The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-06-23
8ictlmpnd 1ispatttr,
WEDNEsDAY............JUNE2 90, 1869.
THE CAMPAIGN.
Wells Mt LeesburE---Grand African
Demonstration.

Demonstration.
Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch.
LEEsBURG, June 10, 1869.
Upon Wells arrival at the depot yester-
day he found few ragged negroes and two
carriages ready to escort him to his hotel.
Later in the day the number of ne
groes was largely increased, and fully four
hundred engaged in this celebration. One
half Of these were mounted, who carried q
banner, upon which was inscribed "Lincoln
Temperance Society,"" Those on foot bore,
sized carpet-bag, typifying what, to their
minds, are the principles involved in this
election. Not white man joined in their
procession, while the negroes kept up their
marching and counter-marching several
hours through and around the town, in
spired by a cracked whistle and bass drum.
The negroes were so delighted with their
faded ribbon and calico ornaments that they
continued to air themselves through the
town long after the great Wells had COM
mcnced his address.
Wells whined and ranted alternately for
several hours, and seemed distressed that SO
little interest was manifested by the whites.
He almost shed tears when he spoke of the
remorSeless cruelty of the Conservative
press in styling the gentleman from Michi-
gan carpct-bagger," conveying to the in
telligent mind the greatest possible oppro-
brium within the capacity of the English
vocabulary, excepting only that yiler word
"scal-la-whag-ger." From the feeling man.
ncr in which he objected to these little pro-
per names it was evident they produced an
unpleasantncss when applied by our people.
A portion Of his speech was ingenious and
well delivercd-parts of it were coarse, yul-
gar, and profanc. lie said: "a great deal
has been said about the intocrable tyranny
of the party in power, but ] appeal to all
persons now in my hearing who have lived
here for the past thirty years il this pro-
Scription is comparable to the tyranny of
the Democratic party? Shcep-StealnS was
regarded by them honorable compared to
the crime of being Wing. Why, it was
Just as impossible for Whig to hold any
office in the State of Virginia as it was to 20
TO hell and come back before breakfast"
lie complained that the Richmond editors
were constantly inquirinG why he did not
invite the negro candidate for the office of
observation-disclosures TO his house, and he
asked, Ibid n. 4. Wise, when Governor
of Virginia, invite every vagabond Dutch
man and lrisllman with whom he acted
during the knowNothing canvass to stick
their legs under his mahogany? Social in
tcrcourse is II matter OF taste, and ] don't
choose to invite Harris to my house" The
''gcmmcn" OF the sable complexion "pro-
cesSioning" under the carpet-hag banner
couldn't sec the compliment to Harris.
The whole performance of Wells & Co.
yesterday was fiat, stale, and improbable.
The tout ensemble was purely d Antique. 1t
hut provoked Il smile of pity for poor,
dcludcd Cufy, and feeling Of scorn and
contempt for Wells Ct id onsne genus.
BYSThNpER.
The "cqual rights" gentlemen of race
and color arc very much exercised ut the
refusal of their white allies to join in their
procession.