Daily Republican., 1881-06-03
THIRD EDITION.
SENATOR mAHONE.
Enthusiasm I'm the virginia Read
juster's Convention - MahOne's
Hy,eeeh.

Enthusiasm In the Virginia Read
juster's Convention - MshOne'
Speech.
\ RICHMOND, Va, June 2.-The Read
jjuster State Convention met here to-da,
with full representation from the cite
and counties of the State. The dele
gates numbered over 700, and included
about IS coIored men. The convention
assembled in Richmond Theatre. A
permanent organization was effected
by the selection of Congressman-elec
Paul, of Rockingham, as permanent
chairman, who spoke briefly.
A committee of twenty-seven was ap.
Ipointed on resolutions and platform.
At this point General Mahone's
presence at the back part of the stage
became known, and Immediately
vociterous calls were made for him tC
address the convention. All efforts tc
bring the body to order failing,
the President requested General
Malone to responded to the call
As soon as the Senator rose to come
forward the whole convention, with
one accord, rose to their feet and greeted
him with laundering ovation OF
shouts and yells. .huzzas and waiving of
handkerchietS and fans.
When order had been restored, Gen
eral Malone spoke in effect as follows:
81 greet you, my trien DIS and fellow
citizens, with my most earnest conpli-
ments, and | beg to assure you of the
supreme qualification which l feel at
this assemblage Of my fellow citizens
1t fills the measure of my liability to
this people and to this State; it testities
TO me in words of warmth, which | will
never forget, your approval Of my pub
lie conduct it doubly assures me that
there exists yet, in the bosoms of this
people, true devotion to JetierSonian
principles Of government, it assures me
that the people of this State, in their
might and sovereign power, are here to
say to the State of this Union that Nir-
ginia is to be put in cordial relations
with the government; it assures me that
in the future her fate and that of her
people are to be for freedom and pro-
gress in this land: it assures me that
freedom of opinion is to be the rule in
all matters which relate to men
You sent me to the Nationol Capital
as your representative, chosen without
solicitation on my part No sooner was
| called to the Capital to answer for
you than il policy of terrorism was put
in practice to silence your representa-
tive. ! would be reCreant to manhood
did not maintain that | was there to
voice the manhood Of this people, there
to oppose Democratic Bourbonism,
which attempted to dictate to the Read
juster party of this State, and not there
to do the bidding of men claiming to be
the Democratic party, but who would
throttle free opinion and free ballot
want no more of that Democracy.
You are here to give effect to
equal rights, u free ballot and honest
count, maintain economy in the State
Government and support the present
system of public education. You are
here to say to your Representatives in
Congress that they must represent the
true interests Of the people of this State
and not Democratic Bourbon caucus
You are here to free those people from
Bourbon domination and 10 lift the
blight of Bourbon Democracy which has
set in upon us. You are here to restore
the old State and her people to the most
cordial relations with all the people of
our common country and put an end
to sectional contests and obliterate race
| distinctions"
During the delivery of his speech the
General was frequently interrupted by
applause, which at times was SO great
that he was forced to suspend entirely,
and at its close he was again the recip-
lent of another great Outhurst of en-
thusiasm. This was followed by the
introduction Of resolution indOrsing
General MahOne'S course in the United
States Senate, which was adopted
unanimously.
The platform of principles reported
by the Committee on Resolutions, which
was adopted amid much applause,
indorseS the readjuStment of the
debt upon the principles and
terms of the Riddleberger bill ad-
vocates the security, support, and Ell
largement of the free-SChOOlS system;
the re-establiShment oftree suffrage by
removal of the capitatiou tax the equal
and impartial execution of the laws,
and the economical administration of
the Government.
The Convention then proceeded to
make nominations for State officers, be-
ginning with that for Governor. For
this Office the following were put in
nomination: John f. Massey, Of Albe-
marie (prescnt State Auditory; Colonel
| William Il. Cameron, Mayor of Peters
burg, and General V. d. Groner, of
| Norfolk.
| At 9.45 p. m. the first ballot was ta-
ken, with this result:
| Cameron. ...... 900 Wisc.,......,,.,. 1876
Massey. ....'.... DID Groner. .......... 90
| Whole number OF; votes 737; necessary
| to choice 359.
The second ballot resulted as follows
Cameron ...... 2s7 Wise. .lO5,
Massey. .......... .247 Necessary to choice 81 !
Gr0ner.. .lUl
After the announcement of this bal
lot the name of Riddleberger was pre-
sented by Mr.. Lindsay, of Norfolk. 1t
was received with great enthusiasm.
Mr.. Riddleberger's nomination was op-
posed by Mr. Gebbings, of Chesterfield
County, in a speech that carried the
convention, and it looks as if the effort
to spring Riddlebarger would fail.
DIR. Wise, brother of John S. Wise
sprang upon the stage. Having sue
ceeded in securing the attention of the
convention he nominated Senator Ma
hone. This led to another scene of tn
multi, during which delegates shouted
themselves hoarse for their respective
favorite, and at one time it looked as if
the convention would break up in a row.
John S. Wise made stirring speech
for harmony, and begged the convention
not to do anything that would jeopar.
dize their success in November, and, in
order that nothing rash might be done,
he moved that the convention adjourn
until tomorrow. This motion was put
and declared carried amid yells of dis