The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-10-15
THE RADICAL CANVASS.

THE RADICAL CANVASS
BIG RALLY At THE FIRST AFRICA.
CHCRCH->PEECuEs BY CHANDLER, POP
HAM, AND OTHERS-THE NEGROES III
WITHDRAW THEIR CLAIMS TO OFFICE
SOCIAL EQUALITY.
The Republicans held large meeting al
the First African church last night. Nearly
all present were negroes, until a procession
ofabout tiny white men, headed by Collector
Rush Burgess, entered the room. MesSrs
Gilmer. Lewis Lindsay, Morton, Popham
and Jenkins occupied seats on the platform
On motion of Judge Morton, J. Anderson
Taylor {negro) was elected chairman. Be-
fore taking the chair he said that the party
would certainly succeed, rs 1t had often done
before, but that the leaders now at the front
would see to it this time that the Republi-
can party not only triumphs, but possesses
the victory. Our leader now is Robert w.
Hughes, who has never been known to
finch when the enemy was in his front, whe-
ther with bullet or ballot. The Lieutenant
General Is c. p. Ramsdell, and the Brigadier
is-is-what's his name? Fultz, be-
lievc it is.
Abram Price (negro) opened the meeting
with prayer.
The Chairman then introduced the Hon.
l.. ii. Chandler, who said Virginia is now a
second-rate State, and if we have any pride
in the old State We should quietly and calmly
reflect upon what she needs, She needs to
have her resources Of coal and iron deve-
oped. Both kernper and Withers agree
with us in saying that this can best be done
by the completion OF the james River and
Kanawha canal, which can he most speedily
accomplished bv the aid OF the General Gov
ernment. What are the principles that
separate the two parties in Virginia
The platforms are in the main the
same. Then, why may we not as well
support one as the other? How does the
great Democratic party of the past dl1er
from the Conservative party! 1t put forth
its own platform of principles, while the
Conservative party adopts those ready-mad'
by others. The latter reminded hlm OF u
couple of broom.makers in London VINO
met on the street, and one said, jim, now
is it YOU can sell your brooms cheaper than
can, when I steals the stuff to make my
brooms?" "Well, Harry" said the other,
~ steals my brooms ready-made."
The Republican candidate will be more
likely to get the aid our State needs from the
Government than one who has abused the
President and the Republicans IN billings
gate that would disgrace flsh-Woman.
kemper was q member of the old Demo-
cratic party-a party that never before the
war would vote a penny for internal I'M
proyemcnts Of any kind. They said 1t was
unconstituti al. Has the Constitution
changed in X 7ect to this matter! How,
then, can the Democratic party go forward
and ask aid in the completion OF the James
River and kanawha canal:
He had asked General Kemper whether
he thought it was constitutional for Con-
cress to grant any such aid, and Kemper
said he did not. Then, how could kcmper
ask for an appropriation which he believed
to be in violation of the Constitution Of the
United States; which, if elected, he must
swear to support:
Now, what has the Republican party done
for the country? First, it put down the
rebellion. Not because the Confederate SOL
diers were not brave, for they were, and
Especially the Virginia soldiers) fought
nobly. They were overpowered by num-
bers and resources. 1t has paid off much
of the war debt and lessened the
taxes. 1t settled the law that no European
nation should acquire territory on this con-
tinent. 1t made England pay fifteen mil
lions of gold into the Treasury of the United
States. 1t has encouraged labor. The Re-
publican party of Virginia observes the
rights of all men, and has originated and
favored public education. For the poor man
who has contracted debts since the present
State Constitution, should he die sud
denly. it has provided way by which
his family may be saved from want
the homestead exemption. That passed
by the Baldwin Legislature was unjust.
The Conservative party has drenched the
land in blood; it broke every bank and in
surance company in the State; it has bank
rupted the State land there are more bank
rupts in Virginia than in any other State); 1t
has branded every man who belongs to the
Republican party with the name Of carpet
Dagger and scalawag. Should the tomb
open, and the reanimated form of Stonewal
jackson, than whom no man ever showed
more aAilitary skill, appear and tell the peo-
ple they should vote Tor the Republican eau
didatcs he would be denounced as traitor
and scalawag. The Virginia vagrant act of
1867 did more than anything else to bring
on colored suffrage. Social equality is merely
sfap-doodle"; and that's the stuff they feed
fools on.
LanQOQ bOSu, uelLS ucAC ou Cuo PIo-
gramme, was introduced. He said: The
last speaker spoke Of social equality. |, as q
negro, wish to say that no negro who re-
spects himself desires social equality. l am
opposed to it because there are many ne
groes who are not my equal socially, and
do not wish to associate with them. Let us
improve ourselves intellectually and morally
and we will have all the social rights which
we should have.
Gilmer was loudly called for, but, strangely
enough, he declined in favor of another
Mr.. Woody. The latter being absent, MIR.
Gilmcr took the stand and spoke as usual.
Popham appeared at the first call, and
complained that he was usually called TOR al
a very late hour. He then went on to say
that he knew Kemper well, and asserted
that hempcr was a despot and Dragsart.
He stated that the negroes had resolved 10
Withdraw all claim to the offices in the com
ing election in order that the assertions OF
the Conservative party might be relu As
he spoke, the people gradually slipped out
and when he closed his speech it was thought
best to adjourn.
The speech of Mr. Chandler was the great
event Of the occasion. BE has done his party
one good service at least, in that he has sup
Dled the political hacks hereabOut with ma
terial to last them for a few more speeches
RADICAL CAUCUs.-A caucus of the dele
gates to the Radical Nominating Convention
was to have been held last night, but fol
some reason not given it. was postponed