The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-06-05
PETERSBURG. June 4, 1868


The weather in the morning was rather
unpromising, but early in the forenoon the
clouds passed away, and the day proved to
be extremely pleasant. 1t was most ia
vorable time; therefore, for the great Con-
servative meeting announced Tor to-day.
Long before the hour for the speakers to
make their appearance, large crowd had
gathered at Poplar Lawn under the noble
trees near the fountain, where the inequali-
ties of the ground form natural amphithe-
atre. Here seats had been provided.
During the progress of the meeting one
might have supposed in passing along the
streets that the city was nearly depopu-
lated. Business was almost entirely sus-
pended the stores, though not actually
closed, might as well have been, for the
clerks and statesmen had gone to join the
crowd of listeners, and profound silence
reigned amid the scenes of daily hustle and
activity.
At the appointed hour Colonel Withers
assembled the rostrum, and on being intro
duced to the people was received with hearty
applause. For an hour and three-quarters
he addressed them with marked ability,
enchanting their attention to the very close
of his speech. As o speaker, he is argu-
mentative rather than imprisoned, pre-
senting his views in SO clear and forcible
manner as to carry conviction to the lis
tener. He proclaimed himself to be the
white mans candidate, and opposed to ne
gro suffrage. He denounced the Constitu-
ton lately framed in Richmond as the
most infamous and obnoxious instrument
ever offered for the acceptance of free and
intelligent people. 1t degrades the white
man below the negro, gives the negro the
ascendancy in councils of the State, and
subjects all the property of the citizens to
the most burdensome taxation. 1t is turn
ing the tide of civilization backward and
the end will be that we shall be speedily re-
mitted to state of barbarism. During
the course of his remarks Colonel w. care
fully dissected the whole instrument, and
presented its enormity in such light that
it is difficult to see how any white person
who heard him can cast vote in its favor,
even with the bride of the homestead ex-
emption.
Colonel Withers was succeeded by Hon.
John Goode, Jr., of Norfolk, whose speech
was distinguished for high order of elo-
uuence. We have no time to furnish even
the briefest abstract of it. We can only
saw that Mr.. Goode bids fair to be one Of
the most effective speakers engaged in the
canvass. Every person that heard his effort
to-day is in raptures with it.
Tonight Colonel Marmaduke johnson
and Judge Guild will address the people at
the courthouse, when still larger crowd
will probably be in attendance.
. Quite number of strangers were at the
meeting in the MORNINGS many perhaps
as could be expected at a busy season like
the present, and when 50 many farmers
are also under the necessity of practicing
the utmost economy in their expenses.
It is worthy of observation that con-
siderable number of colored people were at
the meeting, who conducted themselves in
an orderly manner. Tonight, should the
speaking be in the open air, the number
will doubtless be largely increased. There
is small hope, however, of retaining many
of them from the ways of Radicalism.
They have but one idea, and that is to show
their power and superiority over the whites.
S.