The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-08-17
Wickham. and
appointed to see Genernl Wickham, ana
show him these resolutions.
"By order Of Club No. .. 80,

|
As had already accepted the call made
upon me by the Bowling Green Cohyen-
ton and others, 1t came too lac, OF course'
to be considered in connection WIN sucu
acceptance. It would scarcely, however,
have altered my action; Tor WHIST KNOW
nothing Ms to who are the members OF OIup
No. 4, yet did know very well that sucn
clubs were In existence, organized spccial,y
for the benefit OF Mr.. Jones, ana snouiu
scarcely have taken counsel from men
whom / supposed to be In his pay, yet l
should have treated II. as / now do' WIN
respectful consideration.
am gratifed by the declaration OF pre-
vious friendship for myself, for L am de-
sirous of the friendship OF all people: AS
however, their friendships not sufficiently
strong to induce them to cast vote
for man who always stood by them on
the only occasion in which 1t can be OF any
special interest to him. l cannot think 1t
Is very sincere.
just what they mean by the declaration
that they do not want to interfere with the
rights OF the whites, but that they want
their rights protected, [ do not know.
Under the laws Of Virginia, as well as I'M
der the laws OF the United States, the
whites have no rights that are not equally
possessed by the colored people. The laws
governing property are the same for both.
The laws affecting person are the same for
both. In both cases they afford the very
same protection for the rights OF both; and
| have never heard Of any disposition TO
make n change in any law in conflict with
that principle. Suppose. however, there
was. possess the confidence OF the great
mass of the white people Gas had hoped 1
did. and as / believe [ deserve to do, OF
the colored people,. AIN recognized as
a friend Of the colored people, and my con-
duct to them always has proved it.
Should | he in the Virginia Senate. and
any measure be introduced to make altera-
tons in that principle. and making one law
| for white men and another for coored, which
is impossible, would any one bemore certain
| to oppose. and could any one be more in
| 1uential to prevent than myself, under the
circumstances that surround my candidacy
Can you not see that? Cannot you see that
| il am supported by your votes rs well as
| the votes OF those who have called me out
that it would strengthen my influence, and
that it would tend to draw to you those
who have called me out with a full know
ledge Of the kindness OF my feelings to-
wards you? II you cannot see this 1t Will
tend to confirm the belief held by many,
and which / have always combatted, that
you are blinded in your powers Of reason
ing by your race preiudices.
do want your votes; / want them be-
cause it would I've most gratifying to me to
receive in that way the proof OF possessing
the confidence OF all classes Of people in
this district: but far more because OF the
effect it would have in bringing about good
feeling and sympathy between all OF our
people.
Something has been said at times about
| the intimidation OF cOlored voters by white
men. / can say with truth that ] have
never seen or known an instance OF it in
| Hanover. have seen your votes contested
by men who are now deceiying you into
the belief that they are your friends. and
urging you TO vote against me, and, unless
it was perfectly clear ease against the
vote, have always established your right
before judges who were politically opposed
to YOU. The only cases OF attempted ntim-
idatiCn that / have known to occur were
on the part OF cOlOred men against colOred
men, and i have then stood by the man
whose right was assailed rs earnestly and
successfully as for those whose votes were
contested.
We are living here together, white and
black; our interests are intimately inter-
woven; it i of the utmost importance that
there should be harmony and good feeling
between us: TO have it otherwise would be
most hurtiul TO both. think present an
opportunity for you to take step that will
20 far to promote good feeling.
These are grave words have spoken to
YOU. | hope YOU will take them home with
YOU and ponder them, and for the sake OF
yourselves and ourselves, OF your chidI en-
and OF our children, that you will take the
view Of it that do.
CONCLUSION.
General Wickham then took up the per-
sonal charges that have been set afloat by |
his opponents, and showed the fal>ity OF
them He cmphatically denied that he had |
ever said he wept at the sight Of the old |
flag, or been wanting in fidelity to the |
cause that he espoused during the war. lie |
called upon his old comrades who stood |
around him to know whether in any OF the |
cavalry charges that they had made with |
him there had been any time for weeping |
over the flag Of the enemy. He challenged |
any man to point to any act OF his that |
would prove him unfaithful to his old com.
radeS, and said that the wounds he bore |
would prove his loyalty to his State.
He said that, so far from his having
voted for the restriction clauses OF the
Constitution OF the Underwood Conven-
tion," rs his opponents charge, he had
gone TO General Grant in person, and had
been instrumental in having these restric-
tive clauses submitted to the people sepa-
rately. by which means they had been de-
feated.
Colonel A. W. Jones then addressed the
people. He abused the Democratic party.
and said that there was no national Demo-
cratic party now in existence.
lie thanked God that he had never owned
slave, and that he had made himself what
he was. He abused the monopolists, and
said that John ). Barbour was a railroad
wireworker. But before he got through
he told the people that he had been q rail-
road president in New jersey, and his eX-
cuse for the part taken by him i'm certain
matters which drew down upon him the
scathing censure OF the Chancellor OF that
State was lame indeed
In answer TO a question as to whom he |
would vote for in the next presidential
election, General Wickham said that OF the |
very many men whose names were con-
nected with the next candidacy for Pres- !
dent, and very many more who thought |
themselves peculiarly fitted for the Office, |
it would be impossible at this time TO name |
the man who would te the candidate for |
whom he would vote; but one thing be
could say with the utmost positiveness. that |
he would not vote for any man as President |
who would Use the power and patronage Of
Federal Government in aid Of the Coali- |
tion-Readluster party OF Virginia, be he
who he might.
Put old Hanover down for rousing ma !
iority for Wickham.