The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-04-06
r ICONS S TRU CTION.
SENATOR WILSON At PETERSBURG, VA.
His View of the situatiOn-Tho Results
OF the War-GOod Advice TO Virgtnians,

0fthe War-GOOd Advice TO Vtrgtminns,
kte. Etc.
From the Petersburg (Vd.) Express Of Friday.
Tue Hon. Henry Wilson. OF Massachusetts
arrived in the city by the 3'20 train from Rich
mond yesterday afternoon, was received at the
depot by General Stoneman, commanding the
district, and others, and was escorted to Jar
rats Hotel, where he took apartments for the
day and night.
During the afternoon he paid brief visit to
the main points OF interest on the lines
accompanied by General Stoneman and friends:
ano upon his return he was solicited by num-
Der of citizens to deliver address before
leaving the CITY,, Although he had not anti
cipated such thing, he consented to speak
from the balcony OF Jatratt's at s o'clock where
upon bills were circulated to that effect through
out the city. tThe notice was sufficient to
attract an immense number of colored people
and several hundred whites including many
OF our leading ana most substantial citizens
The balcony was thronged exclusively with
white tlzens. The assembly was inumin ated
by an improvisation OF railroad lanterns and
pine torches. When Mr.. Wilson appeared 20 the
balcony he was greeted with prolonged cheers
Upon being introduced to the meeting by
Mayor Collier he proceeded IN a plain, un-
tuded manner to make an address, and was
listened to throughout with respect from all
parties. He commenced by announcing that
ne was what is known as n radical Republican,
and that he bad been one Tor thirty-one years.
that the principles OF his party we're the prn.
ciples OF justice, humanity, and liberty; and,
reviewing the history of that period, he said
with the Northern people; that it was not ex-
clusively originated and melted by the people
OF the South. The cause OF the late war was
human slavery. There we're two powerful
parties, one in the North and one in the South,
the fret directly and intensely opposed to
human bondage. the second, inspired by
erroneous ideas Of policy and right, in favor
of it. The latter we're strengthened in their
opinions by the assurance or q mlschieYous
party in the North, who declared that they
would stand by them, even, as in the case of
Vallandigham, of Ohio, If 1t came to war, and
then the aggressive armies of the North would
have to pass over their dead bodies.n The war
came. The Northern counselloTs of the South
neither sactihed themselves nor did their aid in
any other respect avail. The Northern army
met those of the South upon 625 battle-felds,
and 325, 600 men LAID down their lives for human
liberty. Nor did they lay down their lives with
out hard-fought battles. for the armies of the
south fought with herolsm that was worthy
OF q better cause. The war ended, and the
cause OF human liberty was triumphant. Sa-
very, was destroyed foreVer-buried beyond the
reach OF resurrection. Congress now proceeded
to finish the work by regulating the rights of
all; passed the Constitutional amendment a
measure providing, IL was true, certain disabili-
ties, but he believed that before many months
shall have passed, all disabilities would be re-
moved, and every man in the land would stand
equal before the law and possessed OF all the
rights and immunities enjoyed by his fellows.
The same kind of men that had aided in leading
the South astray before had since the war been
engaged in inculcating the belief that radical
hepuDuCd0lSIl
President, acting under the mallen influence of
bad men, had arrayed himself against Congress,
and the Southern people embraced his policy
and stood with him against the party that had
rescued the country, The result is that the
President cannot fulfil their hopes nor
can the Democratic party of the North; nor
eau anything short OF the free and full adop-
tion of the policy OF Congress-. That the
people of the South would do this in the
next two or three months, indications sufficient
TO convince any man assured HIM, and before
another year rolled around he believed that the
people of the whole Union, black and white,
would be entirely fee, and bound together in
tine bonds of union. After some alluson to Mr..
Lincoln he devoted a few remarks especially to
the colored people present. He counselled
them first of all to beware of contentious, to go
forward with a Christian spirit, and take advan-
tage of their freedom, improving their minds
and estates, however humble, ever upholding
tne cause OF liberty, humanity, and justice.
They were as free citizens to-day as the Pre-
sident, and should call no man master They
had the privilege ot the ballot-oox, but IL
was a sacred privilege, and they should
never use 1t but with a prayerful purpose
to use it only right. He concluded by
cautioning the coored people against
the demoralizlng influence of intoxicating
liquors; and then, after few remarks of advice
to the white auditors-advlCe not to be intole-
rant in their opinions, and 10 accord to the
colored man his rights as freely as they de-
mended their own-he thanked the assembla1e
Tor their kindness and courtesy, promised to
carry home with him better opinion OF the
community than he expected to have formed,
and retired amidst great applause. The assem-
blage then quietly dispersed, and to the great
credit of the colored people of Petersburg be ii
said they deported themselves admirably; but
crowd of Richmond negroes. who had come
over expecting TO hear an mcendary speech oil
the Hunnicut order, made themselves yerS
noisy on their return TO the depot by singing,
shouting, and hurrahing.
Mr.. Wilson leaves the city this morning, in
prosecution of his tour. He has discovered in
Petersburg what he Will discover every ywherC
else-that the romance of the rdb6d radicals
concerning the danger of travelling in the South
is in keeping with a good many of the argument!
of that party for political capital.