The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-04-19

power. lie wanted liberal platform, so
that he could take it and go to the people
and ask them to vote for it. But YOU are
measures that will ruin you. He
wanted a farm as bad as any man, and
would take anything Congress would give
him, but he would not, for his own per-
sonal interest, endaugcr the success of the
party. This proposition was outside of the
objects Of this Convention, and would
bring ruin upon it.
What do fght for For rights equal
with every man; for friendship, fellowship,
equality. That all he asked. That
shoald satisfy us all. To still multiply
our demands showed that we neither had
the peace of the country nor the interest OF
the party at heart. fGreat confusion. Many
calling "Mr. Speaker" order, etc. Martin
Iipscomb Joining in the cry for order.l
Oniet being restored, Cook continued,
boldly warning the Convention against the
confscation platform. They had a glo-
rious opportunity; but if they followed
violent councils they would turn it to evil
Win a platform under such guidance, they
would find that they could not carry their
own people, and would break down apd
destroy their party.
Cornelius Harris (black), of this city. got
the floor amidst another storm of cries t"
mir. Chairman" and calls 10 "Order.'
He held it firmly and dcfantly, and at last
got hearing, and proceeded to demand
confScation as inst, and according TO the
requirements Of Holy Writ, amidst great
applause. He said they must look at the
question rightcously and stand upon
righteous base. He repudiatcd all idea OF
the colorcd man submitting to the white
arStocracy of the South, as though the
black were q helpless race-nothing but
muscle-and Of their being led by this
aristocracv, which could not get along
without them, while they received moi
enough to feed themselves for their work.
Harris pronounced the benefits Of Con-
grcss good 50 far--the Sherman bill,
lron-clad oath, supplemental bill-all well
and good "but," said he, "what do the
rebels say? They have got all tie proper
IT," Immense cheering i Mr.. Chairman,
we should not be more magnanimous than
the Creator. When he set the children OF
Israel free, did he send them away PENN
less and barefooted to tread the paths o.
the wilderness Oh, no, He told them
10 borrow of money and jewels, and their
miStrcsscs' clothes. Great and prolonged
chcering.l Harris continued. 1t is our duty
to demand proper securities for freedmen
by giving them each little home for his
own. He went on for some time invcighing
against colored aristocratS who sat them
selves above their neighbors, and against
the "stinking clique" who came in there
fr,p
men, who had been treated so kindly BY
Congress, should not tlattcr rebels by tell
ing them they had right to their proper
ty. They had none. Congress had the
same right to take their land that it had
to set their slaves free. He cAhorted all
10 vote for the resolution.
Now cnSucd another scene Of confusion,
which ended in the floor being awarded to
Wilson, mulatto of Norfolk, who moved
the resolutions, and who claimed 10 be q
soldier, and who claimed TO have enlisted
IN the beginning of the war at New Or
cans on the Union side, TO have fought
some nineteen battles, sustaining several
wounds. He further claimed to be Nlr-
ginian, and said that he was 'driven" from
his mother when only nine years old for
IL
Of a pcnitentiary convict-a
,rIite man. THE crowd "a white man
4 white MANI This cruel story, or
cruel treatment, as you choose, drew the
freedmen to Mr.. Wilson, while that gen
tleman went on TO uphold Congress ana
press contiScatiOn.
lie said his resolution did not ask Con
rress to pass confiscation act; 1t only
aid the act of July, 1862, was wise and
judicial" act. If you vote down my
resolution, you vote down the act of Con.
rress. lie had no idea OF dead laws. lie
wanted Congress TO enforce the law-to
enforce the conScation actor 10 inpcach
Johnson for not enforcing 1t. Great
applauSe.l
Mr.. Wilson was not surprised that colored
people should rise here and say We must
ne lcnicnt to rebels. The hardest battle
he ever fought was at PaScagoula, where
the colorcd people fired from their win
lows at the regiment to which he belonged.
There were always tender hearted people,
50 much 50 often that they sacrificed their
own interests to sympathy for other people.
They ought not to be surprised that weak
kneed persons appeared here. They bad
been lcnient too long. Congress thought
i time 10 be radical. He came here as
Radical. He opposed any sacrifice OF
principle; not even to carry Virginia for
the Republicans, Of which he protested
not to be confident, since there were many
poor, ignorant negroes, as well as white
men, who for tarthing or ham would
vote for anything. lie was for consistency,
for adhering to laws that were based on
justice, for holding to rights they had
tough for. Above all, he seemed deter
mined in no wise to surrender everything
to the rebels and have nothing for them
selves. Furious applause.l
Mr.. Wilson was sorry that he felt 1t ne
cesSary 10 press the contiscation; he would
to God tlat he could even recommend the
enfranch Sement Of all rebels; but their
past coniuct showed they could not be
He came there TO hold up the
hands of congressman; to stand by Mr..
Stevens. He asked if any one there was
opposed to impeaching Andrew johnson.
mo, no; with great unanimity.I The
speaker, in view of possible collision that
might grow cut of impeachment, valor-
ously offered to arm and rush to the de-
fence OF Congress. [Vociferous cheers.I
A white member interrupted the speaker,
reminding him that Mr.. Stevens was par
.icular in not laying the weight Of the
in favor Of contiScation on the
Republican party Of the North. He did
not want to place the responsibility on the
northern people; twas a delicate qucs-
ton, and he claimed that Mr.. johnson and
himself alone were responsible for it. The
speaker was going on 10 say that this sug-
gested the impolicy of putting the weight
of this measure upon the Union party of
when