The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-03-15
of the Richmond Dispatch

IN Response 10 the published call issued
in accordance with the action OF confer
ence OF colored citizens OF Richmond AMI
Mapchs ster held on the 9th OF December
the State Convention OF volored People was
opened 10 the Academy OF Music to-day.
The Convention was called TO order al l2i
O'Clock By w. j. s. BOwe, the body OF the
hall being filed with delegates, and the gal
leries occupied Ivy visitors.
| A great deal OF confusion occurred ut the
very opening by reason OF the delay in call.
ing the body to order, a number OF speak
ers being on the floor at the same time, ask
ing questions and giving their views as TO
the manner OF proceeding. Finally, the
call for the Convention was read, the body
declining 10 hear any remarks from the dele
gates on the platform before the call was
read.
| Captain Hill [Maboueitel moved that VI. n.
Woodbridge, OF Richmond, be called 10 the
chair as temporary chairman, which motion.
on being seconded, was about being put to
| the house when loud cries Of "No, No -
90 Not ready" were made. Mean while JO-
seph I. Wilson, OF Norfolk, was nominated
for temporary chairman. Loud cries and
great confusion prevailed, dozen Of voices
being heard at the same time, and the occu-
pant Of the chair, Mr. Bowe, beating on the
table with his cane, appealing for order,
and demanding that the delegates be seated.
G. w. Tinsey, OF Petersburg, made the
point that the Chair had no authority over
the body, and that his only duty was to hear
nominations from the floor.
Captain J. II. Hill was here put in nomi-
nation for temporary chairman.
The Chairman tried very hard to recOg-
nize Il delegate from LyDchburg a entitled
To the floor, but the Convention would not
allow it-delegates from ali parts Of the
house standing upon their feet and speaking.
Finally &. W. Tinsley, from the floor, moved
10 90 into temporary organization, which
was apparently carried with loud cheers.
He moved that Joseph Il. Wilson, OF Nor.
folk, be made chairman, which was carried
amidst great cheers.
Mr.. Wilson started down the aisle 10 The
platform, on reaching which there was
rush TO prevent Inn from taking his seat.
Friends OF both sides filed The platform.
and he police were on hand TO prevent any
violence. No violence was done To- MI.
Wilson. though. for some time he was kept
from his seat. and the utmost confusion
regned.
Captain Hill tried for ONE time to make
the Convention hear him, aud TO bring or
der out Of chaos, but he was unsuccessful
the whole body Of delegates standing on
their feet, and everybody talking.
Finally the stage was cleared, aud Wilson,
taking the chair, asked the Convention to be
orderly and quiet. There were loud and
continued cries for Woodbridge. Dir.
Woodbridge appeared, and. standing be'lde
Wilson, appealed for order.
SIDE BY SIDE.
Mr.. Wilson stood rcsolutely before the
Convention. appealing for peace, aud saying
that he had been elected temporary presl-
dent by majority OF the delegates. TIL,
was met by cries OF "NO, no." As far a.
bis presidency was concerned, he was will
ing TO submit it to the vote OF the regular
delegates OF the Convention. Wilson spoke
for some time. He and Woodbridge. the
candidate OF the opposition, stood all the
while side by side. Wilson stated tharun-
less there was fair play and illegal action
he and his friends would withdraw from
the Convention.
Woodbridge said the Convention had been
called here for the interests OF the negroes
OF Virginia, and we should not come here
divided, but rs one man, uniting our forces
and agreeing upon some plan by which our
interests can be secured. Applause The
move OF the opposition, represented by MIR.
Wilson, was started in Richmond, under
the influence Of satrapism and in interests
that the cOlOred people are not identified
with.
JOLLY ROW.
These remarks Of Mr.. Woodbridge caused
much confusion, and h. was frequently in
terlupted. The noise and confusion was
indeed so great that It was impossible to
make any intelligent report OF the remark,
made. In conclusion. he stated that he in
tended to retain his seat as chairman OF the
committee until he was told by the majority
TO weld il. This was greeted by loud cheers
by his friends, the whole Convention again
rising to ITS feet, some cheering for Wool
bridge and some for Wilson. The people IN
the galleries were IN the mean time watching
the proceedings with intense interest. For
some minutes nothing was heard but the
beating on the tables by the two chairmen
and the cries of the Convention for Wool
bridge" and "WilSOu."
The Convention stood upon their feet,
waving their hats and canes. and wildly
cheering.
Wilson moved the election OF William
Merchant, Of Lynchburg, as temporary chair
man, and he was declared elected amidst
loud cries.
Mr.. Wilson mean while endeayored 10
the best OF his ability 10 secure order by
beating the table with his cane.
The MAYOR APPEARS.
AT this point Mayor Cameron appeared on
the stage. He SAID be was here in his Off
cial capacity to preserve the peace and good
order OF the town, and he Intended 10 do
il. He bad nothing 10 do with the business
OF the Convention, but this unseemly wran-
gle panied him. lie knew that a committee
had called this Convention, and uuul that
committee called the body TO order and or
ganiZed il in the proper way 1t could not
proceed properly TO business. He knew
that that committee had rented the ball, aud
he intended to see that it held il until the
Convention was legally OlganiZed. He
called for BOwe, the chairman OF that com.
mittee, TO come on the stage and proceed
regularly with the organization.
For some minutes after Mayor Cameron's
address there was a consultation on the stage
between representatives OF the two parties.
Mr.. Wilson said that neither. money nor
persuasion nor any other influence could in-
duce him to Weld the Craftsmanship. lCries
Of NO, no. \ delegate was beard above
the confusion TO cry =" stand your hand,
my friend"
B0we, the chairman Of The committee, APP
peared, and delegates arose aud said theJ
did not want TO hear him.
Wilson tried 10 speak, and delegates said
they did not want TO bear him. Mean wbsie
Woodbridge. Wilson, and Bowe all stood in
row. side by side, on the platform, and
neither Of them could be heard.
Bowe hnally got hearing, and stated that