The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-01-09

MEETING OF CITIZENS OF RICHMOND AND
OF OTHER PORTIONS OF THE STATE IN
THE HALL OF THE HOUSE LAST EVE
NING-A SPIRITED Observation-Disclosures
PERSONAL. AND OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
TIOEs IN REFERENCE TO THE PREsDEN-
TIAL COMPLICATIONS ADoPTED-THE
VIEWS OF LEADING CONSERVATIVES.
In accordance with the suggestion OF Ma
jor N. B. Meade, chairman of the State Con-
servative Executive Committee, meeting
of Conservative citizens was held in the hall
OF the House OF Delegates yesterday eve
ming, at 4 O'Clock, to consider national po-
litical affairs. A large number OF members
Of the Legislature and other gentlemen
from various portions OF the State and quite
a number OF residents of Richmond were
prese Mt All the seats on the floor Of the
hall and those in both galleries were
The meeting was called to order by Major
Meade, and on his motion Hon. r. NJ. T..
Hunter, Of Essex, State Treasurer, was
elected chairman.
Mr.. Hunter, upon taking the chair, briefly
and temperately reviewed the presidential
complications, and urged that there be a de-
cided expression of opinion.
Colonel w. 2. 'Burwell, Of Richmond,
moved that the representatives of the press
from Richmond, Petersburg, Lynchburg,
and Norfolk be made secretaries. Adopted.
On motion of Mr.. Kelley, the motion was
amended to include such editors and report
ers of the State as are present.
COMMITTEE OF NINE.
Judge Meredith, of Richmond. stated
that as he understood it this was meeting
OF the citizens Of Richmond and other por-
tions Of the State, not including members
OF the General Assembly in their represent
ative capacity, they already having before
them subject OF similar purport. He
moved the appointment Of Il committee OF
nine to report business.
General W. r. Terry, member Of the Sen
ate from Bedford, speaking in his capacity
as private citizen, did not like for this
meeting to act for Virginia, the people not
being represented by duly,chosen delegates.
Captain Hampden Chamberlayne, OF Rich
mond, opposed the motion Of Judge Mere
dith, and stated his belief that the meeting
was ill-adyised and unauthorized.
THE AUTHORITY.
Major Meade frankly confessed that he
had acted upon his own authority; but
claimed that he was fully justified in doing
so, inasmuch as he was called upon to act
suddenly late Saturday night by COM
munication from the secretary OF the Ma
tional Democratic Committee. He had only
time to consult few friends. He assumed
all responsibility that could be Justly placed
upon his shoulders. [Cheers.l
THE MEMBERS.
Judge Meredith explained his remarks
about the members OF the Legislature.
They had now before them resolutions rela-
ting to the very matter which the meeting
was called to consider. The idea was not
to embarrass the members in their official
capacity, but TO leave them free to act here
after as they might think best.
Mr.. Popham, delegate from Rappahan-
mock, claimed that without the members Of
the Legislature the meeting would not be
IS large as corporals guard.
Senator Hinton, Of Petersburg, main
tanned that Captain Chamberlayne's pro-
test against this meeting would have better
come in when the chairman was elected, or
when the secretaries were chosen. BE be-
lieved that Major Meade, us head OF the
State Committee, the managing authority OF
the party, did have the right to call the
meeting.
Captain Chamberlaync and Major Mann
Page, OF Prince George, explained that the
chairman OF the Executive Committee was
one man, and the chairman OF the State
Committee another man.
TILDEN ELECTED.
Senator Hinton still held his position, and
eloquently urged that Tilden had been
elected President OF the Union, and the adj
ditional step was to pledge the pluck, man
hood. and money Of the people OF Virginia
to maintain what little there is left Of consti-
tutional liberty. He did not believe that we
would now be in our present position II it
had not been for the passive, do-nothing
policy OF the national Democratic party
since the election. he held that Virginia
must take one side or another. He was
for giving our northern Democratic friends
the benefit of our encouragement and sup
port.
mond. said that it might be question
whether the meeting was properly called,
but now, being called they must take ac-
ton? The announcement Of the calling Of
the meeting had been telegraphed to 5000
papers in the United States, and tomorrow
| the result will be looked for. 1t would
never do, he thought, to be indecisive, or
seem to be afraid to speak. There was
already talk about the indifference of the
South, and about bargaining between Re-
publicans and southern men. General
Johnson's idea was that the committee
should be appointed. Those who had reso-
lutions should present them, and the COM
mittee take them and then retire and report.
II the committees report embodied the
ideas of the meeting, the report should be
adopted. If not, the report should be re-
iected, and the meeting then proceed to
adopt such other resolutions as truly eX-
pressed its opinion.
CONVENTION PROPOSED.
Captain Chamberlayne offered as a substi-
tute for Judge Mcrcdiths motion the fol-
lowing resolutions, which he said had been
drafted by Judge Allen, delegate from
Shenandoah:
Whereas the notice for the holding Of this
meeting OF Conservatives Of Richmond city
and OF the State generally, called together
by Nathaniel B.. Meade, chairman OF the
State Executive Committee of the Conser-
vative party, was for the first time published
in the Richmond papers Of this morning;
and whereas it is right and proper before
any action be taken ty the great Conserva-
tive party Of Virginia in regard to the grave
issues involved in the solution OF the presi-
dental contest that ample notice OF the time
and place Of holding convention should
be given, in order that every county in the
State might be represented by delegates ac-.
credited for that purpose by constituent
bodies; therefore be it
Resolued, 1st, That the chairman OF the
State Committee Of the Conservative party
of Virginia be requested to confer with the
members OF said committee, and II it be
t~ok -