The New York herald., 1869-07-05
POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.
THE CaMPiIGg IN VIRGINIA.

Origin of the Split in the Radical Party
Formation of re New Party-History oil
Governor WeIls' An >Hmpt 10 Sell the Inte-
rest i'm the Virginia md Tennessee hai-
road-GeneraI StonemGN's Accusations
The Baltimore and Ohio h-'iiroad In the
Canyass-Eforts of Che DIonopsT'
RICHMOND, jNly 2, 1869.
The disafectl0n ia che republican or thesr radical
Trsrty In this State which finally cuminatot In
split at the Petersburg nominating convention In
March last had been OF long duraten, though the
primary causes OF it were comparatively unknown
to the majority Men of character influence, wealth
and standing in the STATE such Franklin Stearns
the lifelong friend and admrer OF John Minor Bolts;
Judge Rye, tue present Treasurer Dr. G. X. Gilmer,
then chairman of the Republican State Executive
Committee, and others who original Union men,
had long been dissatisfied with the proscriptwe
measures advocated by Governor Wells and his
carpet bag adherents. Wells, testimony before the
Reconstruction COmmIstee at Washington. IN which
the people OF Virginia were 80 foully calumniated,
dose too hard for any natives to swallow, be
they republicans or otherwise, and with an actual
disgust Tor the company in which they found them
selves they tamely submitted 70 circumstances over
which they had no control At length, however,
matter transplred that not only opened the eyes OF
the abOvenamed gentlemen to the en0rmities In
tended TO be practsed upon the people by Governor
wells ana MS party Out ehey were snocheo a' she
bodness and effrontery with which a vie proposi'
tion was made tn sell tn a foreign, corporation
VIZ" voc ,""e " eo" w 80" ".
the oVates meereo' Ill one vi "et haih
raiir0ads-in fact the road which is the key to
the trade Of the great West This was without ques-
ton the real cause which produced the bolt or the
native republicans at Petersburg, and which subse
duenty resulted IN the formation OF a new republl-
can party on an administration basis and the nom
NATION OF Gilbert y. Walker and his ticket IN 0ppoS
ton TO Wells and the uitras.
Railroads and their interests and influences nave
entered largely into the present canvass III Virginia,
and the history of the proposition alluded to on the
part Of Governor Wells now opened up by General
stoneman's letter FROM san Francisco published in
the HERALD the best explains the nature OF the con-
test Prior to his appointment as Governor, Wells,
OF his own volition. pledged himself to secure
minatlng at Norfolk aud Bristol OF which
General Malone is the president. Safely installed
strange inconsistency, forgot his pledges and few
months afterwards found him appointing men who
were republicans directors and state proxies but but
referred to by General sionemau which caused such
members of the republican party when 1t became
known. On the 25th of that month Mr.. r. T. Will
son, OF New York, arrived in thus city for the pur-
pose as he himself disclosed, of defeating, II posi-
BILE, the reelection OF Mahone as president
of the consolidated line or railroads, par
ticuary the Virginia and Tennessee road.
1t was then understood that the Board
OF Public Works was In few days to make the
that the Governor did not accord with the other
members OF the Board as to these appointments, hls
object being to put IN men VINO would be ninicai TO
the reelection OF Malone, and consequently the de-
feat Of consolidation. With this effected the Vr-
ginla and tennessee road would then, like the
Orange and Alexandra road at once become tribu-
tary OF Baltimore. norfolk would be lrretrevably
ruined, and New YORK would be deprived OF the
large ana increasing trade that reaches 1t by the Old
Dominion line OF steamships AT this opportune
time, also, there appeared number OF writ
ten complaints from Mr.. John 5. Harbour, OF the
orange and Alexandria road; Mr.. Thos Ii. Galloway,
Of the Georgia snd Tennessee road partner
of the MIR. Wilson above mentioned; Governor
Brownlow, Of Tennessee, and Others, and Governor
Wells stated that Mr.. Peter Cooper and Senator
Morgan OF New York, mad also written complaints
against the management OF the virginia and Ten
nessee road Malone was at once arragned as cul-
prt before his Excellency and the Board OF Public
him. which he then proved u be wantonly frivolous;
the real object for which the written complaints
were intended About the same day or that previous
Mr.. Wilson, or New YORK. mad visited Governor
Wells, and made MIN proposition 10 purchase the
States interest In the virginia ana Tennes-
see Railroad Tor S6,O0OOOO, TO pay $2000,0O0
cash, ana the remainder Dy lnstalueN at
stated Intervals. Whatever private UNDERSTANDING
there existed between Mr.. wilson ana Governor
Wells Is unknown except tnat the Baltimore ana
Ohio road whose agent wilson Is supposed 10 nave
been, were to build q railroad along the Georgetown
Canal, partially owned by Wells, which would con-
meet the Orange and Alexandra road with the Balti.
more and OHIO road. All tne irel4nt ana travel