The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-09-26

| Whereas we, the ex-Eeueral officers, sol
| diers, and sailors Of the arrhy and naty Of THE
United States now residents of the State OF
| Virginia, having fought to preserve the unity
| of the Government and the principles upon
| which 1t was founded, and having success
fully overcome all armed opposition to that
| Government, have assembled here In council,
under full appreciation of the solemn obli-
CATION resting upon u.s. to perform another
and much more agreeable service to our Co
vernment-riz., TO discharge faithfully our
deeply regret the feeling Of discord that exists
| between those who, though lately struggling
| for separate government, have now no inte
rests but in common with ourselves. And
| that we regard an expression of our opinions
| rs a duty we owe, not only to ourselves, but
to those with whom many of US have lately
| associated our fortunes; therefore be 1t
| Reseired That we, the ex:Federal soldiers
and sailors Of the United States. army and
| navy, adopt the following resolutions rs an
expression of our principles.
ReSotred, That we regard speedy Testora-
| tion to the Union Of those States lately in
rebellion as second only in Importance to the
recognition of the supremacy of the Govern;
| alike, to the peace, prosperity, and happiness
Of ali classes
Resolred, That we recognize the fact that
With Congress alone rests the power to restore
| these States to the Union, and that restora-
| tion can only take place under the reconstruc-
tion acts of Congress, and pledge ourselves TO
| honestly and faithfully carry out the provi-
sions of those acts in restoring Virginia to
her position in the Union.
| ReSolred, That no republican form Of govern.
ment can permanently exist without a full
recognition of the principle cf political equal
ity Toy all men, without distinction Of race OF
color That the ballot is the best protec tiona a
| freeman can have for the security of his
rights And that we pledge ourselves to the
support of such measures rs viii secure to all
| men, of whatever race or color, or previous
condition, the ballot and equal political rights.
Resotred, That no republican form of go.
yernment can be wisely administered without
| Il general education of the people, and that
we are in favor of the system of free schools
supported by all and open to all.
ReSotced, That we regard the presentsystem
OF taxation as partial, and especially burden
some to the Ia boring man, and that we are in
| favor Of n more general and equal distribu tion
| OF its burdens upon all classes who enjoy the
blessings and protection offered by the CIVIL
government 1t main tainS.
Resolced, That we have great hope in the
future Of Virginia; that with her agricultural
| and mineral resources, and her facilities for
Manufacture, and with that change in her in
dustrial system which now renders labor IN
honorable instead of \ menial service, which
will cordially invite and must bring 10 our
State-its legitimate share of emigration, with
out which it will for many years be impossible
to develop those resources, we may hope to see
Virginia take her place alongside of Ohio and
Pennsylvania and Massachusetts in her agri-
cultural, her mineral, and her manufacturing
products. .
Resolved, That we have nnabated confidence
in that great Union organization which, when
danger threa tened our common country, stood
by and for the main tenance Of Its Govern
ment, and still seek 4 harmonious restoration
Or ali the States TO the Union by guaranteeing
to all it's citizens that principle embodied in
the Declaration of Independence that all men
are created free and equal and endowed with
certain inalienable rights and privileges;
among which are life, liberty and the pursuit
uf happiness.
Colonel Merrill moved that the report of the
committee be adopted.
Mr. Charles A. Porter moved that the reso-
lutions be read, and voted upon separately.
Adopted.
The lst, Cd; and Sd resolution were read, and
adopted without discussion.
The 4th resolution was read when Captain
Roach offered the following amendment to
the clause about general education:
"a system of free schools supported by all
and open to ALL
Captain Platte offered as 4 substitute:
"That we favor system Of common school
education, which shall insure to all classes an
equal participation in all its benefits
Captain Roach's amendment was put TO
vote, carried and ordered to be embodied in
the resolution.
The fifth, sixth, and seventh resolutions
The preamble was, on motion of Colonel
Merrill, then read.
Captain Plat stated that one thing import
ant to the prosperity of Virginia was omitted
in the resolutions, and that was the usury
law. He thought that it was time that Vir-
ginia should strike out from her statutes that
relic Of barbarsm; that as long as that law
existed the State would never prosper. He
then offered the following resolution; which
was adopted:
" Resolved, That We favor modification of
the usury laws of Virginia sufficient to induce
foreign capital to seek investment in the
State.
He then offered the following:
"That, believing the principles enunciated
in these resolutions can be made prevalent
only by the success OF the Republican party rs
organized in this State, we hereby recommend
all cX- X-otticers, soldiers, and sailors now citl-
zens of Virginia, who have not already done
so, to join 1T once the Unconditional Union
Republican party of Virginia, and as an or
ganization we do hereby adopt and approve
the platform of said party adopted by the
convention which met in Richmond on the
18th of April last
The colored delegate seconded the motion.
Ma jor Clinton moved that it be laid upon
the table. Adopted.
Mr. Porter moved to strike out of the pre-
bic % that we recognize and deeply regret
the feeling of discord that exists between those
who, though lately struggling for separate
government, have now no interest but in
common with ourselves" He deplored the
estrangement which now existed between the
loyal party and those, by whatsoever name
they were Called who fought in the late re-
bellion. The doors of the loyal party had been
long open foE~their admission, but they came
not, aud the discord was due altogether to the
late rebels; and he wanted the blame laid
where it belonged.
Colonel Merrill opposed the motion to strike
=. "a h hs,,ly hat th la3 at,11,
should be called {" bad rebels" and be told
that they could not come in. He wanted every
vote, and wanted the Convention to show that
it sympathiZed with them.
Mr.. Porter asked the Colonel if that pre-
amble was not q bait to catch Conservatives.
Colonel Merrill replied yes; whereupon Mr.
Porter said he wanted TO catch conservative
votes too but he wanted TO catch them right,
and hold them when caught But he feared
that while they were catching 4 few conSer-.
vative votes the party would lose Il thou
sand colored votes. The late rebels were not
disposed to take advantage of the favorable
terms offered them, but were continually en-
gagged in fomenting discord. He stated that
in some places he himself had to be guarded
because he had been proclalming the glorious
truths of repuhlicanism
The motion to strike out was then put TO
vote, and adopted
The preamble, with the cnange OF sentence,
was then adopted.
Colonel Merrill moved that the Convention
ex tend its thanks TO the President for the able
manner in which he had presided over the de-
liberations of the Convention.
General Wells called Major Clinton to the
chair, who put the motion; which was unani-
mously adopted.
General Wells then arose, and said he had
to thank the Conrention-frst, Tor electlng
him second, for the respect he had received;
and lastly, for the vote Of thanks just read.
He did not come because he wanted to mingle
in politics, but because be had been asked, and
felt that this Convention was TO meet to de-
Iiberate and act upon matters that would
benefit the country With the me mbers of the