Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-04-25


A special correspondent OF the New York
Tribune now travelling through the South
writes as follows from Richmond
Yesterday was in the midst of about two
thousand OF the black men of Richmond and
vicinity, and in an address embracing the
present condition of affairs in the South,
touched upon the vote which the colored
people would soon cast for or against liber-
ty, for or against those who yet believed
Slavery for them was right, and freedom a
calamity, and for or against the great prin-
ciples of the Declaration of Independence
and those of the Christian religion. The
audience appeared surprised that / should
have put such questions, and at the close of
the meeting one man came and said Friend,
do you 'spose we colored people forgot how
de fire burned us once ?" '.Do you 'spose we
is gwine to put our hands into il again ?"
Then, in an extended conversation with the
old man, | ascertained some interesting
facts. He said that the man who formerly
owned him came to him the other day and
said: ''Robert, now you are free, and sup
pose you will soon vote like the rest of us.
| want to know whether you will vote for
the Yankees or for the old friends who
stood by you all your lfe." ''Now Robert
you know | always loved you and cared for
you as a father would for son, and now
could you vote tor stranger against me?"
Robert tells me he answered him about as
follows: swell, massa, you was kind to
speak to me so dis mornin, and dat subject
what you mention is somethin new, and
hasn't given it much attention yet; when,
Lord bless my soul my heart was like to
split, for knew it wasn't so at all, cause
has given it more attention of late dan
mas to my church and religion; yes, indeed;
and when was talking to him knew well
enough would never vote de way he votes.
lie was kind enough, to be sure-I gives
him credit for dat-but still he was an Off
Ger in de Rebel army and he fought mighty
hard against you all, and against dis free
iom what now enjoys, and | isn't gwine
to forget dat very soon, no indeed / isn't"
Several smart-looking men stood by and
listened to Robert, and were wonderfully
Interested in all he said. They would say,
occasionally, while Robert was speaking,
8 Yes, Lord, dat s how feels exactly"
The men who calculate ON the negro vote
of the South in the interest of Slavery, or
IN the interest of those who fought for Sla-
very, are foolish. One of the walters of the
sQtel where am stopping told me that there
was crazy s'nigger' in Petersburg who says
he will vote for his old missa-s'now since de
black people has got de right to suffer. !"
| He thus expressed the fact mat there were
lone Of that mind in this city. '.Dc right
suifer'-said the waiter--"Dat shows he's
crazy; and if he should vote for his old
massa, and ever become sensible man, he
will think he deserved the right to suffer.
The idea Of voting that way is simply out
| Of the question in this city. They may in
remote places, and in too large numbers to
be pleasant, vote with their old owners
l al, 1,,,t Al.
| with organization and thorough know
ledge of the situation, as we are now trying
hard to do, the case will be the same in the
country as in the cities.
The harvest is rine for the Republicans,
and all they have to do is to thrust in the
sickel and reap. If they neglect to do it,
they must not grumble by and by if they
find others, the enemies of the blacks, fore
ing them by threats and Violence or by
temptation and entcements, to vote with
them.
A half million of dollars now expended
in the promotion of loyal organizations and
the circulation of loyal literature through
out the South is the thing of necessity this
moment
saw some white unionsts to-day, who arc
in here from the country. They are clamor
Gus for help. If they only had the mean:
| W OiSuuiLC anu NOih lnC1 WOult
go right on. They are burning with zeal bu
pinched with poverty. Our friends in the
North have no idea how anxious these loyal
lists, black and white, are to be united fol
work in the loyal cause. They say they can
carry the Stale if they are helped little
now.
A Radical Convention meets here on We'd
nesday, when some steps are to be taken to-
ward State organization. Some of oul
friends think the organization of State Re
publican party had best he left to subse
quent period, when it is thought all parts o
the State will be fully represented and
thorough organization effected. The bes
Radical men here appear to disown the on,
or two men, who, protesting to be Radicals
have so injured the loyal cause here as t.
keep good and true men away from ou
camps. The prospect now is that they will
he utterly ignored, and the good work carri
ed on by wiser hands. There are some dis
tinguished Republicans here from the Nortl
expecting to attend and address the Conven
tion on Wednesday, and others are expected
paper is being drawn up and signed b,
a number of Republicans inviting Horace
Greeley, Henry Ward Beecher Mr.. Bryant
and others, to come here and address th,
people on politics.