The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-05-11
The Virginia Elections.

The rapers throughout ING So"A.S
to discuss the state Of affairs IN virginia ~
Washington telegram In the Ne" ! oFK AeFa'@
of Saturday gives the following In regard 10
The elections. We know not how much OF 1t
is true. 1t says: .-.--...
"The statement which appeared In certain
Journals the other day to the effect that repre-
sentatiyes of the late Virginia Convention
were In this city TO see the President proves TO
be entirely inaccurate. One or Two gentlemen
from that State may have sought interviews,
but they claimed no representative Capacity
whatever The committee appointed by the
Convention TO wait on the President In rela-
ton 10 the submission OF the constitution 10
the peopla for ratification or rejection consists
of nlessrs r T. Daniel, Judge Meredith,
Judre Marshall, w. II. Macfarland, General
Anderson. and other conspicuous and infn-
entail citizens, all chosen with special re-
ference 10 their holding moderate views,
in accordance with the line OF policy
which controlled the recent Coaven tion.
This committee has not yet reached the city,
hut are expected soon 10 arrive, and the Pre-
sident has signifed his readiness 10 receive
them. Governor Wells had his say some days
since about the constitution, and me Presl-
dent has heard also Mr. Gilber, c. Walker,
who Is the candidate for Governor OF the
other wing OF the Republicans. The Conser-
vatiye committee will ask, it is understood,
for separate vote on the test-oath ana dis
reimbursement clauses, the county organlZa-
ton features and the provision which denies
to the Legislature power 10 pass a rel!el or
stay law for the temporary relief OF CeotorS
The Presidents views are known 10 oeagalnSt
the disfranchiseIncnt, test-oath, and county
organization, and q separate vote Will doubtless
be given on each. On the stay.law question he
is uncommitted, though 1t is understood that
the present military order on the snhlect.
which gives considerable relief TO the debtor
class, was approved by him rs promptly As 1t
was ,ardily by johnson. The same state of
things still exists rs ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
from 4 failure OF crops and want OF State
government-and the President would be Will
ling, doubtless, 10 see the new Legislature
free to act on the question as the interests OF
the ppope may require. an important ques-
ton still remaining 10 be settled Is, whether,
in addition TO the vote on sections, the fote
shall be taken on the remainder OF inc consul
tuition or on the instrument us Il "lole. IL Is
argued that the latter would compel many TO
vote against it who are anxious to have there
mainder adopted and State government Or
ganiZed
registration but it is probable the order for
an election will be issued by the latter part OF
the ensuing week, and new registration or
dered at the same time. Many whites falled
10 register at the last occasion, and there has
been no registration since the autumn OF 1907.
There will be an addition OF twenty thousand
whites 10 the lists and Of some thousand ne
groes but quite as manyn0f the latter viii be
stricken from the lists, and the wnlte mhlori,y
thousand. Under the present registration,
the whites have some fifteen thousand ma
jority; but by the apportionment created by
the Underwood constitution the negroes nave
largely the control Of the Legislature. This
apportionment will be changed, if the
Wells party lose the Legislature, so as
to conform 10 the relative vote OF TIE
two races. The late Conservative Convention
waived the suffrage issue. accepted the s!lna-
ticn, and Withdrew their distinctive party
ticket, headed by Colonel Nithers. They
meant by this line Of policy to pave the way
for electing the Walker Republican ticket
The contest is thus narrowed down 10 q sirug-
gle between the Wells aud Walker wings OF
the Republicans, and the friends of the latter
claim he will get fifty thousand majority.
They expect 4 considerable vote from various
loyal leagues which they control. they VIII
get, probably the entire Conservative vote,
though few soreheads may refuse TO vote at
all. The fight for Congress will be mainly be-
tween the carpet -baggers and the Walker Re
publicans. The Conservatives have no con-
cressonal candidates in The Held, save one,
and there is much talk Of running negroes
against the carpet baggerS i'll the Norfolk,
Richmond, and other districts.
There will be 4 hot struggle over the
Legislature, and more doubt about this than
other officers. Firginians now here say the
fifteenth amendment Will be ratified If neces-
ssry 10 secure admission. An important point
is whether the election shall be limited to a
single day. Ii is argued that having II for
three days tends TO extensive colonization ana
a repetition of the frauds by which the city Of
Richmond was carried at the last election.
The President will weigh this matter and al!
others very carefully and give due weight 10
all proper suggestions. He is exceedingly
anxious for the success OF reconstruction III
Virginia, and his idea is to try the matter
there first, and take up Mississippi and Texas
afterward. The result so far indicates the
policy of his message, and even Governor
Wells is at last out in Il letter accepting the
Grant platform, on which the new movement
was based. The election will be held early in
July unless there be some change OF pro-
gramme."