The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-23
VIRGINIA.

vIn0UVtAs
Snu -~~-~~~~~-~>~o.~~--~~~~->
No Last Act Of RecOnssractIsa CompIeted-
The "NIother or states'' Ready for Adn,is.
slon-Stetchos or the Senators, John f.
Lewis and John w. Johnston-Thcir Pol.ti-
cal Antccedents-WiII They be Acceptable--
Radical Tactics-ERorts GO kefard the Adj
niission Of the state.
RICHMOND, Oct. 20, 1869.
The General Assembly OF Virginia, having CON-
pleted Its part In the work OF reconstruction, adj
journed to-day al two p. NJ joint resolution OF
both houses that they adjourn to the second Tuesday
after Congress shall have approved OF their action
and readmitted the State to the Union, unless Con-
gress shall nx another day when the day SO fixed
Ahall be the day OF reassembling
1t seems now q very at occasion to review the
manner IN which Virginia has performed the pro-
0ramme arranged for her by Congress. The State
constitution, framed by q convention in which the
most pronounced radicals OF both colors nauve and
foreign, largely prevailed has been ratified by an
overwhelming vOte-excisng only the two most
odlous features OF the instrument which were sub
mtted TO separate vote by President Grant, under
authority OF Congress; Mr.. Gilbert c. Walker, Of
New York. an undoubted republican, has been
elected Governor; Legislature, composed OF eligl-
Bile and moderate gentlemen, has been selected;
congressman, who are not disqualified and whose
loyalty s above suspicion, have been chosen III &C
cordance with the opinion OF Attorney General Hoar
end under the proclamation ana full recognition OF
General Candy the General Assembly has convened
and passed acts ratifying both the fourteenth and
Fifteenth constitutional amendments promptly, un-
Tcservedy, without conditions and by an almost
unanimous vote, and yesterday the whole prescribed
duty OF Virginia was performed by the election OF
two United states Senator's Thus all that the re-
construction acts demand has been complied with.
Virginia, stili mindful OF her dignity, has done no
more than exacted, but she has surely done 10
less
SENATOR ELECT JOHN r. LEWIS.
But are the Senators chosen such men as viii
prove acceptable to CongressY Who is John +.
Lewis? He IL an old line wing, descended from one
Of the real F. Z. VS., the colossal statue OF his
grandfather gracing one OF the pediInents OF the
Washington Monument In the Capitol square of this
CITY. Hrs father, recently deceased, was General
Samuel II. Lewis, OF Rockingham county, Va a
man OF robust intellect and varied accomplish.
ments. Born IN Rockingham, John +. Lewis from
mis- youth Kept the noiseiess tenor Of his way within
the COOL sequestercd limits OF his native shire until
the political troubles winch eliminated In 1860 drew
HIM, re. uctantly, to seat in the state Convention
OF lS60-1. lie was no politician. but plain blunt
lover OF lis country ard the Union, and he was
elected as such by constituency chiefly democratic
shougn he was known to be In principle an unwayer-
or entice him from his devotion to the federal tie
His votes consistently for Union and against
secession; and when the ordinance OF secession was
passed he resolutey refused to sign it, and his name
never was subscribed to the document. During the
war he stood steadily 70 his sentiments declaring
tleln all and acting them when all around him fen
IN with the prevailing tide OF rebellion that swept
the whole South like Hood. He bore prescription
md oboquy with unnlnching 1rmncss throughout
til that trying period, and py his very martrydom
es u Were exIorted the respect and confidence OF
those VINO differed from INN.
When the war was over he naturally took his
place among the loyal men OF the state in favor OF
a tne measures necessary 10 reconstruction. recon
clilauop ana reunion, but never Tor moment
did he 30 lar forget that he was Virginia as to be
willing to surrender the fortunes and liberties of his
State 10 local faction or q more extended party.
Reconstruction, with MIN, mas been a labor OF
patriotism, and not work OF seEseeking or parti-
sanlsm. WHAT the found HIM the war left him
NO prodigy OF genus, no ambitious schemer, cum
ming Tor his own selfish ends-bur an honest
man, who saw the right, approved It, and
dared pursue it. In the late election he
was nominated for Lieutenant Governor on
the Walker ticket and was elected by majority OF
over 10000, leading the ticket by over 1000 votes
He Is SAID to be ABOUT fifty years OF age ana in ms
personal appearance Is strikngly like Apre-
ham Lincoln, though something IaOre slender. He
IL a member OF the Episcopal Church and mas FREE
Quentiy been a member OF its dellberatve bodies.
MR.. JOHN W. JOHNSTON
Of Washington county, now on the bench or the
Sixteenth tAbngdon) Judicial district OF virginia,
owes ms occupancy OF tlas position to the apponl-
meat OF General Sto.cnan ne havlug had his DIS
abilities removed by an act OF Congress at the
,s.c-ssnce OF ar: Kelley, q Pennsylvania Judge
league and received his education at tue University
OF South Carolina, located at Columbia. He first
appeared IN public lie as democratic men,
Der OF the Virginia Senate of lo47-s, from Tie
Tazewell district; but While member Of
tnas poay ne was one on, o. the famous twenty.
coalesced with the wings III eleoting Hunter. and
subsequently slason, 20 the United states Senate,
against Extra Billy Smith ana Governor Mcdowell.
OF ms family connections we are. told tnat he Is
nephew OF General Joseph t. Johnston, Of Coincide
rate fame; nephew OF beverly X. Johnston, n 0strn-
gulshed lawyer OF Southwestern Virginia, ana also
nephew OF Geaeral Peter Z. Johnston, who was q
member OF the Virginia convention OF 1861. lie also
4 brothern-law q the late General Joan b. Floyd
Buchanan's Secretary Of War, and q grandson oil
Judge ieter johnston who was an able STATE rights
member oil the Virginia Legislature OF 1862. bur-
Ing the late war he was receiver, or coniscatng
agent Tor the Confederate government In South
western Virginia. Ills reputation nign Tor ability
ana learning la mis- PROCESSION and the war he
hasully accepted the situation, laborlng earnestly
and honestly Tor reconstruction. lie favored the
committee OF nlne and the subsequent Walker move
melt on the same line.
WILL THEY BE ADMITTED TO coSeREssf
Such are the men. They are neither car
pet-baggere, nor scaawa2s nor extreme radi-
Gals, nor are they rebels nor democrats
proclaim them. VIII Congress reject them because
they are not Of the webs faction nereY or Will the
~ Spposs s wam ~ he
received twenty-one votes IN the first, OF prenmi.
nary voc IN the conservative caucus, anu there IS
little doubt that ne would have been selected as Mr.
Lewis colleague but that his name was wnhdrawn
from nomination after this first vote. why or now
this done. uncertain; ali that Is certain Is
that the withdrawal was unauthorized, aad greatly
cnagrined the friends OF General Williams. AFTER
that the Williams vote, Including the scattering
complimentary ones OF the first show OF nalds, were
steadily cast for Johnston TO defeat Judge Pendeton,
OF WINCHESTER.
WHAT WILL BE DOSE WITH vIRGINIAl
Will Virginia be acsnitted alter all thsY Has she
complied with all the onerous conditions imposed
on her In vain The Welisltes here are hopeful OF
having her Tentted To the same condition, or a
wsrse one that she occupied previous To tue election
OF last July. Carpet.bag Tom scalawag Dick and
negro Harry hand III hand win tears i'll then eyes
AND the test oath IN their mouths, Will appeal to their
radical brethren Tor relief ana sympathy. Ihey VIII
charge thae the Walker movement ~ oil humDug
aud NJ pocrisl that the Legislature Is collection
OF masqnerading rebels, who, Stimulating now, arc
only bidLng then Tune To work Hedition; tnat the
loyal are disconntenanccd and overaaugied; that
Walker and Lewis have sold themselves to the
rnemy and have betrayed the negro ana rcpub-
lIcanism 10 ruin IN virginia; that NOBODY has