American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-05-22
GREELEY AND SMITH.
Mass Meeting in Richmond.
They Urge the Acceptance Of the
Reconstruction Acts.
Words Of Counsel to Oolored Men,
RICHMOND, May Ii, 1867.


General Schofeld left for Norfolk, to
spend week. The report that the grand
iury had indicted General Breckenridge
and Judge w. Ii. Thomas, is untrue
Gerritt Smith arrived this morning and
signed Davis's bond.
There was large mass meeting to-
night at the African Church. Half of
the crowd were white, and many ladies
we're present 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
feeling. Feuds and hatred should be
dropped. He favored immediate sub
mission to all the acts of Congress i'm
mediate reconstruction, full aud equal
rights and suffrage, and also the speedy
enfranchisement of rebels now disiran-
.chised by act of Congress, The action
of the Southern people during the last
two years, in not organizing free suffrage
governments, caused the reconstruction
act, which should be at once accepted.
lie was opposed to confscation, and
advised the colored pople to buy farms
as the surest way to get them. He de-
nounced and discountenanced mobs, and
was eulogistic of the colored people for
their good conduct and bravery during
the war. He foretold the happy pros
pect for the South. Universal suffrage
must be engrafted in all the States and
Federal constitutions. He said no one
favored confscation but Stevens, but he
favored all the public lands being sold
so that all the colored people could get
them. The latter days of Virginia
would be prouder and greater than the
former. Mr.. Greeley was enthusiast
cally greeted, and cheered end applaud.
ed throughout his speech.
Gerritt Smith then arose and in a
forcible speech blamed the North more
than the South for the war. Pro slavery
sentiment in the North had always help
ed the South. He contended that the
South was not in the Union. Virginia
was not State. She must be recon-
structed. All the States should be bound
IN bonds of mutual love. He hoped the
South would accept the situation, and
come in. The South are a conquered
people, and they should admit it, and
act as such. 1t was no disgrace, They
had fought well. The whole people oi
the South should submit promptly to the
terms prescribed by Congress. He held
States rights and Northern pro-slavery
was to blame, with Southern slavery, toI
the war. He was opposed to eon6scation,
and felt assured that there never would
be any. Universal suffrage and equal
rights for all races and colors was his
doctrine. All persons ought to vote, and
he was opposed to disfranchising any
one. He asked the colored people Of the
South to petition Congress to give the
franchise to the late rebels. 1t would be
a glorious act.
He advised them to go to work and
come in as States Elect proper men tC
Congress. The North would help the
South now with means, money and aid Of
all kinds. The colored man must moi
vote for any one not opposed to slavery
and in favor of equal rights and suffrage
In all respects the colored man was moi
equal to the white, and must not be SC
respected. He made lengthy remarks
about mobs, and said black mobs were as
bad as slavery. Leave mobs to white
men. Be orderly, law>abiding, and seek
justice in the courts and at the ballo
box. Build schools and churches
Drink no rum. Let the question be
"what is a black man." Answer, ga
good citizen" who drinks no rum. Lei
the white man drink all the rum and the
black man work and buy lands, and he
will soon own half the land in Virginia
He was repeatedly applauded. and a
one time received three cheers, in which
the white persons present joined heartily
Judge Underwood and Governol
Pierpoint delivered addresses. The meet
ing was held at the African Church, bu
there was crowd all around Greely
and Smith will go to Norfolk tom orrov
morning.