The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-07-08
THE yIR,.INIA ELECTION.


Walker, or, as II prefers to style itself, the
Conservative Republican party, has tri-
umphed. The new constitution has been
adopted with the test-oath and disfranchising
clauses expurgated, and thus the work Of
reconstruction In Virginia Is substantially
cousummated. Whether the result OF Tues
days contest Is for good or III Is matter the
future alone can determine but whether
viewed with favor or dlsiavor 1t must be ad-
mitted that the victory Is decisive and over
whelmlng. Tho most sanguine friends of
Mr.. Walker hardly expected the large ma
jority they have received, and majority Of
nfty on Joint ballot In the Legislature.
Tho contest has been one Of tho most OK
citing ever witnessed In tho sold Dominion
and 1t is worthy Of note that both parties
claimed to DO Republican. The supporters
OF Governor Wells, 1t is true, designated
their opponents as Democrats" but the
latter, as general thing, repudiated the
title, and insisted upon calling themselves
Conservative Republicans. But "what's in I
q namei" Whether calling, themselves
Republicans" or Conservatives" or any
thing else, II is q fast that Mr.. Walkers sup
porters woss drawn largely from the old
Etusocrstlc element of the State. If that
made him Democrat, and his party Demo-
cratic, then ii must be admitted that their
opponents gave them the proper titlo.
1t Is true, that before the war Walker was
a Douglass Democrat, but he Joined the
Republicans after removing TO Norfolk,
where no became president Of national
bank. He was considered q good enough
Republican to compete with Gov. Wells for
the nomination In Republican State Con-
ventionj and no was nominated by boilers
from that convention who were dissatisfied
with Wells nomination. The ''boltcrs'
did not nominate him because he was n
Democrat, but because he was Republ-
can, and, as they believed and asserted in
their platform, because he was the best ex-
ponent Of the Republican sentiment of the
State. The Conservatives and Democrats
had nothing to do with the nomination. 1t
was some time after he was in the field that
they determined to rally around him for the
purpose Of defeating Wells.
Tho Walker party ran Republican legis-
lative ticket, but in the Congressional con-
test tho anti-Wells clement dropped the title
OF Republican, and their candidates were
known as Democratic or lndepende The
candidates for the Legislature, II may be
ADDED, were pledged to vote for the adop-
uoh OF the 10Th amendment to the Constitu-
ton.
There Is no doubt but that one of the
reasons 'or walker success Is TO DC found
IN the TACT that Governor wells was per-
sonaiy Unpopular ahu TIC was forced upon
'ne 'oh'eh'.oh .. MS PIes'sc "s military
So'o'"o' VI 'n' ssa'e' M uhPopu'arly,
'he treatment oi Mr. hunnicu'' ana oihei
.euAno"h nopuoA'ah'' anu variety oil
- n''e,,,.. 80. W u'i',o'i
-. ..- 49, ~ 'P1''
III. 49, III. n rOp1' 'uo
49, 'A0 f'''''' VI ''p'''"'i'"i III
Jss,,, ,., F.
~. :, -" 49,, 80. ~, .vm 10y S'ana
a. Z, oonano,IsS ho,r -. ;. w. sno p.9'
AZ. 80, ~ A. -, b"'N'
.rc,sa ,ho elective fr,nohiso h., W "a
'I' "''' W hol'
ONCE; and In the success OF the Walke
t,oLot ,boro Ia os olo,r , rooooroi,,o, s -
TICKET thete Is rs clear recognition OF ever,
right of that race as there Would have bee,
if,,o o,,,,..I,,, -,
IL tho oPponins purity nhu Decn successful.
Tho most serlous question now IL vb.tbo
u.u, ha,-,.. - -,-,
"aiAet' nn'HB peeh supported ny the eS
$500