Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-04-23
Radical Convention in Richmond.

In ODeQlence to the puDlSneu call OF the Otate
Central Committee of the Republican party of
pie of the State, without distinction of color,
assembled in the African Church at Richmond,
on Wednesday, the 18th day of April at II
o'clock, M"
Jno. Hawxhurst called the meeting to order.
Geo. Rye of Woodstock was elected temporary
chairman.
After much confusion and many nominations
the following persons were elected Secretaries
Charles Whittesea, white, of Alexandria Jno.
a. Fitchett, of Richmond city, and George
Ferryman, colored, of Petersburg.
folk, was elected Chaplain of the convention.
On motion of Bentley, colored, of Alexan-
dria, recess of an hour was taken to allow the
Secretaries to make out roll of the delegates
and to allow the audience to go to dinner.
At the expiration of the recess the conven-
ton re-assembled, George Rye in the Chair
The delegates were then requested to take front
seats, which was done. The Secretary called
the roll Of the delegates and large number an
swered to their names
A number of names were objected to as not
being lawfully on the roll, and were stricken
out.
A resolution which required one delegate from
each county represented to constitute Com
mittee on Organization, was then almost unan-
| imously adopted.
The Committee, being appointed, retired,
when loud calls were made for Hunnicutt who
took the stand amid loud and prolonged ap-
plause, and spoke the same old speech.
| He was followed by DR.. Conway, of New
| York, formerly in charge of the Freedmen S
Bureau in Louisiana.
| The Committee on permanent organization
returned and through their chairman, DR..
| Butts, reported the following names of officers
| selected for the permanent organization, which
were received and adopted:
| Pesadent-John Hawxhurst, white.
Vice Presadents-W William Davis, John Marsh,
| r. D. Buckley, Lewis Mckenzie, Ellis Williams,
J. w. Hunnicutt, Willis A. Hodges, DIR. Bayne,
Rev. N. G. Bracket.
.Secretayles-J w. Jenkins James M. Hoag,
and George Ferryman, colored.
.Sergeant-at- Arms-Cornelius Harris
assistant Sergeant-Peter Couch
Chaplain-Rev. George Henson.
John Hawxhurst, the President elect, on ia
king the chair, thanked the audience for the
honor they had conferred upon him; that it
was an honor to preside over the first conven
ton of the loyal people of Virginia and, with
the usual TRADE of abuse against the whites,
took his seat.
On motion, committee on resolutions, 7"
and one on an address were ordered to be
appointed.
A recess of thirty minutes was then taken to
allow the President time to select the members
for the committees.
When the members of these committees were
announced, the Convention adjourned to 10
o o'clock the next day.
Pursuant to adjournment of the day before,
the Convention met ON Thursday at 10 o clock,
A. NJ Prayer by Rev. Geo. Henson, colored,
Chaplain of the Convention.
j. p Baldwin, white of Wythe, offered res
olutions denouncing Andrew johnson as 'sthe
fallen hcJr of the nineteth century, and ia
voring con6scation. They were laid on the ia
BILE.
Jno Clement, white, of Portsmouth, offered
resolutions denouncing the Northern Democra-
cy They were received with reclamation but
no action was taken on them.
Captain j. II. Platt, white, OF Petersburg,
chairman ofthe Committee on Resolutions, read
the following
RESOLUTIONS OF THE COMMITTEE
Whereas, having for the first time in the
history of Virginia assembled at her State cap
ital at the call of a Union Republican State
Committee as Convention Of Union men, for
the purpose of ratifying the acts of the Thirty
| ninth and Fortieth Congress, and adopting
| measures to unite all parties who earnestly and
honestly desire that this legislation should be
| perfected in accordance with the expressed de-
| sire of Congress, and carried out in good faith
| by the people Of this State, we therefore, in
Convention assembled, do
| list. ResOtre, That we return our sincere and
| hearty thanks to the Thirty ninth Congress for
their recent legislation, resulting in the passage
| of the Sherman hellabarger bill and its sup
plement and certify with gratitude that the
beneficial effects of such legislation are already
visible in the increased security of loyal men,
| and in inducing immediate efforts towards re-
construction on the part Of all classes, and that
we do hereby pledge our earnest and persistent
effort to carry out, in good faith, without eva
! sion, with honesty Of purpose, unfinching cour-
age, and never firing energy, all its provisions
| believing that by this course alone can perma-
| nent peace and prosperity be restored to the
State, and an early admission to the Union Sc
cured.
sd Resotred, That in the principles of the
| National Republican party of the United States
we recognize all we can desire as guide in our
| political future that we adopt them as our
platform, and pledge ourselves to their support,
and cordially invite the cooperation of all
classes of our fellow citizens, without distinction
| of race or color. Without regard to former po-
| litical opinions or action induced by such con-
victions, we invite them to join us, and pledge
them warm welcome to our ranks, and full
| anu lTGC pdItiClpdIlOu Ill all the advantages Oh
our organization; and firmly believing that in
the present condition of public affairs, the Re
publican party offers the most available means
through its organization for the speedy attain
ment of permanent reconstruction, we do here
by adopt its principles and platform as the ba-
sis and platform of the Union Republican par
ty of Virginia.
sd Resolred, That we adopt as part of our
platform and as cardinal points in the policy of
the Union Republican party of Virginia the
following propositions:
"lst Equal protection to all men before the
courts and equal political rights in all respects,
| including the right to hold office
| I'D. A system of common school education
which shall give to all classes free schools, and
free and equal participation in all its benefits.
| sd. A more just and equitable system OF
taxation, which shall apportion taxes to prop
erty, and require all to pay in proportion to
their ability
''4th. A modification of the usury laws suf6-
cient to induce foreign capital to seek invest
ment in the State.
18Th. Encouragement to internal improve
ments, and every possible inducement to mmi-
grafton.
a. Resozved, That in the noble utterances Of
the founders of our Constitution we recognize a
true appreciation of the great fact that parties
or governments to be prosperous and success
! full, must be founded and administered on the
basis Of exact and equal justice to all men, and
that we accept as our guides the great prlnci-
| piles enuncated by them, first and most impor-
tant of which Is the GREAT and glorious truth