Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-12-06
Judge UnderwOod's Speech at the
Opening of the Va. Convention.

Gentlemen of the Conr"ntlon.::
Sincerely sorry that your sufrages have not
secured an ADLER snd/a wiser presiding officer,
you have my hearty thanks for you generous
and hat:ering appreciation OF my poor efforts
in the cause Of freedom ard human equality.
God grant that, with Christian charity and
benevoicnce to all, ard with as much forglY,I
ness and -torgettulness of past injuries and
past conflicts, as is consistent with future safe
ty, we may address ourselves to the great WORK
OF framing the. most humane, beneficent, equal
and just cons tuition possible constitution
which shall provide for all rhe children Of Vlr-
gina. that modest and cheapest defence or
States and preventive Ct. cIlmcs-a thorough
and efficient mental and moral education, dit
fusing knowledge and wisdom as the blessed
sun d!ffuses light ard heat; promoting indus
| try, arts, manufacture and commerce,. and en-
couraging ali the higher developments OF
mind and heart, which give elevation OF pur-
rose. dignity and refinement OF character and
spread the kind charities and sweet amenities
Of Republican civilization; through all the &C
t~ivities of. public and private, social and DO,
nestle life. May we frame a constitution
which shall remove unequal and UNJUST taxa
ton in the shape of licenses, and IN every other
form from all useful and lawful business pur-
suits, and make every citizen contribute to the
necessities Of the State in proportion to his
property, protected by the power OF the State.
a constitution which shall give to every family
as a school and refuge of those heavenly VIZ
tues that glority the relations Of husband and
wife, Of parents and children, in reasonable
hopc of obtaining The security and sanctlty or
q castle, by means of 4 provision e1emptlng a
comfortable house from forced sale for future
debts, and so surround and Inspire Our people
with a sense of patriotism and independence,
adding to manliness, all the claims naturally
resulting from the consciousness Of dwelling
amid our W vines and trult trees, where more
shall be able to modest or make us afraid.
Ever aiming at impartiality and equity In
dischalging the responsible duties you have
imposed on me, and asking much indulgence
for the many inevitable mistakes OF .lnexpe-
rience in this branch of the public service,
await the further pleasure Of the Contention.
Do1sGs IN RIcHMoND.-Lewis Lindsey, i,
appears, cannot stand the pressure. The sim
pie honor of being a member of the Constilu.
tional Convention may not have affected his
stability, but six or eight dollars per diem is
more than ho cao afford. Attest His perfor-
mances in the oeighborhood of the second
market yesterday morning at about half-past
7o'clock. Lewis was full to OVERLOOKING with
incendiary spirit. He had more Of the afOre-
said spirit concealed about his person than he
could conveniently carry. He bctook him
self to The saloon Of fellow citizen, and I'M
pressed with the idea that he could c~z-oficio
frame a fattorm' for the proprietor, ON
menccd an official Investigation of his political
status. Not being satisfied that the man was
"all right from his standpoint, Lewis drew
his pisto! in true big Ingun" style, and threat
ened him with the vengeance Of the Radical
gods. 'He vas timber of zthe Cnshtush'
nal C'nvenshin, an be bad p'rfect right to
shoot any man q zthc wurr'ld iess'n he was all
right" Things looked squally, and the squaI-
Iier they grew the louder grew Lewis's words.
Finally, some of his Radical trends fearing
that he might occupy a seat on the prisoner
bench in the Mayors Court, instead Of hi.
seat in the Convention, brought up a hack, and
taking him up body and bones, bore him off to
his domicli.
Policeman Angle, being informed that there
was a disturbance in the ncighborhood, arrived
upon the scene in a few moments after be was
driven Of.
Lewis a~ppealed in the Convention at -
o'clock somewhat cooled down, but just in the
humor, nevertheless, to use the chairman s hist
as q s%pittoon, Or inform the Convention that he
was the only mar in the body not q fool. Ills
model speech, cvidencing that his mind was as
clear as mud, will be found in the proceedings.
Riichmoud Dispatch.