Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-07-28

was rejected, and an opportune mo-
ment for union was allowed to pass
unimproved. Another effort still
was made to bring into harmonious
action the friends of ofreconstruction,
largely aided by those in other
States who were anxious to witness
this consummation so devoutly to
be wished. In this work the Union
League of Philadelphia
took the lead, and was joined by the
Union League of New York and the
Reconstructed Club Of Boston. Mr..
Charles Gibbons, one of the leading
Republicans. of Pennsylvania, Mr..
Boxer, of Philadelphia, the poet
John Jay and Col. Van Buren,, of
New York, Mr.. Francis w. Bird,
Charles w. Slack, and other gentle
men, of Massachusetts, made a
pilgrimage to Richmond, in the
patriotic endeavor of bringing into
harmonious accord and on to a
common platform the discordant
elements of the State.
A meeting was held at the house
of the Governor, and representa-.
tives of different shades of opinions,
Conservatives and Radicals, whites
and blacks, addressed the commits
tee more than five hours, stating
their grievances, and giving full ex~
preston to their views and feelings
on the subject. At an adjourned
meeting the next day the committee
urged the Importance of harmony,
of mutual concessions and sacrifices
for a common cause. They urged
the desirableness, not only of hav-
ing Virginia right, but of having her
lead the van in the great work OF
Southern reconstruction. They in
sisted on the vital necessity Of union
of the races, and deprecated most
earnestly any division of parties on
the line of race or color. They de-
clared it to be q matter of para
mount importance to bring into the
movement all white men who were
willing to secure equal rights to all.
Their earnest counsels at length pre-
vailed, and all agreed ; though some,
who had defeated the movement IN
April, did it with evident reluctance.
A union call was agreed to, a State
convention was held, and, though
much precious time had been lost
and many repelled, several gentle
men of large experience and intiu-
ence came to Richmond to attend
the meeting. Some who had de-
feated union in April resisted every
effort to bring the people together,
and repelled those who came to
Richmond to attend the union meet
ing. Indeed, they seemed to wish
to keep the reconstruction party
conveniently small. Succeeding IN
keeping thousands out of the move
ment who would have joined, they
were among the first to divide the
Republican party, and some OF them
gave their votes for Mr.. Walker.
There cannot be a shadow OF a
doubt in the minds of those ac-
quainted with affairs in Virginia IN
the spring and early summer OF 1901
that, had wise, earnest and unset
| fish effort been made at that time, q
reconstruction party could have
been formed that would have framed
a liberal constitution, adopted 1t
sent q delegation to Congress, ant
given Gen. Grant last year majority
of many thousands. There wer'
then many thousands of white mel
| in whose bOsoms, in spite of the re
bellion, fingered the traditions o
| the past, the memories of thos
days when they acted with the grea
national parties of the whole coun
trv, some under the lead of Henr.
| CLAY and some under Jackson, op
| posing and helping to overthrow tn
mischievous doctrines of nulllilca
| ton, who could have been counte'
on to carry to a successful lssu
such a plan. 1 believed then, and
believe now, that there was tim
when a liberal, just and unsellis
policy would have made Virginia
strong, loyal and Republican State
Although the golden oppOrtunit,,
was lost, and with it was lost mue
that can never be retrieved, it ma
not be too late to bring together int
one organization, that shall be trul
loyal 10 country and liberty, con
manding majority Of the State
Thousands of men who voted tc
Mr.. Walker have no sympath
| whatever with the Democratic part.
Perhaps wise, temperate and healln
counseIs may yet bring into polit
, | cal association q dominant part
composed of the body of those VIII
f voted for Mr.. Wells and a lar:
r portion of those who voted for NJ
Walker, that will support the a
, ministration of Gen. Grant, and a
in carrying forward the great woi
' of education and developme
a which Virginia so much needs, al
| of which she is so grandly suscel