The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-05-11
eonservatiSe MASS sseetingaas the

County Coarts1t0use. .ssa1. 7.
"A Conservative mass meeting Of the citi
,zens Of Henrieo county was held at ths
county courthouse yesterday morning
The meeting was called TO order by Mr
lsaac O. Austin, who regretted that the no.
minees Of the Conservative Convention were
unable to, be present, in accordance with ar
invitation which had been extended them
Major John; F. Wren was appointed as
secretary Of the meeting ~ s-s-,--,.e
Mr.. Warren, after explaining the objects
Of the Late Conservative Convention, offered
the following +: .as~,ssr --4z:s,s.yF u, -
"l. Resolued, That the Conservative
party of Henrico heartily approve and &C.
icept the action of the State Conservative
Convention which lately met in, the city Of
Richmond to nominate candidates for the
approaching State election. i.a5sr !.
s'2. That whilst We cordially endorse all
the nominations made in the Convention,
and win cordially support the election Of
the proposed candidates ut the polls, we dc
SO with the distinct and avoWed purpose Of
recognizing the high ability and eminent
character Of our candidates as an induce
ment and encouragement to labor for them
and with them to defeat the ruinous Con-
stitution and form of government under
which it is proposed that they shall be
elected. 5I sye O.. 9.5s
SO. That we approve and adopt the
nomination by the Conservative State Con-
vention of delegates to the National Demo
cratic Convention to meet in the city of
New York on the fourth of July next; and
so far as the Conservative sentiment Of the
county of Henrico can regulate the action
of our immediate representatives, we in
struct them to unite cordially and heartily
with all men in that Convention, of true
purpose and intent, who are willing to unite
with them and with us, and with all the
true Conservatives and law-abiding people
Of the South, who are determined to form
our governments, both State and Federal,
upon the idea of q just recognition OF the
rights and duties of the States as the same
were recognized and established by the
fathers of the American Revolution and of
the United States Constitution and in fur
therance of this policy We will labor to re-
deem the whole country from the baneful
influence of a faction which has already
wrought untold mischief to the whole land,
and which, if unchecked, will involve the
whole country, both North and South, in
the horrors of social dissolution and anar-
chy, terminating in inevitable military
despotism and elective military monarchy,
such as disgraced and destroyed the liber-
ties of ancient Rome and modern France.
GA. That whilst we are in favor of afford
ing the negro population the amplest pro-
lection to their persons, liberty, and pro-
perty, and using the best means to promote
their moral, social, and Intellectual ad-
vancement, we are not willing to surrender
the government and control of this country,
bequeathed to us and our race by our revo-
lutionary ancestry" brs
Judge W. W. Crump was then introduced
to the meeting. He said that it had been
twelve years since he had stood before q
public audience on the political topics of
the day. How changed the discussions
which were being held to-day from those of
former days. Then the discussions were
merely upon our material interests, but to-
day, how solemn the circumstances under
which we meet. They were to consider how
best to prevent our subjugation. An abso-
lutte despotism, more complete than that In
any country upon the globe, was hanging
over us, and yet we asked rather to live
under this than to have to submit to that
awful domination with which we were
threatened. We would rather have the
sword and bayonet over US than this pro-
posed Constitution. Did history ever afford
such an example as that of q people clinging
to an absolute despotism rather than meet
with fate worse than this And why was
this1 The Constitution involved everything
that was dear to us-our liberty, peace, and
prosperity.
He then spoke of the war, its objects and
termination, and the good faith with which
our people returned to their old allegiance.
Why should not there be peace Because,
for political objects, it was being endeavored
to elevate our late slaves above US. In
1865, when Horace Greeley proclaimed uni
versal suffrage and amnesty, he was thought
mailman and yet, under the march Of
events, universal suffrage had been confer
red upon the black race, but the most re-
strictiye measures had been imposed upon
the white people. A constitution OF aboml-
nations, more obnoxious than in any other
State in the South, is proposed for Virginia.
Why was thisi Because this was q border
State, and there was but little distance for
these miserable carpet-baggers to come over
the lines. They had exerted such an infu-
ence over the negroes in the Convention
that some of the most obnoxious provisions
Of the Constitution were adopted by the
negro vote, which even they could not check.
This was subject not for defamation, but
for thought-sober serious thought. !
The speaker then went into the discus.
sion Of the different objective points in the
Constitution. He took, first, the question OF
suffrage, which would be granted to the
meanest negroes from the poor-house, while
the men who ore to-day seated upon the
magistrates bench, entrusted with the life
and rights of property of their fellow-cltl-
zens, would be turned away from the polls.
Secondly, he pointed out the disabilities
from holding Office contained in the Constl-
tuition. 1t would be necessary for the county
of Henrico- to have from 150 to zoo. officers,
and every one would have to take the iron
clad oath. Could they find as many men
in the county, No. Who, then, could fill
these Offices but adventurers or negroes
The qualifications jurors were also
spoken of, and pointed out clearly and forci-
bly,. Would any of the people of Virginia
be content to be arrested by a negro consta-
BILE, and to be tried, for life perhaps, by q
negro jury3 And yet there was one blessed
privilege left us-that of being enrolled ID
the militia. They could not hold com
mission, but they could be mustered out
upon the courthouse green by negro ser
geant. They would have their negro lieu
tenant and their negro captain to march,
wheel, and double-quick them around.
There was no escape from the operation
q II I.-axo.,- 80 rho HnpstifptionT were