The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-06
VIRGINIA..

Political Affairs The New Commander -Evacu-
alton Day-The Parade-The Meeting and
Speeches s-The two Wings of tie Republican
Party-Their Hopes and Fears-The People Of
Virginia-Theauicais.
From Our 0icn Correspondent
RICHMOND, April A. 1889
Political affairs in Virginia are mixed, and for
q man to undertake to give true and faithful
reflex is simply undertaking what is next to i'm
possible. Governor Wells has been reinstated,
and has assumed the functions of his Office; but
what is a Governor when his acts must be SUBJ
mitted to number of people who only sympa-
thize without lending their strength to cause
so new and novel to the people of the unrecon-
structed States We have new military com
mander pro tenn. General Webb holds the posi-
ton only until the arrival Of General Candy, and
hence there is nothing done to settle permanently
any of the veXing questions which keep the
mind of the public in state of absolute alarm
and confusion. Our new commander has been
in command but day or two, yet he has Crap
pied the troubles with strong and courageous
hand and already his staff officers are lying to
all quarters of the State, to take care OF the un-
protected people The effect of this decisive
action has already brought some questions
straight which were seriously tangled. The ap-
pointment of Colonel Stanton, Paymaster U. S.
A. to the position of Auditor, gives general
satisfaction not only because it permits the
officeholders to draw their salaries, but because
the gentleman is well known and universally re-
'spected. General Webb is determined to have
the affairs of the State during his short sojourn,
SO far within his control as to be able to reach
all questions which may arise with his own
strong hand. For some time horse thieves have
followed their vocations with perfect impunity
in the rural districts This is one of the first
evils which General Webb will labor to correct
~.
will come to u sudden and unexpected grief
AT any rate, the assurances of the commander
together with his prompt actions have given a
better and brighter complexion to the affairs of
the State than existed before he took command
General Stoneman, whom the loyal men complain
of very bitterly, is still here. He will proSably
leave. at the head of his command, about the
middle of the week.
Yesterday was the anniversary OF the eVacua-
ton of Richmond by jefferson Davis and his fol-
lowers Ii was celebrated by the colored people
as a holiday, and with all the 'pomp and circum-
stance" due to such an important occasion.
Early in the morning the streets were filed with
men, women, and children, and the vicinity OF
the City Hall was crowded with people who ap-
peared TO feel the importance of the occasion
By noon, the crowd had swelled to mammoth
proportions and when the parade moved the
streets through which it passed were literally
blocked up with the swarm OF swarthy faces
The turnout on the occasion was not so large as
heretofore, il only numbering about l5O,' all
told, with the Lincoln Mounted Guards at the
head The affair, under the circumstances was
: really creditable and was somewhat surprised
10 Eobserve the attention which 1t called
forth from the native whites-a matter made
manifest and more noticeable by theirstopping TO
ridicule certain portions of the line. Alter
parading through the important streets of the
town the associations proceeded to the Square
and serenaded the Governor After that they