The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-06-18


Cragc. S Jnne L. 1867
.,.n early hour this morning large num-
lars OF negroes began TO congregate on our
streets, owing TO a report ina, Eenera, II. If, n
pierce' OF Norfolk, was to make speech, who,
.nrer failed 20 come. Your correspondent
,nine,ed with the crowd OF three hundred
."in,al citizens which convened At the court
honse and SENDS you herewith report OF
w Tsc m meeting opened with prayer by Rev.
praacher Tate" an old colored man, who
Commenced 10 speak with eyes open and hands
cesticulatiug, and many around really did not
snow whether he was addressing them or the
Almighty. Prayer over, the colored people
were addressed by Charles II. Porter, OF Nor.
folk-we believe the Commonwealth attor-
ney for that city. The followingis brief alb
s,ract of his speech, which consumed two
He Congratulated his audience on their
changed condition. They went into the war
slaves but emerged freemen. This freedom
was secured 10 them by Congress. The recon-
structon policy Of Andrew Johnson, the trail
tor Of the White House, would practically en-
slave them again. To prove this fact he re-
ferred 10 the legislation of Virginia shortly
after the war, which sought To distinguish be,
tween the white and colored man, and placed
the negro at the mercy of any ignorant justice
of the peace. He referred here, doubtless, to
the yagrant actl The southern people knew
that they deserved hanging for their treason.
The rebellion was not 10 be compared with the
Revolution of 1875. That was struggle
against wrongs inflicted by an English tyrant,
but the United States had never in any way
wronged a single southern State. The doc
trinetof States rights as taught in the South
was false. The chief allegiance OF every citL-
zen was due 10 the Federal and not 10 the
State government. The United STATES ana nor
at first seek TO eXtirpate slavery, because u
great political party of the North favored H.
and to-day the Democratic party is as mnch
pro-slavery in theory as was before the war;
leo n
saiuted Lincoln, the greatest statesman OF the
nineteenth century, proclaimed the emancipa-
tion OF the negro. Then the war becaIne
success. Being free, II is necessary mat lhe
negro shall have political and civil rights, ana
Congress had directed its legislation 10 the at
tainment of this end. All classes ought 10
have equal rights. He favored female SUI
frage. The people will soon see It'll Just and TO
their interest TO give equal rights to all classes
Of citizens.
The teachings of the Republican party were
that negroes had the right TO vote, sit on Ju,
ries, hold Office, and 10 share equally In All
funds for educational purposes. lie favored
social, political, and civil equality. The he
publican party had saved the Union, and in
tended 10 govern it. He urged his hearers TO
support that party by their VoteS. ne
appealed to the laborng classes Of the whites
TO unite with them. In. the city OF Norfolk
they expected 10 poll 800 original union votes,
besides 400 more who had been soldiers IN The
Confederate army. There were 1000 BLACK
whites. He appealed TO the colored people
not TO be intimidated by threats. If ten ne
gro voters are kept from the polls by their
employers by threats not TO employ tneh IL
they voted with the Radicals, IL VIII be re-
ported AT Washington, and Virginia VIII be
kept out of the Union. The Republican party
will never suffer the State TO be received,
even though she comply with the terms OF
Congress, unless satisfied the State will re-
main true TO those terms after she gets IN
The speech was intensely radical through
out often rejecting severely on President
Johnson and the leaders Of the Democratic
party, and eulogZing highly the negro, Ben
Wade, and Thad. Stevens. The negroes seem
ed delighted IT its spirit.
Several speeches were also made by coiorea
men.
Registration will commence here in about
ten DAYS. Negroes very generally VIII regis
ter and they are expected 10 vote as unit tor
the Radicals. Conservative candidate
however will doubtless be elected to the con-
yantion from this county, DIOGESEs.