The New York herald., 1867-04-22
Interesting Letters OF Herald
Correspondents.
CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE.
SCENES AND INCIDENTS.
RECONSTRUCTION PROGRESSING.
DC. &C. DO i20
vIR GINA.

sirod-Contenpt for the Democracy
Speeches Of Sable Oratsrs-Adjournmenr
0pen Air Mass Meeting, &C.. &c.
RIcHNoND, Va. April 18, 1851.
Tho Radical convention which organized yesterday
met again to-day in the African church. the attendance
or delegates and others being very numerous Mr.
Hawxhurst, Of Alexandria, presided The colorsd men
asserted prominence in the proceedings Of the
venton than ON the previous day. The speeches
OF most desutOry and sero-comic character. Some OF
the delegates evidently little acquainted with politics
and parliamentary rules with the geography Of Rus
sian America made such amusing addresses even
If no political end was attained BY the convention the
general enjoyment realized must have had healthy
effect
Connscatng the property OF the late rebels was hailed
by majority Of the colored men with applause.
Suggestions to that effect cmanated chiefly from few
managing white men. Some Of the more sensible and
intelligent colored delegates expressed themselves
temperate and rational way against the desire for
fscation. They willing to take whatever Congress
might feel satisfied to give them bat the
camor OF of their brethren for distribution of
Southern lands There is Ques tion but the radical
party here will receive fresh imp from this Con-
vention They are numerically weak but the organiza
ton Is marked by discipline and persistence OF active
exerton in propagatng It's theories that surprise
need be felt If they make tangible impression the
proceedings Of the forthcoming general Convention.
Resolved That anthems of eternal praise and
ing Be offered Almighty God for the deysrance and
for Congress Of Christian patriots who stand as buwark
wicked designs Of reacherous Executive.
That in the aposscy and outgoing Of Andrew
rse Noses los hays s to Us the Moses Of
tbs poe kp preserve hbsrtss protect 10 loyal
Resolved we believe that the safety perpetuity
Of our institutions depend the integenoe and virtue Of
Of we the
all over two sunaea sa. & those
smal parcels for the diffusion knowledge and promuI
o. be and & e
Resolved That the democracy of the North having always
been the willing tools Of the slave propagandsts OF the
treason they have evnced Willingness to return the freed
sn 70 sGav G 70 earnestly n M a s 70
all Of justice and humanity earned the hearty con-
long and times acrimonious debate ensued as to
whom they indebted for the origin and inspiration
OF the Sherman Reconstruction act
1haddeus Stevens the mention Of whose name
the signal for applause, declared to be the Of
all others to whom the colored race should give the
o. ss Of sna y ns e0 IN
II finally determined to call the act the Stevens
shellabager act rejecting the name Of Sherman less
Mr. Wilson, coored delegate from Norfolk, proposed
resolution wherein treason and traitors denounced
coniscation He called TO order by member, the
point being that previous resolution had set the con-
nscson question AZ resh iHoelns oeemeo mpon!c ana
forth 70 the people.
Mr. Wilson, in explanation, said he was misunder-
stood he had fought In the federal army In the bloody
fight Of Port Hudson and Oustee: but he incapable
Of offering such q base resolution TO rob the poor
willows and orphans Of the Confederate dead but he
The question Of conhscaton was unluckily for the
harmony Of the Convention, reopened by some other
In which the authority OF the Chair was ignored for
time, followed till the afternoon recess Over
together. and much disorder prevailed for
short time. II was evident there were two
parties in the Convention that might bo termed the
connscaiion and the anti-conGscation parties Very
little controversy Of the nature INDUCED In might
have had the effect Of breaking up the proceedings.
During the however, private conferences were
held and more polite course OF action determined
One Of the coored delegates from country dis
said Congress did not concede additional rights
70 the negro-ihat Of appropriatng the property OF
rebels be ng OF themho would have 1t by violence
a the point of the sword This sentiment he afterwards
retracted at the request Of another delegate.
In the afternoon several very Intelligent coorcd men,
who had hitherto spoken made addresses of much
force and eloquence in debate that ensued the fol-
lowing extraordinary resolutions, offered by Mr. Wilson
(c0lored), Of Norfolk:-
Resolved That the conscaon passed by Congress In
upon rebellion the blackest Of crimes and
by Re
people and the world OF his unatnes for the
asn oa BE- aned Sy mankind
dce worthy of all praise
Mr.. Fields Cook, delegate from Richmond, in dig.
nned and temperate way, said there much in the
proceedings Of the Convention he condemned. The
wrong being taken in introducing resolutions
and speeches avoring conscation and other extreme
measures II they wanted to ALLEVIATE the white peo-
ple OF Virginia and lose the fruits they might
sSer former mssers thew were adopting the
There seventy thousand colored voters
the state but II would require nfty thousand white
voters along with that number 10 q majority
Where these white voters 70 come from, II they
widening the breach between themselves and
their Southern neighbonf
Mr. Cornelius Harris (colored) Of Richmond sup
ported the resolutions and In rather ingenious fashion
went on TO prove the logical morality Of conhscaton.
II Congress could take away from the rebels their prop
erty in slaves would DO equally consistent conrs
cate their property in lapda
stood ND and mado q very fiery address in support
He was ready 90 further than confscation he
would like 70 every rebel disfranchised and the col
ored race the only loyal people OF Virginia the rulers
He would cay to thsss rebels, however, you going
headong 70 destruction; your lands belong
the republican party and you may ye be saved He was
living among the rebes but nevertheless he would
advocate republican and Union principles Have we
lvess'' Pausng !, were for reply, somo luekless
Sambo cried .No;, but, was Afterwards explained,
in the room'' was Immediately raised, and OF
wild confusion followed "Put him out" ''punch do
rebel nigsahs head,n and other sAnguinary threats
resounded on all s,de2 The niudcious colorcd gem
man was hustled around until at last explanation was
shouted out from ssatoan lungs and quiet once more
restored F& eNt
U0vsr johnson (cooredD opposed the resolutions He
was afraid the apple Of dscord had been thrown in their
midst and that the harmony that should characterize
sher proceedings this important crisis was about be-
ing discarded He asked for peace, for union and Tor
co.operasion with their white fellow citisena
NJ Beckley tcooredb OF Alexandra, made very
es.nes and conservative speech. He imporcd OF them
nos 70 20 70 The people with such platform as had
peen suggested BY members Of the Convention. He be-
lew sns resolutions unwise and mischevous, and he
Tor one wanted rebels property nor no rebels blood
other colored man would do the same
sentiments IKE those met in every instance with an
unfavorable reception. but thoss with radical tone
favoring connscston, dsfranchisemsnt OF whites kc
received thunders o. applause The president 2naly
pus motion TO the Convention that the resolution pro
posed BY NJ wilson Be referred TO q COMMITTEES. which
was carried 70 the infinite relief Of the consrvaiva
membern The next resolution offered created almost
q much exctemcnt the preceding oncs II nronossd
thai the coored people Of Virginia give an undyissd
support 70 Hunnicutt's organ, the Ncp Natior
m. Wsrdweii fwhitel, the proposed candidate so-
Mayor under the new regime, made vigorous speech in
support OF The resolution Mr. Hunncult he Seleved -
Of eyerythipQ and