Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1867-08-08
The Richmond Radical Convention.

AAOHuOhu NdulCal convention.
s. 1t will be remembered that Mr.. John
M. Bolts was dissatisfied with the action
OF the convention which met in Richmond
IN April last, principally, because it ex-
cluded all except the unconditional loyal
men, aid the freedmen from participating
IN the GLORIOUS work" of demonstrating
the State" and restoring it to its former
relations with the chest government the
world ever saw Hetherefore called an
other convention, which he proposed should
meet in Charlottesville. s.Hunnicutt and
his set, saw that Botts's movement, if
successful, would not only exfoliate the
more respectable and influential of the
party. but place him in the humiliting
position Of second fiddler to the great
Bison He therefore determined to
eircumvent Botts-to beat the immortal
hero of the ''head him or die conspiracy
at his own game And he did. He pro-
posed to Bolts that they should unite in a
call for another convention, to meet in
Richmond on the first day Of August. -
KRowing that it would not do to divide
She party, Bolts caved in, and the conven-
ton was called.
Here was fine opportunity for organi-
zing great party-a mighty republican
party to be composed Of freedmen, 10y
al union men, original anti-secessionists,
and such rebels as were willing to ''co-op-
crate" in carrying out the reconstruction
acts Of Congress. The Richmond Wing,
Charlottesville Chronicle, and one or two
other papers, called upon the people eve
rywhere to call meetings, fraternize with
everybody, and send delegates to the con-
vention, in order that 'Hunnicutt and his
set" might be defeated.
Many of the weakened fell into this
pit, digged by these well-meaning advo-
Gates of Cooperation and are likely
to remain there for some time
The Hunnicutt-B Convention-or,
we should rather say. "Hunnicutt and his
set" and Bolts and his followers, met in
separate conventions, the former in the
African Church, the latter on the Capitol
square.
Immediately after organizing, the AZ
gican Church party reahirmed all that they
did in April, and refused to admit Bolts
and his party into the show upon any
terms, for the present.
Meantime, Bolts was delivering himself
of an address at the square, in which he
proved that he had long ago been charg-
ed with being an abolitionist, &c; and
said that if tie Legislature had adopted
the constitutional amendment, Congress
would not have forced negro suffrage up
on u.s. That is, if we had voluntarily
adopted it, Congress would have saved US
the modification Of having it forced upon
us! We are under many obligations to
Mr.. Bolts fer this profound discovery.
s'Hunncutt and his SET" we are told,
had completed their business on Thurs
day, and were about to adjourn, when a
messenger was sent to them from Bolts,
bearing the 'oliye branch of peace" The
former thereupon agreed to meet Mr..
Bolts and his party on the Capitol square
on Friday, for the purpose of fusing the
two bodies-the irrepressible Hunnicutt
retaining his position of leader of the great
party, and Bolts bringing up the rear.
The two bodies met; they fused; they
became one. Hunnicutt introduced the
Hon. John Minor Bolts to the crowd =
He said: Il am not here as an intruder,
but am here by prescriptive right as a
member Of the Republican party of .Vir-
ginia and of the United States, of which [
have been part from the first" Bolts
proceeded at length to define his position,
and concluded by saying:
IF had participated in the proceed
ings Of the Convention yesterday, from
which, with many prominent gentlemen,
I was excluded either by accident or de-
sign-I hope by the former-I intended
to move to endorse the action of the Con-
yention of the 18th of April Many of
these gentlemen have gone home mortified
at what occurred, although [ earnestly
prevailed upon them to remain until to-day
for an explanation. If there was design
to repulse patriotic Virginians, those who
instigated it committed grievous outrage.
Don't be misled by those who say you have
all the political power in the State. The
Democracy are not making fight now,
and expect to get back into the Union by
the exertion of others This once accom-
plishcd, you will find that while you think
the Democratic party dead, it will be still
alive. It has nine lives. Throw around
you all the protection within your reach,
and receive every man who is willing III
good faith to come into your organization,
Your liberties depend upon your success,