The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-10-20

THE OLD DOMINION CLUES GRAND RALLY
LAST IMMENSE sEAUDIENCE AND
UNBoUNDED ENTHUSIAsAt-SP p Z CHES
FROM HON. ROBERT MCLEAN toF MARY
LAND., EX-GOVERNOR WALKER, COLONEL
ROBERT B. BERKELEY, COLONEL WILL
LIAM s. GILMAN, AND WILLIAM LOVEN-
STEIN, Eso.-THE SINS OF KADTCAI.1sM
POINTED oUT-CHEERING SIGNS OF DEMO
CRATIC SUCCESS IN NovEMBER-THE
ELECTION CT TILDEN AND HENDRICKS
THE ONLY HOPE OF THE COUNTRY.
The first great Conservative meeting
since that one which so heartily and unarli-
mously ratified the nomination OF Tilden
and Hendricks was held last night in front
OF the Old Market Hall under the auspices
Of tho Old Dominion Club. The stand was
erected over the pavement, and was covered
with an awning. The sides were hand
sonlely draped with the national colors, and
between the posts in front were suspended
elegant lace and damask curtains, with
openings sufficient to allow the audience to
see the speakers and the host OF proml-
ncnt gentlemen VINO occupied seats
on the platform. The framework OF
the stand was surmounted by q huge
rooster in the attitude OF assured victory.
Behind it was placard Designating the
States that have gone Democratic this year,
as follows Campaign 1SI6--Arkansas, 36,-
600 majority; Georgia, $4,000; Connect
cut, 5000; Delaware, 1,2O0; west fir-
ginia, 10000; Indiana, 5,4Sf; CaliloEnla'
5000; Oregon, 5000; Alabama, 4o,ooo.
Three decidedly handsome parior Guam
delicrs and dozens of open gas-lets
afforded light for the stand, while the street
was illunlined by long lines OF Chinese
lanterns, colored and calcium lights.
Voelker's band furnished music. including
patr1otic airs and other pieces dear to the
popular heart Just previous to the OPEN
inc of the meeting the Il. *. Il. marched
down to the aid OF their brethren, each man
of them bearing stout new broom, symbol!c
of the clean sweep OF thieves and raScals
Tilden will make when he enters the Whlte
House. The arrangements were IN every
respect complete and highly credltable to
the veteran organization which has proved
its devotion in many hard-fought contests.
Captain Samuel Maccubbin, the president
OF the Club, called the meeting TO order,
and announced Colonel John IL. Guy us
chairman. and B. G. Gray, Esq. and num-
Der OF other highly-respected ana we'll
known gentlemen rs yice-presldents.
COLONEL j. Ii. GUY.
Colonel Guy, in accepting the position
assigned him, made stirring little speech,
referring to the victories the ConserFatlVe
party has achieved in Virginia, the gooa
government we have secured, ana tue 1Fee
dom we enjoy from the carpet-baggers ana
military. Colonel Guy declared that TINS
vast assembiagc OF orderly and enthuslastlcc
Virginians would, by its proceedings, seno
cheer to the Democrats OF New 1ork, now
about to enter momentous cohtest, anu
give encouragement to our oppressed anu
afflicted brethren in South Carolina. Colo
nel Guy's remarks were spirited and elo-
n11cnt. and the heartiness with which they
were received evidenced alike their e1ect
and the hold the Colonel has upon the al
fections Of our people.
HON. ROBERT M'LEAN.
Colonel Guy introduced as the hrSt
speaker one who through oil the ylclss!tuaes
of troublous times had remained steadlasC TO
the cause of constitutional liberty ana ae--
mocracy-Hon. Robert Mclean, Oh NARY
land. ..r.
AS Mr.. Mclean came forward he was
received with three cheers. Given with the
earnestness and vim Of thousands of feryid
patriots as they were, it may well be I'M
aoined that they constituted welcome OF
Which no man, however lofty his station OF
distinguished his career, could help feeling
proud OF. Mr.. Mclean spoke with Vigor
and elouuence. His remarks were mainly
addressed to the consideration OF the busi-
ness-men before him, and not to prejudice
or passion. He complimented Virginia's
great place in history in way that
pleased all, yet was devoid OF fulsomeness
and clap-traDpery He maintained that
such peace as is now ours is more ruinous
and affecting than war; and he charged
unon the Radical party the calamities that
we now suffer, in bad currency and pros
trated business interests. He thought that
nearly all the honesty now lett in the Radl-
cal ofice-holders was found in those VINO
occupy the humber places. He reviewed
the robbery and peculatlon chargeapie TO
the Radicals-to high Cabinet oihcers ana
ministers Of State-and though as an mef,
lean citizen, he felt reluctant to speak OF
these things, so disparaging to the natlonai
character, yet in the interest OF truth
Of no other way of defining a THIEF than
to call him Il thief. Ar. Mclean
sharply criticised the Presidents conduct
in reluctantly receiving Belknap's resigna-
tion, and scathingly reviewed the practice
now in vogue in Washington OF debaslng
the public service for personal greed and
pain-a practice which has been INDUCED
in by some of the highest functionarles OF
the Government.
Mr.. Mclean, in dealing with the ,Belknap,
Williams, and Robson roboeries, was mod
crate and lust in his statements, and de-
cJared that however damaging they might
snpear they had all been substantlated by
Ieaal proof. He illustrated how these men
had misused public money, and showed no"
tenderly they had been treated, to demon
strate the utter depravity and untrust"ortn-
iness of the Radical party.
A considerable portion OF Mr.. Mclean
speech was devoted to discussion OF tne
investigations OF the House at its late ses-
sion. the vulgar crimes OF Grant and ms
Cabinet, and the debasement OF the pubilc
service. He spoke, too, OF Grants oppfes-
sion Of peaceful southern communities ana
outrageous disregard for truth and justice
in issuing the South Carolina proclamation,
furnishing his great name as Q soldier ana
making him go down into history as cor
runt Iisurper, as the creature OF the mean
cst creature in creation-Senator patterson.
AS Federal general, Mr.. Mclean thought
Grant had won the nations respect. as
usurper he had lost it, and forfeited MS
place in history with Lee, jackson, ana
Johnston.
mfr. Mclean did not believe that Hayes
conld fail to follow in the path beaten by
Grant, and therefore he distrusted ana OPP
posed him. He verify thought that the De.
mocracy would get possession OF the GOV,
ernment on the 7th OF November, and conld