smith soon concluded, ana IL WAS
| evident from the loud calls that Swan was
the most popular man. The latter promptly
| appeared, and thanked the audience IN
| few words for their kindness. lie was
not a public speaker. Everybody could
see that at 4 glance He had not 4 lhlsheu
| education. TThe first sentence convinced our
reporter Of that.l He had nothing TO say, pt
would cheerfully support whoever lne meet
| ing might nominate for the Convention
| As swan gracefully retired, little y Hara
snranr TO the ioor-hands in his pockets, and
prancing over the foor-demandng 10 kno"
if there was anything on the floor.
| The Prpsident.-|The Char are not aware
| of ANYTHING, Mr.. O Harry.
| O'Hara.-''T Then move we 60 into vote.
Great uproar for five minutes. Inc ser
geant-at-arms At length restored order.
| Mr.. Woodrow said "a great many citlIchS
OF Richmond were Il pushih VI tnei't@'''' g
| in this meetiu'." ="
He was ruled out of order but the presiden'
remarked that if any citizens OF hlchinoho
,o.rs present with the kindest OF teeiins
he would say I'VE must do the work "hal
". have 10 do III our own peulier and proper
sphare."
| ton. and an AYE from four hundred hoaTst
| voices proclaimed him the choice OF the meet
ing Only few distant noes were hearu.
| ! number of motions were then Offered
| about committees, platforms, and resolutions
but the motion 10 adjourn was mace siilul
taneously by 4 score, and being frst put wa;
| of course carried. .,a
| tall darky 1T once mounted the slanu
| and uttered the following Impressive remarks
| accompanying them with violent gestures
| did ANYBODY ever see sich p;tsSel OF "oou
| headed fools What did ye all vote aye LOT
| You don l know what you're about! lou V
| gon. and 'iourned wdoutadoptln Tesolutio' w
or :. nlatform. Consequence IL, the Whole
Marty : rwine down 10 perdition faster I
| thar legs can carry uIn.
! We left him mutterlng 10 small cEo"u' w
| Thus ended another Radical meeting W.
| noticed none of the prominent thloh iheu -