The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-11-10

sustained by force and reiuctansiy sa 1900
This feeling was every "nei =.
manifest The colored people shouted = a ~
the streets the girls sang It IN tne SoSa, ~
factories tho great assembly caneu "
oether ct the reception OF Governor helapsi
Expressed 1t in word and act. a poor nan,
walkipg by the carriage IN winch WI
riding Mrs. Hayes and DIR. Eyarts, poln:eu
to the spirited and beautiful eqnestrlan
statue of Washington and SAID, "inere %
the statue of the greatest man VINO CIV. .S;s
lived: but the man who has gwen us Ilis
day Is entitled to one q hundred IinI.'
grauder." An old Confederate army sur,
econ gave me most graphic accoun. VI
the condition OF Richmond and It's nospitaim9
during the war, and OF the trials whicn ie',
upon the wasted city in the early years VI
peace; and he reioiced, without compla.hI =
ing OF the past, that all classes OF tne peopat
could enjoy their possessions ana P.oEes'
each other in well-ordered, peaceiul W" -;
His estimate OF the sanitary inhuenve; ;ob bt
the removal alone OF the lneVltap,e VIZ, q o or
~ despair following the close OF Tue ""h
ostonisfed me. and he was man OF Keen
observation and high scientific attalnments.
A cIit;vated lawyer remarked to me that
Woshinnton had been further from Rich.
,nonS than japan for fifteen years, and
now he reioced that the chasm was
closed up. When I asked the req
son of this sudden change OF feetlng IN
conuection with recent events under the
administration of President Hayes-eVents
which had their parallel in the withdrawal
OF troops from Mississippi and Arkansas,
and the appointment Of Longstrcet ana orI
TO high office under the administration OF
President Grant, out Of which no feeilns
of reconciliation had grown could get no
more definite reply than that the pear was
not ripe" In fact, the state OF popular
feeling was looked upon by all Who wit
messed it as one Of those remarkable pollti'
cal phenomena whose causes are not entirely
within human control. The political conse'
oneness OF all this were hardly discussed.
The existing facts seemed to be salts
factory TO Democrats and Republicans
alike, so far as I could ascertain; and the
incalculable benefits of the policy to the
material prosperity and popular eleya'
ton of Virginia appeared to outweigh
all political considerations in the minds
of those who considered thoughtfully
the existing state OF affairs. often heard
the political future OF the negro discussed
and ALWAYS with full recognition OF bis
rights under the Constitution, and often
with the assurance that he would mani
fest Just as much sagacity in exercising the
right of suffrage rs the white man
Perhaps may properly state that
| have warmly advocated all measures
calculated to protect the freedman In the
rights secured to him by the war, and have
witnessed with grave apprehension, not
only now, but on many former occasions
the adoption Of any policy which might
possibly leave him unprotected. Without
any change in my desires for his welfare,
and with the tirmest belief that a sacred
obligation rests upon the country to see
that he shall enjoy all the rights Of citizen.
shin under the amended Constitution, / state
what saw and heard respecting him while
was in Richmond. without undertaking to
say how permanent and widespread this
state Of things may be.
The demonstration at the Fair-GrouDds
was rs impressive and significant as that
within the city. The assembly which gath.
cred to hear the speech OF the President
was as imposing rs any | have ever wit
messed. On the balcony from which he
smoke lie was surrounded by many OF the
leading men OF Virginia, including the
Governor, the officers Of the Agricultural
Society, many influential citizens from va
rious parts of the Union, and those O!
his Cabinet who accompanied him. 4
large and intelligent crowd stood in front
of the stand, extending rs far as the
voice could reach; and by those around
him and by the audience below there
was warm response to every sentiment OF
equal rights, justice, and humanity. The
suggestions made by the President bearing
upon the preservation Of peace and con.
cord, and touching the material prosperity
OF the State-suggestions which by the
way no report has given as forcibly as he
stated them-were received with Keen ap-
probation, and with an enthusiasm by no
means common to agricultural audiences.
The paciticatory utterances OF Mr.. Evarts,
the practical truths set forth by Mr.. Sher-
man, the sharp appeals OF Mr.. Thompson,
and the eloquent recitals Of the relations eN-
listing between Virginia and Massachusetts
by General Devens, were all received in the
beartiest manner, and my own discussion OF
the peculiar character OF the American sys-
tenn Of land.holding, with the civil rights
and opportunities which 90 with it, met
with a most cordial approval from those
to whom it was addressed. Neither in the
speakers nor in the audience was there any
reservation with regard to the topics to
which I have alluded. The tone OF the
meeting was entirely in harmony with the
best and most liberal and humane senti-
ments of the times. The assembly may
have been divided on other questions, but
not on these. .'.
AS an illustration OF the material condi.
ton of the State the Fair was most interest
ing and encouraging. / have been for many
years close observer OF the Industrial pro-
ducts collected on such occasions, and |
have never witnessed more striking evil
dences Of agricultural and mechanical skill
and thrift. The cattle were Of the highest
order, the Shorthorns, which always stand
first on the list, being represented by ami
mails not easily surpassed either in this
country or in England; and the Deyons
and Jerseys, many of which were imported,
being of the best quality. have not seen
so good display Of Southdowns and
Cotswolds for years, nor OF the many
breeds Of swine. The collection OF draught-
and drivipg-horses surprised me. Fresh
from that splendid exhibition OF eastern
horses at Portland, Maine, at the New Eng
land Fair in September last, l was not pre-
pared for successful rivalry at single
State show. But must acknowledge that
in wel-balanced, well-brcd, strong, and
powerful roadsters, Virginia stands as near
the head at least as New England; and in
the matter OF heavy-draught horses little
nearer. The exhibition Of implements OF
husbandry indicated that the manufac-
turers found good market in Virginia.
And the crops indicated that the farm
ers found good soil. To witness this
exhibition there were gathered on the
grounds the second day more than $4,000
people-neat, orderly, and apparently pros
porous. At the rates charged for admission
they had paid into the funds Of the Society
more than fifteen thousand dollars, and the