Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-05-17

Mass Meeting of whites and Blacks at
the African Chureh-Address of ITOr.
ace GreeIey-He FaV0rs Equal Rights
and acknowledgements Of RebeIs-Op-
poses ali Schemes of COnflscatiOn-
Gerrltt Smiths Advice 20 COIOreSi
People.
Correspondence Of the Cincinnati Commercial.
RICHMOND, Va, May IA large mass
meeting was held tonight at the African
Church. Half the crowd were white, and
many ladies' Horace Greeley and Gerritt
Smith addressed the meeting.
Mr. Greeley did not come to dictate to
any party or sect, either as to their views or
antecedents, but simply to state his views
to the citizens of Virginia in reference to
public affairs. He spoke in a friendly feel
ing. Feuds and hatred should be dropped.
He favored immediate submission to all
acts of Congress, immediate reconstruction,
full and equal rights and suffrage, and also
the speedy enfranchisement of the Rebels
now disfranchised by action of Congress.
The action Of the Southern people during
the last two years, in not organizing free
suffrage governments caused the reconstruc-
tion act, which should be at once accepted.
He opposed confscation, and advised the
colored people to buy farms, as the surest
way to get them. He denounced and dis
countenanced mobs, and eulogized the COL
ored people for their good conduct and
bravery during the war. He foretold happy
prospects for the South. Universal suf-
frage must be engrafted in all the State
and Federal constitutions. He said no one
favored confscalion but Stevens. He fa-
oil ha ,oll
that colored people could get them. The
latter days of Virginia would be prouder
and greater than the former.
Mr.. Greeley was greeted by enthusiastic
cheering and applause throughout.
Mr.. Gerritt Smith then arose, and, ir a
forcible speech, blamed the North more
than the South for the war. The pro-
slavery party in the North had always
helped the South.
He contended that the South was not in
the Union. Virginia was not State.
She must be reconstructed. All should be
in the bonds Of mutual love. He hoped
the South would accept the situation and
come in. The South are conquered peo.
pie, and should admit it and act as such.
There was no disgrace in that. They had
fought well. The whole people Of the
South should submit promptly to the terms
prescribed by Congress. He was opposed
to confscation, and assured them that it
would never be tried Universal suf-
frage and equal rights for all races
and colors, was his doctrine. All persons
should vote. He opposed dislranchising
any one, and asked the colored people of
the South to petition Congress to give the
franchise to the late Rebels. That would
be glOrious act. He advised them to go
to work, come in aa States, and elect proper
men to Congress. The North would help
the South now with means, money, and aid
of all kinds. The colored man Tust not
vote for any man not opposed to slavery
and in favor Of equal rights and suffrage in
all respects. The colOred man is the equal
of the wite man, and must be so respected.
He made lengthy remarks about mobs.
He said black mobs were as bad as slavery.
Leave mobs to white men. Be orderly,
law-abiding; seek Justice in the courts and
at the ballot-box; build schools and
churches drink no rum; let the question
"what is a black man " be answered "a
good citizen, who drinks no rum" Let
, white men drink all the rum, and the black
man work and buy land and he will soon
own half the land in Virginia.
He was repeatedly applauded, and at Ole
time received three cheers, in which the
white persons present Joined heartily.