The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-06

II
called a meeting and were addressed by diherent
prominent men of their own color.
The FIRST speaker was man by the norbe OF
William Fuller. He commenced his remarks by
n rather graceful Illusion to the past and then
vehementy declaimed for the right of suffrage
for all mankind. He didn't want an Office unless
he was ht for IL, nor did he want to see white
man have an Office unless he was fit for it. He
believed that the two races could live very well
together they could work together just the
same as two horses could, one white, the other
black.
The next speaker was Mr.. Cornelius Harris.
This was in reality the first day that the colored
people of Virginia were permitted to know what
freedom was; it was this day four years ago, that
the shackles were knocked off and they were
permitted to understand and know that they
were human. The black man should give thanks
to God for the day. and he was sorry that there
wasn't greater number of his people out He
understood the political questions of the State.
He was Republican, but he felt that the
party wasn't doing the best they 'coud
for the black man. The black man was
as good as the white man; he guessed he was a
little better than Rebel; he meant to have u
share of the offices of the State as well as white
men. He knew that the colored man was gno-
rant, but also knew that he was susceptible OF
education, and he wanted the colored people to
show to the world that they were in earnest, and
that all the promises of the independent Re-
publicans' could not turn them from their fidelity
to the radical party. The speaker closed amid
hearty cheers and was followed by white gen
tleman, Mr.. b. Wardwel Ga native Virginfan)
He was glad to be called on, and spoke at some
length. His remarks were well received. He
was followed in turn by Messrs. Jones, Boyd
Wallace, Sester, and others, all colored
men. OF these speeches Messrs. Boyds and
Testers were probably the best delivered.
The latter gentleman is nearly white, and
is said to be a son of John Minor Bolts
Boyd would be taken for white man anywhere,
and is a bricklayer by trade. The other speakers
were all men of decided compilations. The
ceremonies of the day closed at sundown, and
the people quietly dispersed. Throughout the
day there was not the least semblance of dis
turbance. At one time a white interrupted
one of the speakers with question, which being
promptly and presume satisfactorily answered,
the interruption ended just where it commenced.
At present the Republican party of the State is
divided into two factions, both confident of sue
cess should an election be ordered. The admin
istration, or Wells faction, to use my own judge
ment need have no fears of the opposition, or
Walker faction, so long the test oath remains
Should the test oath be cast aside, the weaker
party would certainly win the day. The Wells
party are in favor of the oath, and have colored
man on the ticket Lieutenant Governor,
while the Walker, or independent Republi-
cans, are opposed to the test oath, and have no
colored man on their ticket The native white
Virginians naturally favor the latter party; and
notwithstanding the fact that both parties claim
to be radical Republicans, yet should the disabi-
lties of the white men of Virginia be removed,
they would without donbt cast almost solid
vote for the Walker ticket. After that parties
would probably spring up like mushrooms, for
Virginia is essentially country of politicians
and if one may judge from what he hears and
sees, each man fancies that he is natural-born
statesman. In that lies one of her great STUN
bling-blocks in the path of reconstruction.
Business men complain that trade has never
been so dull now. They assign as a reason
the political chaos of the past week If this is
the reason, business should be decidedly better
in the course of Il few days.
In theatricals, the Hanlon combination has
been the sensation during the past week. They
did a moderately fair business, and leave for
Washington to-day. Tomorrow Brignoli, with
his operate troupe, opens at Virginia Hall, and,
from present indications, will have fine house.
This troupe proceeds directly from here to the
seabOald cities of the South, en- route for Califor
MIA. The great De Vivo is the managing agent.
Ford opens the theatre with the Chapman Bur-
lesque, and altogether, we look forward to II
week of novelties. INDEX.