The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-05-17
Speeches by Horace Greeley and Gerrit'
Smith at Richmond.

RICHMOND, VA, May IA large mass
meeting was held tonight at the African
church half the audience were whites,
many being ladies. Horace Greeley and
Gerritt Smith addressed the meeting.
MIR. Greeley said he did not come to die
tate 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 friendly feei-
| ing. Fends and hatreds should be dropped.
| He favored immediate submission to all acts
| of congress. Immediate reconstruction, full
and equal rights, and also the speedy enfran-
chisement of rebels now DISTINGUISHED by
act of congress. The action of the southern
people during the last two years in not or
| ganizing a free suffrage government caused
| the reconstruction act, which should be at
once accepted. He was opposed to con6sca-
| ton, and advised the colored people to buy
| farms, as the surest way to get them. He
denounced and discountenanced mobs, and
eulogized the colored people for their brav-
cry and good conduct during the war. He
foretold a happy prospect fol- the south
| Universal suffrage must be engrafted on all
the states and on the federal constitution
He said no one favored confscation but Mr.
Stevens. He himself favored all the public
4 lands being sold, so that colored people
could get them. The latter days of Nir
ginia would be greater and prouder than the
| former.
/ He received enthusiastic greeting, cheer
ing and applause throughout.
Gerrit Smith then arose, and in a forcible
speech. blamed the north more than the
south for the war Pro-slavefy men in the
north had always helped the south. He con
tended that the south was not in the Union
| Virginia was not state, but must be recon
structed. Ali the states should be in bond.
of mutual love. He hoped the south woult
accept the situation and come in. The south
erners are conquered people and shoult
admit it. Such admission was no disgrace
They fought well. The whole people of th'
south should submit promptly to the term
prescribed by congress. He held state right
and northern pro-savery men to blame witt
southern slavery for the war, He was op
posed to confscation. and assured his sud-
ence there would be none. Universal sui
frage tor all, equal rights for all races ant
colors, was his doctrine. All persons sha
vote. He was opposed to DISTINGUISHING an
one. He asked the colored people of tn
south to petition congress to give the fran
0 chise to the late rebels 1t would be q gle
rious act He advised all to go to work
come in as states, and elect proper men
congress The north would help the sout
! to money and aid of all kinds. The colore
man must not vote for any one not oppose
= to slavery and in favor of equal rights an
e equal suffrage. In all respects the colore
e man was the equal of the white, and mu
?, be SO respected. He madea lengthy speec
about mobs said that black mobs were
bad as slavery; he told the negroes to leav
mobs to the white man, to be orderly an
J. law abiding, to seek justice in the courts al
!, at the ballot-box, to build schools al
churches, and to drink no rum. Let tt
question, "What is black MANI" be a
swered, IA good citizen who drinks no run
Let the white man drink all the rum, al
T the black man work and buy land, and
It | will soon own half the land in Virginia. T
was repeatedly applauded, and at one tin
received three cheers, in which the white pc
to sons present joined heartily.
Judge Underwood and GOV. Pierpoint al
" delivered addresses.