The New York herald., 1867-05-27
Viz GINA.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS o. THE AtaALu.

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS OF THE HERALn.
Reconstruction Where Are Representatives.
20 Come From e-The Cinss Proposed Effect
OF Radical Oratory in the Soutb-PoI.sical
Meeting Of Mechanics and WorkinGmen-
Platform Adopted-Poiitical Ideas Of the
Freedmen-Touchipx and Effective Speech
by Oue OF the Vice Presidents. sc.
.4 PETresBrRe Va, May q, 1857.
Judging by the progress OF reconstruction In the
SOUTH II serious impcdiments arise. the States
lately in rebellion may by the end OF two years,
II not sooner become sufficiently loyal TO re-
sumo their places IN the Union. In view Of
such circumstance, tho question recars to ths
Southern people, taking into consideration the iron
clad OATH who will represent them in the national coui
ciss The OF their own choice are debared, evsi
though not prominent in the rebellion; the class Of
political aspants the SOUTH OF the Hunnicut order
as in this State would be representatives Of neither
whites nor negroes Excluding these classes there
are very few OF q middle order from whom 0oveEnors
Congressman and legislators could be chosen, wbt
would advocate the interests Of their constituents OF
embody their sentiments. sst
In such contingency certain southern newspaper
are beginning agitate the question OF inviting clas
OF men from the North known as "peace democratic
TO become candidates Tor positions which t1ey cian
unreconstructed Southerners Franklin Pierce u Il
vallandigham, Henry Clay peane and Thomas =: ssy'
"a
new galaxy OF Southern representatives to assemble y
Washington when reconstruction ID completed. SucI
an idea is less feasible than ludcrous, and were 70 oe
carried into execution II s scarcely probable that the
gentlemen named would be acceptable 70 Congress,
though loaded with the proposed honors.
There is little doubt that the radical orators now
stumpng the South dong the cause OF rcconstruo
ton injury Not content with the most perect
submission the part Of tho Southern people and ne
utmost assurances TO effect, Messrs. Kelley and VII
son have omitted opportunity 10 remind tho Southern
peope or the terrible past irring up bitter memories
rama faufv
horrors and nhumanity OF slavery On the other nano
they laud the loyal negro, array him against the WINE
man. and hint toward the probable conhscaton OF the
properly Of their former masters which, In such case
would be parcellod anon them. Such programme
will interfere sadly with tho restoration Of our country
and its ultimate prosperity and happiness Whereve
Judge Kelley speaks Is now scarcely listened 70 Dy
sands. The 's people Of The North should lock we'll
this, II they expect to have loyal happy and unte'
country once more.
A meeting Of the mechanics and workingmen Of thf
CITY held here Tonight for the purpose OF forming
political association of worknsnen IN THIS city, lara
number OF eoored men present. and after ofhcel
were elected the foloslng platform adopted amid
vast deal Of confused discusson:-
whereas the people Of yrsins wi upon The sonps
called upon TO determine whether there shall be con
delegates convention is essential to the best inter
sss Of al 70 S sa s n action % the voter s
~ good faith the recent sgsaon Of E that sn
Of the Union, and that peace may again be permanently
TO ths end we the mechanics and workingmen Of sbe
city Of Petersburg IN public meet ng assembled adopt
Article l. Tho constitution OF the United States o
.mona ss ses o. ss uno e
the act Of Congress the shellsbarssa
Resolved That all citizens, wishoa. regard
or Co 3 me sy nS es Ssm q sp
with in maintaining these articles containing s tha
the Congress Of the United States requires for our sesora
TSas dsss a' Il .sno
public appropriation br which both cooTsd sha
ss !: ;ss
he harmonious co.opsrstion q both .'rV
citizens % attend and participate IN our meetings. and ez
The vote on the Of the ASSOCIATION being tasn
the workingman's Union Association was adopted,
but the word republican" which embodics the negroQ
colorcd saen present voIed in the negative, showing
how thoroughly imbued they were with tho doctrines
Of their radical teachers This somewhat annoyed the
white portion or the audience who, however rerainod
I from an, demonstra;on. t
Mr. Tsppsy one OF tho v,ce presidents and ad-
drcs4 cd the colored follows:Hc had noticed
number OF his colorod friends vote mo" Why was Il
they preferred tho Of party organization q the
North He supposed was because they thought that
party their most particular friends that they would
cord them rights WHICH wonii be denied by Others that
they would associate with thein and invite thom into
their parors a. well as labor them in the Workshop
He greatly feared If such tho belief Of hts hearers
they were ma,asen II The past could be criterion 70
judge by. He asked them-How have co!ored nan
been treated in tho Northf Have they been allowedto
work sdo by side with white men In Northern work.
shops? Were they made equals OF In any essential
respect whateverf mo" said the speaker; and he
would rece the kind OF colored men had
been subjected 70 there, rs it would do good. He
asked them to wait until the Dutch, rish Scotch and
the Yankees Gockiag to Virginia by hundreds,
they would do; for the Old Dominion s certain TO be-
come great manufacturing statc Then they would
how they would be driven from their workshops
and from every respectable and lucrative employment
He told them they would then wish they bad
listened 10 the sober advice and counsel that
Southern men had given them, the men among whom
they had been raised, with whom ihev bad played in
childhood by whose side they had toiled the cid
and the work shops, aud With whom they had drank
water out OF the same bucket Then said the speaker
yon will discover when IS only too lao that youI
true friends were the southern people that you had
known all your ves, not the stranger who oomee
among town your confidence and you Tor the
advancement Of his own personal and selfish ends"
This short but toaching address had marked effect
the coored portion Of the assomblagc They could NOT
but admit that there was strong argument In that
carried conviction home, and they began to think they
had trusted too blindy 70 tho new friends who he'd
taken them grauitousy under their charge Whateve,
southern men would do, they were becr enabled
70 judge Of their sincerity. but their Northern friends
were mystery they could not we'll fathom. The word
republican, was not again uttered during tho meeting
and the audience dispersed, both pleased WI
what had been Gone and said.