The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1869-07-14
IKE virginia Elections.


Now that the smoke of the contest has
somewhat cleared of, the resnlts of the bat
tie are beginning to be seen. The election
is a singular one, both from the nature o.
the contest, and the fact that the opposing
candidates belonged to the same party.
The Virginia election will be long remem.
bered and referred to by politicians from the
fact that in "a close and heated campaign, in
which the whole vote of the State was
brought forth and all the usual partizan
heat displayed, but one party was repre-
sented-the Republican. Both WELLS and
WALLER are Republicans, and conducted
the canvass as Republicans. WALLER is
elected as Republican, and supports the
Administration. His political adherents
profess the same doctrine. WELLS, who
was defeated, agrees in this particular with
the successful candidate. Thus it will be
seen that, SO far as general principles go,
but one party has been represented in
the campaign, not single candidate hav-
ing been elected as a Democrat.
The Republican vote was divided, every
man voting according to his personal prefer
ences, as no distinctive political issues were
at stake. Thus thousands of white and
colored Republicans voted for WALKER as
Republicans supporting Republican can
didate The Democrats and Conservatives
were unanimous in their support of WALKER,
his views of State policy being more liberal
and more favorable to them than those of
his competitor. Phe Democrats had not
sufficient strength, however, to have, by,
themselves, elected WALKER, although they
contributed much to his success. The
only issue upon which the campaign was
conducted was the adoption of "a liber
or proscriptive State policy. WELLS rep
resented the Extremists of the Republican
party, and WALKER the Liberals. There
fore the result of the election is simply the
adoption by the Republican party in Vir-
ginia of a liberal policy, whose motto will
be universal Suffrage and General Am
nesty." This is the light in which the Dem
ocrats regard it, and we have seen no at
tempt to claim the election of WALKER as
Democratic triumph made by any infiuen-
tial or well-informed Democratic paper.
The New York Herald, whose Democracy
cannot be disputed, and whose information
upon such matters is always correct, in
speaking of the Virginia election, says:
The late Virginia election and its returns are
something new under the sun. The general re-
suit is defeat, great defeat, of the Southern
ultra radicals but 1t is not Democratic victo-
ry, nor victory of De- Ocratic principles. The
contest was not fought between the Republicans
and Democrats, but between the Radicals and
Wells, the Radical candidate for
Governor, is Republican and a carpet-bagger;
Walker, the Conservative candidate, is Repub-
lican and a carpetbagger. But there was
broad line of division between the supporters of
Wells and the supporters of Walker on the new
State Constitution.
1t was stated that President GRANT
preferred WALKER, and the knowledge of |
this fact had much TO do with the result of |
the election. The congratulatory dispatch
Of the WALKER State Committee to Presi-
dent GRANT announcing WALKERS election,
seems to show that they were in full accord
with the President. Therefore there can be |
10 doubt that WALKER and his adherents
ire supporters of the administration.