The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-02-28

At all events, I am sure I will endorse
whatever propositions he may advance to
the caucus.
j." Express my Acknowledgements to the
gentlemen who have joined you in your
request for the honor they have done me-"
CIVILIANS G. WICKHAM."
GOVERNOR PE1RPoINT INTRODUCED.
Mr.. Thomas said it afforded him much
pleasure to introduce to the messing such
distinguished gentlemen as were now seated
near him. He would first present his Ex-
cellency, Governor Peirpoint. ~
Thanking the Republicans present for
their invitation to him to speak, he pro-
ceeded OF once to the consideration of po-
litical questions. Virginia, be said, occu-
pied position rather different from that
of her sister southern States. She is not
out of the Union, though her connection
with it is broken by exclusion from the
Congress of the States. 4I I'll
She found it much harder to get in than
it had been to get out of her position.
Several southern States had, by conven-
ton, repealed ordinances of secession,
repudiated the Confederate debt, and
knocked for readmission; but this had
been refused except on certain conditions.
The question, then, was, " How shall we
obtain restoration of our rights ?" We
next accepted the constitutional amend
ment, and then came the scheme for hold
ing reconstruction conventions, providing
for equal suffrage and other features of
Republican constitutions. We proposed
to follow out this scheme of RECONSTRUCT
tion, and were doing so at this time.
He then proceeded to defend at length
the doctrine of universal suffrage. He
held that the dangerous heresies contrary
to this doctrine and to the doctrine of
universal freedom were nurtured in the
University of Virginia and similar institu-
tions. Educated men had ruined the
South, and the same class had retarded
the progress of reconstruction. No other
class would have plunged the country into
civil war. Neither uneducated mechanics
nor ignorant negroes would have showed
such lack of patriotism. These latter
classes should be the voters of the State.
It is too late now to say that the negroes
shall not vote. That question, it seemed to
him, had been settled long ago. Applause in
the galleries.] The Conservatives pro-
posed to reestablish class government, un-
der the cry Of a a"white mans party"
But there is another set of men-good and
true loyal men-who, call them what you
will, don't intend that that government
shall be reestablished. The Republican
party-the niger party-the mean white
mans party-whichever you please to call
it. lie belonged to that party. Immense
applause and yells from the galleries.l
Under that party Virginia would resume
her place in the line of States, under the
glorious flag of the Union. ... ........s
JUDGE RIvEs's SPEECH. -
The Governor was followed by Judge
Rives, who said that he acknowledged the
general principle which forbids men in
his judicial station from active participa-
tion in political matters, but did not
feel at liberty on this occasion to decline
the invitation which he had received. He
did not regard this as mere party meet
ing, for the expression of party senti-
ments, but as caucus of members of the
body called to frame Constitution for
the State. He deemed it duty to lift
his voice with other Union men in repudi-
alton of our quondam leaders of the South,
who led US into the quagmire of secession,
and later sth into the fatal policy of re-
iecting the constitutional amendment. He
was ready to declare for almost anything
rather than return to territorial exist
ence, instead Of return to our rightful
condition as free States of the American
Republic. This Convention should take
care less by neglect Of theirs the follow
ers of Yancey and Davis should regain the
reins of government. The peoples only
hope is the new Constitution, and to this
they look with anxious eyes.
The speaker warned the members of
his party against the plans of the men who
recently met in grand conclave in this
city to effect the organization OF Conser-
vative party. Not one Union man, to his
knowledge, was member Of that Con.
,yention, nor were any of them even sus.
pected Of Unionism. They had pre-
Judged the Constitution this body is t
make. Aye, long ago
They'd taken solemn oath
John Barleycorn should die.
| Like fallen angels, they deemed it bet
| ter to reign in hell than to serve II
! Heaven. He could not conceive how thu
body of men, with the x-Confederat'
Secretary of State at their head and tn
retired philosopher of Westmoreland II
the background, could exhibit themseiVe
to the world as Conservatives, when, II
fact, they had earned the best title TO tn
opposite title of Destructives.
! Speaking of reputation, ne congratu
1 lated the Convention that 1t had sent fort
it's fatsgainst in firm and decided terms
4 TO this they would doubtless add usefu
and efficient system Of public school.
He felt grateful that his life had bee
shared to see a warm and earnest desire {
his heart fulfilled, ,land he would feel lot
| to vote against Constitution with so wis
provision in It. Abiding to the remark I
Governor Peirpoint in regard to the Un