Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-01-28
RICHMOND CORRESPONDENCE.
RICHMOND. January l6, 1868.

Mr. Editor:
Having lately spent day looking over the
Constitutional Convention (so-caed), and list
ening to its debates, propose to give you some
facts and incidents in relation to that august
body. The Convention, as you know, properly
consists of one hundred and five members one
seat, however, has been vacant the entire ses-
sion, that of Mr.. Beasley, Of Greene county
Of the members in attendance, twenty-five are
colored men, varying in complexion from the
brigh mulatto to the blackest African. Among
those classed as colored men, is one who is said
to be an Indian of almost pure blood. This Is
"Mr. Morgan" of Petersburg, whose person is
quite imposing, and whose department so far
has been eminently respectable Indeed, L
must in justice say that most OF this class con-
duct themselves in a manner which shows they
were we'll brought up--that Is, they are polite
and unobtrusive. Of course, they are unedu-
Gated and ignorant and the idea Ofthelr under
taking to frame a State Constitution would be
too ridiculous to be credited, if the spectacle
were not presented to US daily in the capitol OF
Virginia. But some FIVE or six of the negroes
aspire to craftsmanship and oratory, and under
take to discuss the most difficult questions with
all the sef-complacency that Daniel Webster
could exhibit White men unaccustomed to
speak in public, usually betray more or less en-
barrassment-not so these negroes The most
practised speakers are not more composed and
self satisfied than they. The official reporter is
giving an utterly false version of the debates,
so far, at least, as the negro orators are con-
cerned A speech delivered by one OF them
several weeks ago, which heard, was entirely
without meaning, mere string OF words hav-
ing no connection or sense; but the stenogra-
pher has put forth in its place quite an elegant
effuslOn.*
The white Radicals are motley crew. Some
of them have apparently little more intelligence
than the negroes, and have doubtless come from
the lowest ranks of the people. The leaders,
with three or four exceptions, are Northern
men who came to this State with the Federal
army in the capacity of petty officers, chaplans,
commissaries, clerks, suffers, Nc. Others were
probably employees of the Freedmen's Bureau,
and when that institution dispensed with their
services were left here stranded, like frogs in a
dried-up mll-pond Having no other resource,
they plunged into politics They are now jubi-
liant in the receipt of So a day from the treasury
of the State, and happy in anticipation of the
fat offices they are to get by means OF the votes
which sent them to the Convention. lnregard
| to the latter particular, however, they may be
disappointed. The negroes have their eyes on
the same places for themselves, and will prob
ably claim them. ''Dr. Bayne'' would not
noSlCaLe TO Take d SedC IuC UCHCI VI IAO OOui
of Appeals, although, being gifted orator, he
| may prefer the office of Attorney-General: He
insists upon being styled the gentleman In
stead of 1.-The member from Norfolk.
1t will be seen by the following reports Of
Lewis Lindsey's speech on the subject of en-
ploying stenographic reporter for the Conven-
tion-one as actually delivered, and the other
as reported by the official reporter-that the
statement of our correspondent is true to the
letter:
IINDSEY'S SPEECH. PHOTOGRAPHIC REPORT.
Lewis Lindsey said Mr.. Lindsey-I trust
Mis-t-a-r President, IIthat in this State, which
hope in dis late hour of has always been marked
de struggle that Old Vir- by noble and chivalric
ginia have been imperil- disposition, it will not be
led that no free thinkin thought by any gentle
man can sup-pose for a man of this Convention
momunt dat we desires that we can for moment
to misripresnt de idee allow the idea that the
dat we can't qualify de edebates of this body shall
ability of de sternorger- go forth to the country
ply for dis Convention. except under our own
l hope evy good-think- immediate sanction and
in genterman will OBJ reported by an officer
sarve de necessity of selected by this body and
havin astenOgraphy an within its control. There
dat dey will be willin in exists urgent necessity
de desire to gain de abil- for the employment by
ity fde Commonwealth us of an official stenogra-
of Ferginny to see dat depher.
gentlemen is justly de-
SARGE. l hope, sir, dat
evy genterman will now
see de necessity ofhavin
dis stenogerphy SO dat
we can then be able to
i Il IL