Year: 1867


man to the public lands of the country. In
Florida, South Carolina, Texas, and other
states, the Government had air 'ady helped
the colored men to lands He would ask II II
were not easier for the colored men to go and
seek these lands than to wait tor the contis-
cation OF their white neighbors' estates.
Under the influence Of confiscaGion industry is
paralyzed and the seeds of hatred sown tnat
produce incalculable mischief. II all the lands
OF the South were confiscated tomorrow, and
put up at auction, he did not believe they would
realize the famous five hundred millions OF dol
lars expected by Mr.. Stevens. He did not pre-
tend to be an adviser Of the oolored people, but
he found since he came here that land was
cheap In Virginia, and the cheapest way he
thought for the colored men to do was to buy
lands and settle on them. He would ask them
TO become landhoders, as il would give them
dignity and position, but not to walt for con-
hscation to improve their condition. He was
Republican, expecting to live aud die one, but
he wished no man to vote except as he Thought
II for the best interests of the country. He
would ask them, blacks and whites alike,
TO conform to the act of Congress, elect
such officers as can take the oath pre-
scrbed, ana compliant action on their
ponding action on the part of Congress. After
a high and eloquent eulogy on the State of Viz
gina, Mr.. Greeley entreated them, whites and
cumstances in honesty and good faith. Let US,
said he, forget the bitterness and sorrow of
these eventiul years, now SO happily passed
away. He had great faith that the latter days
OF this State would be more glorious than her
past and beseeched them, in conclusion, TO
open their eyes to the magnificent resources of
their commonwealth, to walk upward and
onward, with an eye to the glory and pros
perity of our common country (Applause)


SPEECH OF GERRITT SMITH.


Mr.. Gerritt Smith was next introduced, and
satd:-After hearing the candid and able argu-
ment of Mr.. Greeley, he did not expect to make
a speech in the interest of any party; yet II
anything he could say could restore the bonds
of mutual love among his countrymen, he would
feel intensely glad In looking at the condi.
happy he should feel were he a younger
man, in travelling over the country, incui-
lat
ring sections. People told him he was a silly
intruder into the province OF craftsmanship;
but true statesmanship, he believed, was per
yaded by love. He wanted to bring the
North and South into a union of love. The
war is over; but only truce exists If each
party would enter upon its duties, the purpose of
union might be effected. He had fault to find
with the South They do not, in the phT ase of the
day, accept the situation They need not be
ashamed to doso. The remarkable bravery that
gave such trouble to their conquerors was APP
plauded throughout the world; but they should
not run away from the terms OF Congress, and
run to the Supreme Court, and accept the
dogmas of the degraded Democracy of the
North. Under the Constitution, they who took
part in the fight against the Government are
traitors to-day. But he was averSe to having
tized as traitors. When this strife had advanced
to a great civil war, with de BdclO Government,
and carrying on war as an independent power,
they were no longer traitors. He wanted thus
to lift them from their supposed degradation.
But why, after coming down from the position
around az m your necks % for the Govsrnment to pull
them? The North, he wonld say, was under
late war, IfState rights brought on the war the
North is certainly responsible. But 1t was not
State Rights-iG was slavery brought on
the war Yet he still held that the North must
share the responsibility. He (the speaker) had
been an extremist in and out of Congress. He
had maintained that slavery was not law, and,
in the words OF a great jurst, that linen should
reject the wild and guilty phantasy of property
been chased by good many mobs in his time;
but never by a Southern one. (Applause.)
They were all Northern pro-slaVery mobs Pro
slavery decisions had been rendered by State
and Federal Legislatures, and every institution
of slavery. We of the North reaped far more
gain from slavery than you did. You but held
the COW; we MIXED her daughter and ap-
plause) We are under common response
bility for this horrid war; but let us
mlngle our tears Of penitence, and forget,
in the prospect of our glorious future. the
should now take pity on the South, and Con-
gress should have appropriated ten or twenty
millions of dollars to this suffering land Could
he have his own way. tnesGovernment should
exempt the South for half:a- dozen years from
direct Federal taxes. Speaking of the relation
between blacks and whites, he asked, "Why
should not the whites love the blacks, they who
have moistened the Southern soil with their
sweat and Lears?" He would ca upon the
white men of Virginia to facilitate the poor
blacks in the acquisition Of homes. 1t would
be better and safer for these same white men.
At the conclusion of the war he desired to see
some portion of large estates OF Southern Rebels
given to the freedmen, but he was no advocate





not to grudge the black his newborn freedom;
shun all partial legislation, and adopt a plat
form of equal rights. And now black men,
why should you not love the whites? exclaimed
the speaker. owe dc" 1--WE do" was vocife
rously cried.) We are all brothers; our COM
mon Father has colored us both differently, but
He does not hold us in different regard for that
reason. IT'S not the color, tits the character
within the skin, that should regulate the
standard OF men. Do not ask for conflscation,
for homes that you gain by honest earning will
be more satisfactory than any you wrest from
your white neighbors. He was not so much of
a Republican as Mr.. Greeley, for he would stop
Acknowledgement and go in for universal suf-
frage for both whites and blacks


The disfranchis can exercise more political
influence when laboring under that disability
than otherwise, and he would ask the blacks TO
petition Congress to restore political rights to
the disfranchsed and defeated Rebels. 1t
would be the happieSt tconsummation the world
ever saw; and In conclusion he would advise
the blacks to trust no man who was not
opposed TO slavery and an advocate OF universal
suffrage.


Judge Underwood followed in O few brief and
moderate remarks. his presence being received
with misses from the whites and lusty cheers
f.om the black portion OF the audience.


At q late hour this evening the assemblage
went peaceably home.


General Burton, late keeper of the released
State prisoner. Is being serenaded at his hotel
by party or white ctttzens.-N T. Herald


An accident occurred the ether evening at
the Metropolitan Theatre, Buffalo, during the
f,,,,, n, ,1ca of tho Arabs Thraa of tha Yna,,,