Northern visitors, drawn to Richmond in the Spring of 1867, to the Davis trial, came upon the heels of a riot if not squarely into the midst of one. Friday, May 10, began with a mass-meeting at one of the old Chimborazo buildings, where negroes of both sexes, various ages, and in all kinds of rags and raiment, congregated. Nothing could exceed the cheerfulness with which their initiation fees and monthly dues were received by the white Treasurer of the National Political Aid Society, while their names were called by the white Secretary--the one officer a carpet-bagger, the other a scalawag. Initiation fee was a quarter, monthly dues a dime; the Treasurer's table was piled with a hillock of small change. The Secretary added 400 names to a roll of 2,000. A negro leader, asked by a Northern reporter, "What's this money to be used for?" replied: "We gwi sen' speakers all 'roun' de country, boss; gwi open de eyes er de cullud folks, an' show 'em how dee gotter vote. Some niggers out in de country don' know whe'er dee free er not--hoein' an' plowin' fuh white folks jes lak dee always been doin'. An' dee gwi vote lak white folks tell 'em ef dar ain' suppin' did. De country's gwi go tuh obstruction ef us whar knows don' molighten dem whar don' know. Dat huccum you sees what you does see." When collection had been taken up, a young carpet-bagger led in speech-making: "Dear friends: I rejoice to find myself in this noble company of patriots. I see before me men and women who are bulwarks of the nation; ready to give their money, to work, to die, if need be, for freedom. Freedom, my friends, is another name for the great Republican Party. ("Hise yo' mouf tellin' dat truf!" "Dat's so!" "Halleluia!" "Glory be tuh Gawd!") The Republican Party gave you freedom and will preserve it inviolate! (Applause; whispers: "What dat he spoken 'bout?" "Sho use big words!" "Dat man got sense. He know what he talkin' 'bout ef we don't!") That party was unknown in this grand old State until a few months ago. It has been rotten-egged!--("Now ain't dat a shame!") although its speakers have only advocated the teachings of the Holy Bible. ("Glory Halleluia!" "Glory to de Lamb!" "Jesus, my Marster!") The Republican Party is your friend that has led you out of the Wilderness into the Promised Land!" Glories and halleluias reached climax in which two sisters were carried out shouting. "Disshere gitten' too much lak er 'ligious meetin' tuh suit me," a sinner observed.