The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-10-30
THE CITY CANVASS.
MEETING OF COLORED PEOPLE AD-
DRESSED BY INDEPENDENT
SPEAKERS.
NEW FEATURES OF THE CANVASS.

and the day before. The spot selected was
a vacant tot near the corner of Seventh and
Baker streets, Navy Uill, in neighborhood
bv some of the most brilliant
orstornai efforts of Lewis Lindsey, w. II.
Lester. Cornelius Harris, and other repre-.
Of the party Of progress and re.
torn, as it styled itself q few years ago.
: The sneakers stand was In perfect readi.
ness and two small pieces OF artillery were
booming at lively rate at the hour appoint.
ed for the commencement Is o'ciock), but
the coiored voters dropped in but slowly.
For an hour after o'clock there were
probably not more than fifty or sixty per-
sons present, white spectators and black
sympathiZers with the Independents, but o
band Of music employed for the evening
soon came up, and under It's enliyentnS
strains the colored people slowly emerged
from their domicils and gathered around the
stand 10 the number Of about three hundred.
A coiored man namod Lucas seemed to be
managing the meeting. He lit the lamps,
placed them on a table, and while he was
fumtiing around, at loss what next TO do,
MR.. JOHN S. WISE
arose and commenced speaking. He said
that he and his associates were there by in.
yiation OF the colored people, and they pro-
posed to tell them few plain truths, With
out exciting their passions or attempting TO
play upon their prcJudices. He declared
that there were no irreconcllable anago-
nisms between the white and colored people,
and that both parties bad for years past been
acting lie in their management OF politics,
and srraying Of race against race. he spoke
affectionateiy Of his old colored NANNY
Thereby drawing from the audience signs OF
approval, and Of the former slaves OF VIII
liam Allan following bim to the grave, to
show that tae whites and blacks ought TO be
friends. A Republican be had never been.
He had generally voted the Conservative
ticket. though invariably exercising the
privilege Of scratching" when his judg-
meut told him that the nan to be voted for
was unfit for the office. What they proposed
to do now was to take new departure, ana
trv to induce all good men to vote for candi-
dates on their merits.
MIR. Wise said that there was 10 his office
an old man now approaching seventy years
who had done more service for less money
than perhaps any man in the State, and that
it had been bis habit to defend colored peo.
ple and to assist them in their troubles-not
tor profit. but for principle.
Cornelius Harris dramatically: "Name
the mann'
Mr.. Wise: "You know him as we'll as 1
do. 1t is my father. He has helped you."
Harris: That's his name."
Mr.. Wise remarked in continuation of his
speech that be had no silver cups to give
singing societies, but he had some golden
truths TO reveal. Thereupon be read some
letters bearing upon one OF our candidates
expressed his sternest disapprobaton Of
General johnson and Colonel Tanner; as.
serted that their nomination was fraud; and
pitched into Governor Walker for "his in
science" in saying at the Ford's. Hotel meet
ing that the "bolterS" " were no better
that Judas Iscaii)ts and Benedict Arnolds" !;
and alleged that while Walker was selling
whiskey in Norfolk to Federal soldiers he
fWise) was in the Valley of Virginia spIling
his blood for bis State. MIR. Wise gave
brief history OF bis family and their public
services, and then asked who bad the most
right to speak for the people, himself or ex-
Governor Walker.
MIR. Wise charged that an attempt would
be made to buy negro votes for johnson
and TanLer; whereupon. Lewis LINDSEY
yelled out
"Meesler Wise you can jess tell that thar
party they can't buy Lewis Lindsey"
MIR. Wise 81 told them that before | saw
you."
Anecdotes were next in order with Mr..
Wise, and he told several in succession, and
thus succeeded in arousng the first real
hearty applause of the evening.
In concluding his remarks Mr.. Wise ad-
yanced the idea thst the more the whiteSand
blacks see OF each other the better they will
be pleased. He wanted to see the color"lines
blotted out and the time come when man
would be respected for his real worth !;
when eolored men like Richard Forester
should be honored as they deserve, and
corrupt men be kicked out of public places.
A voice: "There amt gentle in the City
Council"
Mr.. P. Il. STARK
was now introduced by Mr.. Wise. He was
in hurry to get away to meeting in Mar
shall Ward, and spoke briefly. His beart and
soul, he said, were in this movement for re-
formation. 1t was the union Of the people
who desired not TO break down the Conserya-
tive party. but to break down the corrupt
organization In this city. He believed that
a kind and beneficent Providence had fixed
upon Virginia rs the home OF the colored
race. and therefore they were as much inter.
ested as the whites in good and
honest government The colored peo.
,ple were. in his opinion, entitled
to oil protection and consideration
from the whites and the colored people
could count upon him as their friend 10 all
their efforts to improve their condition and
educate themselves better to fulfill the high
duties of citiZenship. Mr.Starke recounted bis
public services, and expressed bis gratitude
for the honors the citizens Of Richmond bad
thus paid him, and ackno ~ledged that all he
had and all he was he owed TO them. lie
was among the first of the members of the
,City Council to advocate the establishment
of the city pubic-schooi system, and in the
Legislature, if he got there, might be trusted
as friend TO popular education.
Captain Hobson "Mr. Starke, want to
ask you your views about the amendment TO
the Constitution in relation to disQualifslng
people from yolioS for mlsdemeahor ana
larceny.
Mfr. Starke:: 81 don't hesitate to say that the
remedy is greater than the evil. The pun
isbment is. think, too severe. Now, TWO
men might getinto difficulty here, and
.witheut any really bad blood between
them, in the heat of the moment come
to blows. DisG publication for an Of
fence AXE that Il consider too severe
punishment. For such IAtsdetAeunOr
as that would not disqualify man. Still,
4 WantYGu TO understand that don't en-
6orse evii doers and thieves; they ought al
ways to te adequately punished. fTbe pro-
posed constitutional amendment proposes to
dissuaiify G man for ."petty larceny" met
for amisdeneanor."] Ir. Starke, after 6rilly
,h,s desire TO reform the Conser-
vative party, took bis seat. and shortly atter-
wards left for the Marshall Ward meeting.
La bis speech he made No personal aaAsion
,Eher to General johnson or Colonel TaEner.