Public meeting at the African Church.
--In response to the call of Governor Smith, of Virginia, to meet him at the African Church, the greatest concourse of people assembled in that building last evening that ever before were at one time collected under its roof. The meeting was advertised to be held at half-past 7 o'clock. Before 5 o'clock every seat and position where a man could stand was occupied, and with each moment the crowd became greater by additional arrivals, until at last what had been a crowd became a jam. The galleries were so closely packed that serious fears were entertained that they would give way under their weight and crush all beneath them. It was gratifying to see this immense attendance of a meeting whose object was to hurl back into Lincoln's teeth the insult put upon the Southern people by his answer to the Confederate commissioners sent to confer with him on the subject of a peace between the two countries. Standing in that immense assemblage, and hearing the patriotic expressions of the citizens and soldiers there gathered together, one was involuntarily carried back, by the sight and by the eager spirit that animated all present, to the first days of secession. Never before has the war spirit burned so fiercely and steadily.--The firm resolve to resist to the very death the demands of the Northern tyrant that now animates the whole Southern people was plainly visible in that meeting.About seven o'clock Governor Smith, attended by President Davis and several distinguished citizens, came upon the stand. The proceedings were opened with prayer by the Rev. Dr. Burrows, of the Baptist Church. The Governor addressed the multitude in a patriotic and soul-stirring speech, during which he was frequently interrupted by thunders of applause. He was followed by President Davis in an address of about three-quarters of an hour, during which he was frequently interrupted with the wildest outbursts of applause. Upon the subject of tire recent peace commission, President Davis said he himself had never entertained much hope of effecting honorable terms so long as our cause was meeting with reverses; but, under the circumstances, when semiofficial representatives had so frequently visited our Government, intimating that negotiations might result in a satisfactory adjustment of our difficulties, and when it was plain that the sufferings of the people dictated that every effort, on his part, should be made to bring about a cessation of hostilities, he felt it his duty, as he had always done, to appoint those whom he regarded as among the best men we had, who were most calculated to heal the existing breach which severed us, and obtain that independence for the Confederacy from the Federal Government which no other Power on the face of the earth but the Yankees would think of denying. As to the conditions of peace, President Davis emphatically asserted that none save the independence of the Confederacy could ever receive his sanction. He had embarked in this cause with a full knowledge of the tremendous odds against us; but, with the approval of a just Providence, which he conscientiously believed was on our side, and the united resolve of our people, he doubted not that victory would yet crown our labors. In his correspondence with Lincoln, that functionary had always spoken of the United States and the Confederacy as our afflicted country; but in his replies he (the speaker) had never failed to refer to them as separate and distinct governments, and sooner than we should ever be united again, he would be willing to yield up everything he has on earth, and, if it were possible, would sacrifice a thousand lives before he would succumb. It was impossible at the late hour when President Davis concluded to give anything like an accurate summary of his remarks. Suffice it to say, that it was everything which might have been expected from so distinguished a patriot, and no one of the vast concourse present failed to be enthusiastically gratified. He concluded by exhorting those at home, who are able to bear arms, to unite with those already in the army in repelling the foe, believing that thereby we would compel the Yankees in less than twelve months to petition us for peace upon our own terms.
At the conclusion of President Davis's speech, Governor Smith arose and read the following preamble and resolutions seriatim, which were unanimously adopted as the sentiment of the meeting:
‘ "Whereas, the Commonwealth of Virginia, in concert with other American States, did, in the year 1776, solemnly set forth that when any form of government becomes destructive of the happiness or dangerous to the liberties of the people, it is the right and the duty of the people to after or abolish it; in pursuance whereof they did declare themselves independent States; and whereas, her separate independence and that of the co-acting States was afterwards acknowledged by the world; and whereas, Virginia did subsequently form, with other States, a common government, or agency, for the management of their foreign affairs and other specified general purposes, which said common government or agency received no other or further recognition by foreign Powers than as the representatives of the several State sovereignties already recognized; and whereas, Virginia, in entering into this association or federaration, did expressly reserve for herself, and therefore for her co-States, the right which at ached to the act itself of resuming the powers granted whensoever the same might be perverted to their injury or oppression; and whereas, the Commonwealth of Virginia did, in sovereign convention, in April, 1861; decide and determine that the circumstances had arrived which made it her imperative duty, as it was her indisputable right, to withdraw from the association known as the United States of America, and resume her separate sovereignty; and whereas, this, her legitimate act, has been followed by an atrocious war upon her, and upon the States with which she subsequently formed a new confederation, by the States from which she and they withdrew, for the purpose of subjecting her and them to the absolute and tyrannical domination of the United States; and whereas, after four years of hostilities, conducted on the part of our enemies with a barbarity equalled only by the wickedness of their designs, their authorities did invite a conference with a view to the establishment of peace, which invitation was responded to by the Confederate authorities; and whereas, it appears, from the report of the Confederate commissioners to said conference, that it was declared, on the part of our enemies, that nothing should terminate the existing war but our unconditional submission to their yoke and acknowledgement of their absolute authority; that their laws for the confiscation of our property and execution of our citizens should be enforced by judges and other officers whom they would appoint for that purpose; that the only palliation of our wretchedness should be the voluntary mercy of those who, for four years, have murdered our people and ravaged our homes; that our social system shall be immediately upturned, and hereafter regulated at their will; that the uniform which our soldiers have made so honorable must be stripped from their persons, and the flag, under which they have so often marched to victory must be trailed in the dust and thrown away forever; therefore .
"Resolved, That we, the citizens here assembled, do spurn with the indignation due to so gross an insult, the terms on which the President of the United States has proffered peace to the people of the Confederate States.
"Resolved, That the circumstances under which that proffer has been made add to the outrage, and stamp it as a designed and premeditated indignity to our people.
"Resolved, That our profoundest gratitude is due to the soldiers who, for four years, have maintained our liberties against the utmost efforts of our enemies; and that, while we look to them to illustrate in the future the fame of the past, we will sustain their efforts by every means and resource at our command.
"Resolved, That in this presence, and in the face of the world, reverently invoking thereto the aid of Almighty God, we renew our resolve to maintain our liberties and independence; and to this we mutually pledge our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."
’ After the adoption of the foregoing preamble and resolutions, loud calls were made for Vice- President A. H. Stephens, Hons. G. A. Henry, of Tennessee; Hunter, of Virginia; Oldham, of Texas, and Rev. Dr. Duncan, of Richmond. The two latter responded in appropriate speeches, of about twenty minutes each; after which the meeting adjourned with three hearty cheers for each of the speakers.
Last night's. experience fully demonstrated the absurdity of attempting to hold the great mass meeting of Thursday in this building, or, indeed, in any building. It is safe to say that thousands of people went away last night unable to gain entrance to the church. The Capitol Square is the only place in the city that will hold the vast concourse that desire and will attempt to hear the speaking of next Thursday. And we may remark that the speeches then and there delivered will be what all the people have a right to hear, and what they ought to hear. The meeting should be on the Capitol Square, and two or more stands should be erected, so that all may hear.
