Year: 1867

FREEDMEN.


TRIBUNE


RICHMOND Va April Ex-senator Wilson Of Mas
sachusets spoke last night in the City OF Richmond from
the steps Of the Capitol 10 Of the largest gatherings
ever assembled in the state comprising five or six
thousand persons. Among tho number were many
members Of the Legislature and other public off
Gers, but by far the larger part Of the audience
was composed Of eoored men and women,
who took the Hveest interest in the proceedings and
manifested by their frequent and emphatic expressions
Of appreciation how heartily they sympatbized with the
sentiments OF the distinguished speaker Their response
TO the appeal of the Senator TO stand by their friends
showed that they had very clear appreciation OF who
their friends were, and determined 10 support them
in spite Of the efforts making by their late masters
10 induce them forsake their fast friends and over
to the men who almost thsvey hour have seoned and
spued them the oftscOurDg Of the Garth The Senator
commenced by referring TO the fact that lie appeared
there in compliance with the Invitation OF several men,
bers Of the Legislature and said that they would expect
him 10 speak With entire rankness and in that expecta-
ton he should not disappon them He then said that
VIII ile the in he for its vigorous
prosecution and for using all the means that Goa ana
nature had put into their hands 10 preserve the national


life and TO perpetuate the Government formed by Wash
ngton and his ustros compeers Thanks TO God peace
had now come, and lie for vigorous prosecution
OF peace all over country In continuance OF his ad
dress the Senator said that when Lees army ana tne
of
earnestly asked what they 10 do They were ready
for months TO submit 10 any terms ana condllos
the wishes O. his friends, had adopted his
fatal policy and under us INSPIRATION ! loyat
scorned and the men who were anxious TO know
what we were going do with them gave us clearly TO
understand that the question had now come TO he what
they were TO do with us Great laughter and applause
Congress submitted the constitutional Amendment and
c0nempuously rejected IT, The loyal people repudted
the President and his policy and Congress adopted te
laying down the terms and conditions OF reconstruction
The Rebel States would not comply with this act and the
simple question was whether the men who believed IN
this policy should control the affairs OF the late Rebel
states and represent them in Congress or the men VINO
lie appealed 10 the freedmen TO the old Henry Clay
Wings. who dragged into the Re9elnon anu me iew
Jackson Democrats who accepted the hefesles or
Calhoun, to stand squarely ON the kepnhGa platform m
and they could carry the state TINS Au'nhn IN nS 29 %
senator predicted that nine OF the coored men or
tbe stne woud support the Union Republican party.
The men who went into Rebellion for the purpose OF
founding republic the cornerstone 0l when
that they were especial friends of the coloed race that
they must forget VIM Lloyd Garrison ana the pioneer
anti Slavery men Whittier, Longfellow, Bryant, and
for them for a generations; Abraham Lneoln the great
iha Ie me w" million heroes Who fought for
their rcedomthey must forget all these ana accept
"Sarer" .nSn "Seyer"i lie was opposed to q white
party or S Sfk na %2Rs &ss IF pay SES e e
their veins, who insisted that they were dishonored
and Inundated TO go together 10 JON the
party OF the Vallandighams, the seymours, and
the Woods, ard the who cheerfnlly accepted the
issues who were freedom, civil rights suffrage e


cation and elevation OF all men without distinction
OF race TO with the great party whose ideas were to
be Incorporated into policy and imbedded in the very
soil OF the continent III these men who Thought alike
and felt alike would boldly meet the issues, the Rebel
leaders and their followers would 80 down where ther
IDEAS had gone, and more control the policy OF
Virginia Then the day OF the plantation would
mass away and the cultivated farms would
come Then schooihouses would be reared, then the
magnificent resources OF Virginia would be developed
her Industries would be diversified the at rpoWer OF
the James-large enough 10 turn all the Ills of Massa
chusetts running idle TO the -~nd throw me
shuttle and turn the spindle then her min would be
worked, and the Old Dominion, rec Nerl * from lhe
blight and exhaustion OF civil war; wod soon take her
position among the most prosperous u ou great STATES
Loud applause. -, g. p,.,,,
loudly called for, and responded n Dllei speech
enforcing the idea Of the dignity or labor ana tue heces
sty the welfare and prosperity OF the state tlst an
both back white should devote themselves 10 fuus
trial pursuits He concluded by proposing Three cheers
for the State OF Virginia and Senator wilson, which
were given with great enthusiasm and the Governor ana
Senator retired amid the loud pauds Of the crowd Ie
Republican cause is evidently making great progress IN
this State and friends sangune of success IN the
election of delegates to the state COhNehtioh anu vi
members OF Congress.