The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-07-25
A Big Grant and Wilson Meeting.
!. i,..s3.y MOst IN y ].
is,peschcs by, Senator, w'iis.s. Ftcda
rick Douglass, Colonel Robert w.
Hughes, nnst Others.
A GRAND DEMONSTRATION AT NIGHT.

ever: not alone of members or the; party re-
siding in this CITY, fer excursion trains from
ncighboring cities brought large numbers to
witness the demonstration, and the female
SEX of the Colored ruce was represented
in unusual force, while many white persons
attracted by the fame of the Radical candi-
date fur the titT.rresih; ncy. and of the
most distinguished poiotcd man IN the
,,r,tn,l States Iotered on the outskirts Of
the crowd. Tie day Was made buli.
day bv many colorcd people, and the
Park was at no time during the day
bare of visitors. Without the gates
were bocilis for tlIf sale of, refreshments, and
the yendcrs thereof we're claniorous in calling
the attrrtiott cf the crowd TO theft ice cream,
lemonade, cake, aid fried cliickcn' Thh baitG
(kcssnich's) played patriotic airs. the crowd
was good.humorcd and enthusiastic. ana al-
torcther the scene presented was most en-
livcning. i r. 1 :.h. 90 -.
~ cII o. '-+p., DOUGLASS.
The vast asscmbhge was called to order by
Mr.. James RI. Clements, or Portsmouth; ov.
whom Frederick Douglass was introduced in
some highly complimentary remarks. On
thc p!attorn were seated Colonel Daniels,
editor OF the state Journal Colonel Robert
w. l!nylirS, Gdlduel John X. Popham, John
W. VOLT. Esp, r. b. becklty, ,UT :hlezen-
dria Captain Is: 6. Cock; Major j: NJ: John:
So,i, aiia uther we'll kitown Republicans: j.
Nlr. Doug lass was reccl.ed ;Fitar Ctsat en-
,h,l>iasm. lie Is q man past middle age. or
rather venerable aspect and dignlficd de-
mranor. Ills cGmpIcXiun is dark, but not
hlacb. aTiI h's ha'r, 7-l"h j." lonu aRdrrCEs
i coubcl back and falls around III; Sh0V".
,lcrS. He spoke with elSc and tiucncy, his
gestures were appropriate, and his language
well chosen, but rs all orator he does not
excel several well known colored men III
| Nirrinia who were slaves until freed by the
| sword. He was heard with patient atten-
| tion and apparent interest byall within reach
of his voice. but his speech created less en-"
| .hl,>iasm than might have been expected.
| lie ro,untnrrd bt Il brief aluSio,i 30 the
! da,s of his own life, which were passed III
slavery. and claimed TO be- NirSlnlan, at
least by descent. and Il Southcrncr by birth
and preference. He never would have lett
the South but for desire in his us in every
breast to enjoy the blessings of life. liberty,
and happiness. In response to this iuStliict nc
| lad become runaway, and as a consequence
| had enlisted in Il lifelong fight for freedom.
lie had been charged with lifelong hostility
| to Il cherished Institution of Virginia. and
| the charge was true: for he was bitter ol'-
ponrnt OF slavery: hut lie claimed that hr
| had done nothing that any white man would
| not have done under similar circumstances:
lie had, i'll opposing slavery. only followed
oill the lin" of conduct marked out hy
| Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry. Ap-
platl>cl They, rs Nirginians. and lie rs Il
| Nir@ini,n, were lovers Of liberty. lie re-
| ioiccl that he could now stand free man on
| the free soil of Virginia. \ few years ago it
would not have been healthy for him; tugi-
| tive slave, to have ycnturcd to Richmond.
| When he was invited, he had to send his
compliments and regrets. But now The al-
noSpArrr WAS Il little pcaSanter, and he could
| speak out his sentiments unirS.raned. lie
therefore congratulated his ielloW-rtizcls of
| Kicinnund. especially those of his own colci',
upon their cliru"cd circumstances. Things
| well enough for the South in the days Of
slavery would not suit her at all now.
| The time was when education was pro-
Scribcd. The negro must not be taught his
letters; he must not be taught to read. 1t
endangered the peace of the community, the
pc.nrlncncc of the Government. But now
The Schuul.houSc is thrown open to all pco.
plc of ;,ll colorS. and free and general csil..
cation is the hope of the country. Ap-
plil,Sc.l Many other desirable changes had
been wrought, thanks be to God and the Re.
publican purity.
Mr.. Douglass then referred to the pend
ing struggle between the great national par
lies. He had heard it said that all the
Intelligent coIored people Of the South were
going to vote for Horace Greeley. Never
Nary tim" j If that was so, he hoped and
believed there were very few intelligent
colorcd people in Virginia. [ApplauSe.]
He WAS not going to abuse Mr.. Greeley; he
honored and respected him rs lifelong
champion of liberty. He would like
10 vote for Horace Greeley, but
the difficulty was to know which
Horace Greeley he was voting for. There
had been many Horace Greelcy's in his life.
time He would like to vote for him as al,
abolitionist, us working man, as Il philan-
thropist. and as brother editor: but if lie
did vote for him, how could lie tell whether
he was voting for the founder Of the Repub.
Iican party of thirty years ago, or for the head
and front of the Democratic party Of to-day
| GApplallscl lie objected to Greeley because
Inc was an uncertain man. lie was neither
| fish, flesh. fowl, nor even good bran bread.
+" Good.'l Ills election would be one OF
tac greatest evils that could befal the country.
w W llll We NulIt 10 81 w III SiS't h'e'
and steady hand ut the helm of ofGovernment.
Such man is Ulysses S. Grant [Applause.l
4 voice: Three cheers for Grant.
| Mr.. Douglass: Yes, you may stop just
| here, rs well aS anywhere, and give him three
| cheers. But lift your hats. every one of you,
and make them strong and hearty.
The crowd then gave three rollsing cheers.
| led by tie speaker.
Mr.. Douglass then eulosAed Grant at
length. He Wus Il brave soldier, an able
statesman, and good man. He denied that
he was surrounded by military ring and
was unapproachable 10 the people. No man
WAS more accessible to the people, except,
perhaps, Abraham Lincoln and Charles Sum-
ner. He also culogiZcd Senator Wilson in
the highest terms, and called upon the audi
cnce TO view his noble face, which, he said,
was 4 living bcnedction. He now gave way,
in order that this vast aSsemblase might gaze
in the daylight upon the countennce OF the
next Nicc-P President of the United States.
[Grcat arpause.] :,
The band then played "Hail Columbia,
after which Mr.. Clements introduced Hon.
Henry Wilson, of Massachusetts,.
SPEECH OF SENATOR WILSON.
Mr.. Wilson commenced by expressing his
great satisfaction at having the privilege Oh
following speech of Frederick Douglass
upon the soil of Old Virginia. Mr.. Douglass
was a statesman whom he delighted to honor:
His voice had been lifted in this country and
in others on many occasions, and always on
the side of liberty and justice. This repre-
sentative Republican had, however, this day
taken the stump for the first time, and he
had given utteiance to some great central
thoughts which he (AIr. Wilson) needed only