New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-10-01
RICHMOND, VA, Sept. 81, 1874.

r, the Editor qrhe Nsp National Era:
Three weeks ago entire harmony and good
will seemed to exist in the Republican organ
ization of this district. The canvass there
going on between the rival candidates for
the nomination Hon. John Amber Smith,
Hon. L. II. Chandler, Major Joseph Walker.
and Mr.. Rush Burgess was between Re-
publicans, and was being made inside the
party, under the rules and regulations gov
erning the same, and it was supposed that
each gentleman, inasmuch as he allowed his
name to 90 forward as a candidate before the
primary contest, would abide the result of
that contest, and cheerfully approve of the
action of the convention that was called for
the 10Th of September. The friends of Hon.
John Amber Smith, the present member of
Congress from this district, finding that his
chances for denomination were slim, imme-
tliately went to work with view of making
Il coup de dot or, if not, then to disorganize
the party.
Their first move was to have the district
committee annul the original call and post
pone' from 10th September to October eth.
Now LET it be borne in mind that no reason
whatever is assigned for this extraordinary
course on the part of the committee. 1t is
eyi.lent that the object of this movement is
TO defeat the will OF the people and place
Mr.. John Amber Smith before the people as
an independent or peoples candidate, rather
than submit his chances to the legal con-
venton.
Monday, September II, two days prior to
The assembling OF the Congressional Con-
yeniion, the followers of Mr.. John Amber
smith called a mass meeting in front of the
Custom-house the principal effect of the
meeting was to impress the people with the
importance of the claims of Mr.. Smith. The
principal speakers announced for the meet
ing, Hon. James Lyons and General Will
lard c. Nickham, failed to put in an appear
ance. Mr.. John Amber Smith was absent
in Washington, so the duties Of addressing
the assemblage fell upon the Hon. Lewis
lindsay, the great rampant extreme Radical
orator of the Underwood Constitutional Con-
vention. Mr.. Lindsay is very we'll known
man in Virginia politics. He was not only
Il
wards was a candidate for the Legislature,
but happily for Virginia and the Republican
party, Mr.. Lindsay was allowed to stay at
home. Mr.. Lindsay, after being defeated
for the Legislature, became the chief Janltor
Of the Custom-house building in this city,
position he held until turned out, because
of non-attendance to duty, and several other
things which is not necessary to mention.
Lindsay, upon being discharged from the
Custom-house, joined what is termed the
smith ring Of the party, and for his efforts
in thus trying TO disorganize the party, he
has been rewarded with the position OF
"book-toter'' in the Capitol at Washington.
Daring his speech on Monday he took ocsa-
sion to amuse his Democratic hearers by
wholesale and retail abuse of General Grant
and the heads of the Departments at WASH
incton for allowing employees to interfere or
in any way take part in the politics OF their
respective States. He denounced carpet
baggers and Northern men without stint,
and called upon the people to assist in drlv'
ing the 'rats out Of Israel" lie also Inti-
mated that it would be for the best interests
of the colored people to support those who
cave them work, without distinction Of party.
lie said that the black man had been fooled
bv the Republicans long enough, and the
time had como when they should refuse to
he the tools of men who only wanted office.
(This sentence was loudly applauded by the
Democrats and Conservatives.) He then
went into TRADE of abuse of the young men
who had left Richmond since the war and
gone North for educational advantages.
Vrped his hearers not to assist these young
men in any manner, shape, or form; nor
trust them by their suifIrages. He denounced
educated colored men as false and stuck up
handles. &C., &c. He denounced Mr.. Rush
Burgess for having three executive clerks in
his office, and said they were nothing but
mulatto nigsers, and it was no commentator
for MFR. Burgess. Denounced the civil rights
bill as a whole, and hoped it would never
PASS, it being in his opinion measure CAL
culated TO do the colored people more harm
than good. Said he, Congress can carry the
horse to the branch, but she can't make him
drink" intimating thereby that the civil
rights bill was not only unconstitutional, but
could never be enforced.
Iindsay's speech throughout was well re-
ceyed by the Democrats, especially his on
slaughts upon the President Of the United
States and the heads Of the Departments,
and the shortcomings of the party from his
stand point. The Democratic papers paid
the distinguished orator the highest compli'
ments for his expose of the Republican
party.
If the Democratic party had paid Their
best orator a large sum of money to abuse
yilfy, and SANDER the Republican party, il
could not have been done more effectually
than it was by Hon. Lewis Lindsay, who is
an office holder under the Government, ano
through the kindness of the very same Re
publican party, and he came all the way IRON
Washington to do it, and is drawing pay
from the Government for each and every day
he is here working to disorganize tho Repub
lican party.
There were a great many present at tn
meeting, but the spirit Of it was anti-Smith
as evinced from the frequent calls for Roane
Burgess, Arnold, and others, but the man
ayers of the meeting were smart enough no