The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-09-24
ASSEMBLY, HALL LAST NIGHT.
GREAT MEETING OF THE JOHN AMBLER
s SMITH RADICALS.
RusH's RATIFICATION REpuDlArED.
Speeches of SIessrs. ;. m. Humphreys, w. b
Derrick, J. Amber Smith, w. w.
Forbes, and Others.
CIVIL-RIGHTs, cARPET-BAGGEBs, FEDERAL Of
F1oE-HoLDERs, THE GRANITE CONTRACT,
LOUISIANA TROUBLES, AND
RUSH BURGESS
DISCUSSED.


DISCUSSED.
The Radical meeting which took place last
Saturday night having ratified and con-
firmed the nomination OF Rush Burgess as
made by the Convention of the 18th instant,
the friends of Hon. John Amber Smith,
who repudiate the Conventions and Burgess
both, resolved to show that that meeting did
not represent the sentiment of the party in
Richmond. They therefore arranged for
demonstration at Assembly Hall last night,
announced prominent speakers, employed
band of music, and took the other steps
necessary to accomplish success.
The hall was crowded not only was every
seat occupied, but the aises were filled by
persons standing up. Many of those pres
ent were adherents of Burgess, and were not
much inclined to be well behaved, and there
was large sprinkling of Conservatives, who
"wanted to see the fun" as most of them
said.
In the beginning there were some signs of
disorder, which Lewis Lindsay queted by
saying he wanted people to behave them
selves. and if they did not he would have
them before Judge Guigon, and then might
the Lord have mercy on them.
The meeting was called to order by Mr..
Joseph NJ. Humphreys, chairman Of the
District Committee. He explained the trou.
bles in the party and vindicated his position
as chairman Of the committee, having been
elected to that position upon the motion Of
Mr.. Samuel +. Maddox, now the chairman
Of the so-called new District Committee, and,
as be understood, the author Of the abusive
articles which yesterday evening appeared in
the Euen,ng Journal characterizing him as
usurper. He denounced the Burgess com.
mittee and Burgess also, and lamented that
the patronage of the Government had been
employed to foist Burgess upon an unwll-
ing people. he begged leave to introduce
Rev. DR.. Derrick.
The band struck up lively mir, and when
it had played it through, Mr.. Humphreys
came forward to say that he had forgotten
that the meeting had not been organized.
The next business would therefore be the
election of chairman.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
Lewis Lindsay nominated Mr. Joseph. M.
Humphreys. The question was put by
Lindsay; there were quite number of
"noes," but Lindsay declared that the ques-
ton bad been carried affirmatively, and he
told Mr.. Humphreys to take the chair.
Mr.. Humphreys took the chair; and the
following vice.presdents were elected on
motion of Mr.. w. FL. Burton: William Fle-
genheimer, C. 81. Wendlinger, Robert
Beattie, James E. Lipscomb, Taft Lawson,
w. 81. Randolph, James Scott, W. j. S.
Bowe, and 3. L. Brasclman.
On motion of MIR. Emmett Crump the fol-
lowing secretaries were chosen: w. Il. Bur-
ton, w. FL. l.. Combs, Jacob Cohen, Madison
Logwood, and "the representatives Of the
city press" [who did not accept.]
REV. W. B. DERRICK.
Mr.. Derrick was again introduced. He de-
precated tue selfshness which had destroyed
the unity of the party in this district. In
reference to the two races and the race trou-
bles he said we were in one boat, and if it
sinks white men and negroes must go down
together. He would take no partizln stand,
but he was there as negro to counsel Iber-
al sentiments, moderation, and toleration.
They had had the spirit of strife long enough.
and he begged them to rise to the full appre-
ciatiou of their citizenship. The negroes were
Republicans because that party had been the
ony one to open its arms to them. A libe.
raj sentiment could not prevail as long as
men were after the filthy lucre of office.
He was neither Burgess man, a Smith
man, nor Chandler man; but had he been
permitted to hear the explanations OF Hon.
John Amber Smith before he was called
upon to speak he might have been able to
express some more decided opinion. AS to
the war of races so much discussed by the
press. be could say that the negroes wanted
none of it. and had enough sense to know
that vain indeed would be contest be-
tween five million blacks and thirty
III frt1t oil f0df
TO hear that Hon. John Amber Smith
and MIR. Rush Burgess proposed to abide by
the decision of the people. He commended
the position of Burgess and Smith on the
ciyil.rights bill, and asked, "Now, which 40
YOU think can VIM" Several hundred
voices declared "Smitb," but there We're
quite namber who cried out Burgess"
The speaker wanted the strongest man TO be
selected, and urged that he should be voted
for. aud the minority should submit to the
majority, His own position on the civil
rights bill was that the negroes should have
as GOOD accommodations in hotels and on
cars and steamboats, as whites if they could
pay for them. The mixed.school clause, he
feared, would destroy the free-school system,
and be did not advocate it. He confessed
that the negroes in Virginia were enjoying
more peace and tranquility than was the case
of any of their brethren in any of the other
southern States, and he did not wish to see it
disturbed.
Mr.. Derrick spoke in complimentary terms
of Hon. John Amber Smith, and asked that
he should be fairly heard and allowed to
give an account of his acts as the representa-
tive in Congress of this district. The speaker
several times indicated his purpose to stop,
but met with so much applause as TO induce
him to continue his remards much longer
than he purposed at first. In concluding he
gave as bis opinion that there were bad men
in both parties in Louisiana, and the true So
luton of the troubles there was to put aside
both of the contending parties; and he be-
sought all his negro friends to stand by the
nominee, whoever he might be.
GENERAL wICKHAM.
The chairman. Mr.. Humphreys, said IL
General Wickham was in the audience ne
hoped he would come forward. General
Wickham did not come forward. MI. HUN
phreys said that he wanted the meetlns 10
understand that General Wickham promised
to attend, and that the announcement or MS
name as one Of the speakers was not made
g to rope in" anybody.
HON. JOHN AMBLER SMITH,
ssThe Boy Congressman" our present rep
resentative, was next introduced. He was
received with much enthusiasm, and, on mo-
tion OF Lewis Lindsay, three rousing cheers
were given him. As soon as sufficient 81
Ience was obtained Mr.. Smith proceeded to
address his constituents, and to declare that
he was present not as candidate, but as
simple citizen of the district. From the lips
If ITlvsses s. Grant two weeks ago he heard