The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-01-20


RICHMOND, Jan. Is, 1857.
me Succession to the GoUernorshsp-7Ne Office
Ssekers--TAe Negro Insurrection in Virgsnic-
Reorganization of the Militia-The Nig6 Mails
10 thus City Resum.d-IAe Ba,uks-Suieide-
Effects Of Forrsy's Dstea.
Amid the all pervadng interest and the active
rivalry which now exist among the leading polti
clans of the Old Dominion, in connection with fede
raj appointments it seems strange thar thought
should be bestowed upon mere State officer, and
that, too, nearly three and half years in advance
Of the expiration Of the term of the present incuu
bent; yet so it ia. But it is to be feared notvith
standing the vigorous efforts being made IN this be-
half that the ardent asprant viii be doomed to dis
appointment. Previous to Wise's nomination for the
Governorship in 1896, the name Of the Hon. John
Letcber was mentioned 10 some few papers in con-
nection with that position, and following up the ad
vantage thus afforded, be has assumed, 1t is under
stood, the position of an aspirant for that Office.
The name of Charles j. Faulkner has been
recently mentioned in connection with it, but
facts which have re emily come under my notoe
satisfy me that be has no such pretensioDs. 1t il
said that Letcher started this rumor SO thai having
rendered him the object Of competition, he might
himself more successfully pu,sue his canvass sub
rosa. In other wOros, be wanted to place Faulkner
in the position of decoy, in order to direSt the
attention of the other asprants from him. To indi-
cate purpose to become candidate for the posi-.
ton thus early would rather impair the chances of
success than otherwise, but this does not compre-
Id efforts lndirec ly made with reference 10 that
object. An adaptation of ones policy and public
conduct to the prevailing sentiments Of the people ia
the most effective means to accomplish the aims of
personal ambition. Il is not those VII, talk loudest
who eject most Politicians, like dip0natists, are
generally most successful when their operations are
conducted in sly, prudent, unostentations manner.
But all this cauCi will avail but little for Lecher
while exLieutenant Governor Leake is in toe field.
Public opinion seems to accord to him the first claim
70 the succession. Nothing but radical change in
the feeling can satisfy ME that Lecher stands even
Q remote chance.
Nothing can exceed the tiptoe anxiety which
seems to prevail amongst the Office seekers of every
grade. The pIes.n jncunbents in the various sub
ordinate departments are not without apprehension
of being victim zed by toe application Of that OBJ
noxious principle of rotation in Office. Strong efforts
will be made to urge its application, and should such
efforts fail bitter chaPrin and disappointment must
inevitably follow The positions OF neutrality or
inaction, which from the necessity OF their Official
relations to the government the present incumbents
were compelled to occupy has given to the Outsiders
an opportunity OF usurpiDg those funen0ns IN She
recent contest through which, in former campaigns,
they effected much tor their peculiar benefit. But
the Que stion il how the claims thus established
be satisfied? In no o her Gay than the application
of the principle of rotation In office. And here
the dilemma, one too, which Mr. Buchanan will find
rather embarrassing. P"ssesion i5 is said, is Ave
points in tire law, and have no doubt that in po-
Gtical ethics the President elect may find IL very
safe maxim.
AS regards the bigbe- prades of officers, ministers
and copsulsbips for lnsaI there ten aspirants
for every available position And to distinguish be
tween the claims ut the several rivals is the diff
Guilty. There are, within my knowledge, four or five
competitors for foreign missions, all, far their
services in the receDr campaign are concerned, pos
tronaPe. The efficient service rendered by the Old
Dominion 10 behalf Of Mr. Buchanan has induced
extravagant IDEAS OF the Obligations which ne owes
in RETURN each Ia his exaggerated estimate Of this
compliment, never once rejecting that other States
which bad rendered little less efficient service were
to be looked after. II Virginia 70 he NJ Sarde1
in degree commensurate with the great aid she had
rendered, the proportion Of patronage bestowed
upon her would Indeed be large; but inasmuch as
this could be done only by sponding dminution
OF the patronage Que u o. her States 1t would be
inconsistent with the eighty and elf-sacridclng
spirit OF the Old Dominion TO accept it, much less
insist upon It. We will, apprehend, have rather a
distracted time until these Offices are disposed Of
and as long afterwards a. the chagrin and disap
will then in all probability have a
calm, which will continue until the ensuing
spring elections, when revenge will bc
taken for any Iem-snsss lack of interest evinced
claims of few Influential, though unsuccessful as
piranis among their constituents
The cry about Degro instruction, raised in this
State, so far az sm able T. ascertain, has been en-
tiIely without founds'ion, save, perhaps, in one
instance. True, several convictions were had, but
upon testimony, which, under less excited state OF
public feeling, would be deemed insult .ient 20 war
rar even the finding Of oils by Grand Jury In the
instance 10 which re'er above that of n negro in
Caroline county sufficient grounds for conviction
existed, docun ents being fund upon his person to
justify a full conviction OF guilt. In New Kent
county, some days ago. slave named Beverly, the
property OF Mrs. Sarah Crump, was convicted upon
charge of melting nsurrecton aud sentenced TO he
hung on the 10Th OF next month. IL Is very gene
rally said, and by persons present at the en-
tire proceeding, That his conviction was
had in Difference to the excited feeling and rash
will OF the people-or, In other words, he
was offered up sacrifice 10 appease their
wrath. a day or two previous to the trial and con
viction OF this negro. slave belonging 70 Mrs.
Tmbeilafe, Of the came county, was acquitted of a
charge OF inducing Daughter OF hers; he pro
perty of a Captain Tbon a. j. Morris, 10 poison a
decaDter Of liquor intended for the patrol in that
DeigbboIbood on The ground that the testimony OF
the daughter uncomfortable. IL appears That she
confessed Der guilt, vhereupon she was brought up
as witness spanst the father, and motion being
made to exclude her testimony, it was sustained.
This led to conside able excitement, and for time
IL was deemed Necessary 10 KEEP the negro within
the court house repeated threats being made to
lynch him. He had at leogtb % be lodged in jail
for greater safety. and bouqh the distance from the
court house to that point was but few PAGES, he
had to be accompanied 10y strong escort 70 protect
him from the vengeance Of the multtu je. The d-
appointment and indignation felt A. this result WA
excessive. similar result In the case Of Beyer.
", whose trial came off the day 10 lowing.
would have led to very serious consequences
and under this outside pressure the jury
brought in a verdict which, from all have heard.
was altogether without warrant. I understand that
the testimony in the Case viii be submitted to the
Governor and an application made tor his pardon
on the ground Of total want OF justification Tor
such conviction.
This misapprehension about an insure ton had
its origin in all probability, in some ungusrded hu.
morous expression by some negr oes IN reference 10
killing 'he whites language when they not nnire
quently indulge in perfect good hnmor and IA the
exhuberance OF q happy social feeling, such as they