The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-05-05
5EyRICO COUNTY POLITICS.
RADICAL MEETING-A SECESSlON-THE
BoLTERs COME TO TERMS.

Responsive to call published in Hunnl,,
cults paper, the black and white male ana
female Radicals of Henrico county had
"mass meeting ut the courthouse yester-
day. The crowd in attendance was about
hundred and fifty strong-and a crowd OF
one hundred and fifty worse-looking fellows
could hardly be picked up in any county in
the State. On our arrival at the place we
could not discover present Colonel Smith,
General West, Woodwork, or any of the
more respectable wing Of the party. These
last-named gentlemen have fought long and
hard to have word about the management
of the Republican party of Hcnrico, but
seem hitherto to have been utterly unable
to combat with the dirty mob following at
the heels of Swan, the Englishman who re-
presented the county in the late bogus Con-
vention, and dirty fellow named Everhard.
Those of the latter class were promptly on
hand yesterday, and seemed quite uneasy
as the hour for meeting drew near, lest, BY
the prolonged sitting of the court, their
plans should be spoiled--it having been
their intention to run the business through
before the more decent men arrived. At
about 2 o'clock, however, Colonel Smith,
chairman of the Executive Committee Mr.
Dickman, the secretary and others OF the
same stripe, appeared on the scene, and
caused considerable excitement. The ne
groes Immediately rushed out OF the court
house building, and gathering around Co
lionel Smith and his friends, entered into
most excited argument about the proprcty
of calling the meeting. One thick-headed
Congo was particularly loud in his condem-
nation of the whole thing as trick of the
Smith and Stearns wing. In this he was
backed by half dozen noisy negroes and
two or three white men, among whom may
be mentioned Everhard and Why O'l1ara,
who hustled about in the crowd apparently
the chief meters Of the row. Swan was
rather non-committal, trying to keep in
with both sides, but evidently siding with
his negro associates.
At length it was determined to 60 ahead
with the meeting, and MIR. John Woodwork
nominated Colonel Smith for chairman.
Swan put the motion without leaving the
Jail yard, but such Il tumultuous sound OF
ayes and noes were heard that it was ut
terly impossible to tell whether Smith was
elected. Swan then mounted the stilc be-
tween the Jail and courthouse yards, and
again put the motion, but with no better
success. Colonel Smith then withdrew his
name and nominated Swan, who appeared
to be elected, although there were still many
noes and grunts of disapproval. The chair
man was then about to state the object OF
the meeting, but the negroes were evidently
opposed to doing any business, and the sug-
cestion being made that the meeting adj
journ to Hunnicutt Hall, a loud cutlery was
raised in favor of the step. The chairman
was forced to put the question, and in the
midst of the shouts of aye and no, large
number of the negroes declared that the
motion was carried, and off they started for
Hunnicutt Hall.
After the secession of the boisterous
crowd, when quiet was restored it was dis
covered that nearly all of the better class
of men were present, and these at once
proceeded to business. Frank Dickman,
secretary of the Republican Executive
Committee, called the meeting to order, and
announced the object to be the election Of
delegates to the Republican Congressional
Nominating Convention. Colonel Normand
Smith was then elected chairman, and Ge-
neral West secretary. The following per-
sons were then unanimously elected dele
gates to the Convention which meets to-day.
First District, Jacob S. Atlee; Second
District, John Woodwork Third District,
Abraham Hall (negro) Fourth District,
John Z. Jones.
The meeting then adjourned, subject to
the call of the Executive Committee.
The seceders subsequently held their
meeting at Hunnicutt Hall, and at first con-
siderable disorder prevailed, but after adj
dresses by several of the courthouse crowd,
the extremists gave way and ratified the
election of the delegates already named.