Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-08-31
RARIn SPEECH.


before tae constitutional convention 10
Richmond yesterday that caused con-
siderable CONSERVATION. II caused hall
the members to leave the hall before be
had concluded and earned him q storm
of Kisses as be took his seat.
The galleries were crowded, negroes
being the majority, and they oheered
loudly when be declared thattne negroes
were as good as any white men he had
met in Richmond. He made q savage at
tack on Ex-Governor Cameron, mem
Der OF the convention, formally re-
publican, intimatiDg that he was worse
than Judas Iscariot. or George Ill. be
then proceeded to abuse the democrats
roundly for the franchise resolutions In
PRODUCED by them, saying that II Christ
were In Richmond be would not De
able to vote under them.
Colonel Summers resented the refer
euce to Desdemona and OIbello in Col.
Cameron's speech the other day. "As
one of the sovereigns OF this common.
wealth" said he, II resent that be- Cam
erop) should come 10 Richmond aud
speak OF O.hello a. negro with Dis
arms around the necks of our white
women to arouse prejudice" Governor
| Cameron's party in the legislature OF
| 1881. Colonel Summers said, turned out
Arthur Sullivan, the one-srmed SER
pesnt-at.arms OF the House, and put In
his place one OF the meanest negroes 10
eastern Virginia.
The speaker then had recourse to the
Bible and rea;i a--chspter from James Ii,
| to show that God had chosen the poor
OF this world because they were Cypress
ed by the rich. He claimed that the
suffrage laws oil North Carolina had
forced 80, 900 negroes to leave that State,
aud that the same cause had run 100. 0OO
out OF Mississippi. He declared the demo
Gratis "stake.burners" because, he said,
a crowd OF them in Mississippi had
poured oil on helpless negro and burn
ed him, being aided in the work by four
preachers, who meanwhile sung, Near
er, My God, To Thee"
When Colonel Summers concluded
his speech the negroes began to cheer,
but the white people his5ed them
down. Several times during Colonel
Summers address the negroes began
to cheer, but he waved them down. de-
claring that it was the funeral of their
liberty be was officiating at, and be
wanted no levity. He declared that
there was only one democrat 10 the
couotry who had ever kept promise
and that was "chuckle. headed fellow,
named Grover Cleveland, up In New
York, and he has been dead ever since
be kept his promise"
He claimed that to disfrauchise the
negro would drive thousands of them
away from the State. The black belt
was raising a great cry against the me-
gro, and that section was NOTED for
peanuts, big mosquitoes, and little
politicians"
His address occasioued the greatest
indignation among the democrats aud
q North Csrolinian who heard 1t de-
clared that similar utterances 10 his
State would have cost the speaker his
life.
The galleries were being vacated at
the close Of Colonel Summers speech,
aud one member aud;bly invited an
other to 90 over into the Senate
chamber.
Il do not object to you leaving the
hall. expected to run some OF you
out" responded Colonel Summers.
Delegate Hubbard, of Buckingham,
responded with considerable show n
| spirit: SIT is immaterisl-.'>-s what
you object to, no saIu."
Mr.. Moore,of Montgomery, followed.
First of all be was Virginisn, he said,
md be was republican. He denied
hat Colonel Summers spoke for or rep
-esen ed bis party, for be bad declared
hat he came to the convention with the
slime of no political party upon him
Twice had the republican county COM
niitee refused to endorse the candidacy
If Colonel Summers, land in that
agree with you that the republicans of
Washington county are intelligent peo-
1le."
Mr.. Moore's speech was applauded
by the democrats. He was
Interrupted several times by various
and made courteous replies
As be proceeded with his remarks the
members returned to the chamber,
others stopped reading and writing and
ave him close attention.
The present constitution, he asserted,
vas the best that the mind OF man bad
ret devised. 1t freed the negro and it
llso freed the white man. 1t gave us
he free schools. Ha asked the conven-
ion to adopt the Wysor amendment 10
ustice to the people of Virginia.
Mr.. Harrison offered a resolution
for q conclusion OF the de-
,ate on the question under copsiders.
ion at 1901 q. M, Tuesday, September
}, 1901. MIR. Wysor moved to amend
" fixing the time for Thursday next at
q. m. The amendment was adopted.
Chairman Green offered the follow
ne: Resolved, That the chairman be
to report to the convention
hat, in the opinion OF this COMMITTEES,
{ Ia inexpedient at this time to proceed
With the discussion OF the preamble aud
manner OF enactment oithe new consti.
ution, and request that the committee
10 discharged from further considera-
ion OF said preamble and accompany
ng papers on and after Monday, Sep
ember 2. 1901, and until the further
rider Of the convention"
It had been the intention OF all the
democrats to walk out OF the conven-
ion ball when the Washington county
nan began yesterday but they later
considered that it would be unduly
.cceotuatiDg the speech and therefore
hey Sat, as Judge Brooke said, with
vocferous silence" and listened to the
nd.