The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1869-07-15


antecedents. is overtiowing with JOY at the
great victory which has been won in Vir-
ginia over the advocates of Disfranchise-
ment, and in the interest of Justice and
Peace, II viii crafty natural curiosity to
note some of the prominent features con-
nected with the canvass which has termi-
mated 30 auspiciously.
1t is known that In Virginia as in Mis-
sissippi, the Liberal Republicans who sin
corely desire reconstruction upon the basis
Of a constitution guaranteeing equality of
political and civil rights TO all men in ac-
cordance with the recommendation Of the
President, refused to cooperate with the
faction of Bitter End Proscriptionists who
had nominated Wells, and had set up a
claim to the control of the party organiza-
ton.
International Republicans nominated a
ticket truly rejecting their own just and
liberal sentiments in the person Of Gilbert
c. Walker, and his associates.
Notwithstanding a decided registered
majority in Virginia, ssthe conservatives,
after due reflection, withdrew their own
candidate for Governor, Col. Withers,
who had already been nominated and had
partially canvassed the State, and resolv-
ed to support the Walker ticket. The
wisdom of this decision has been triumph
antly demonstrated by its glorious re-
suits.
In this connection, the following ex-
tracts of letter from Richmond to the
New York Herald, published a few days
before the election, relating some of the
incidents of the convass, and foreshadow-
ing the Waterloo victory Of the 9th, will
be read with interest:
RICHMOND, June IS, 1869.
After an arduous campaign OF over a
months duration, the most exciting and, on
the Walker side, enthusiastic campaign on
record draws TO a close. Never have Vir-
gniahs been so thoroughly aroused, and
never have they been 50 fully imbued with
the importance of carrying an election
When Walker first set out to speak there
rds an apathy among his audience lohich, as he
progressed, grdluGlly 1c0re off, until NOR, to-
'oard the Close his appearance is greeted aotth
vocferous cheers, and frequently he is in
terrnpted for moments at time with the
plaudits ofvast assemblages. At Charlottes-
vile yesterday he and others addressed per-
haps the largest and most enthusiastic meet
irg ever assembled at that place, famous as
the location of the University of Virginia.
Upon the appearance of Mr.. Walker on the
stand cheer after cheer rent the air. hats
were wildly waved and tossed above the
throng, and so great was the enthusiasm
that eren the negroes present could not help join
ing in the tu1auAuous demonstrations Of dp-
plause.
On the side of the opponents of Walker
the canvass has been stale, flat and unprofit-
able.
A prominent offico-holder of New York
| donated $1,000, and similar large amounts
were obtained from other and like sources
without the State, for within it the party
have little, with the prosect of having still
| less. 1t is due to them. however, to state
that those of the cdrpetbdgt fraternity ,olto hare
been placed in official positions by the militn5g
| contributed as far as their means acould permit
to the necessities Of the party in this respect d,t-
ring the campaign. In few days, however
the canvass will close, and then comes the
tug of war.
Everywhere both parties resorted to the
most extraordinary means ofswelling theiI
lists. One white man was registered at the
age of10f. another at ninety-two, and an
other at seventy-five, neither of whom had
voted for over thirty years, and never ex-
pected to vote again. but for the heavy
pressure brought to bear in tn. present ex-
citing campaign. Negroes whose venerable
appearance proved them to be ancient patri-
| archs, without possibility of arriving at
| their ages.some of them being sans eyes sans
teeth, &c, were brought from great dis
tances and daily registered; but this was
about the only class upon which the ultra
party could draw literally except those who
were minors in 81. The great increase OF
| the white majority is due to the fact that in
'67 large numbers did not register, from
apathy, others did not know whether they
were disfranchised or not, and then there
was a stiff-necked class who would not reg
| lister then in any case. Circumstances are
altered ,lo1s and erdly class had 10 giUe tisqota
to sare the State from carpet highlands
| md erery male in the .State from ttccnty-one
| al,rUds entitled to do SO had lis name placed
upon the registration lists. aeith determination
to cast q cote.
As l mentioned by telegraph this increase
has had the effect of creating among the
whites a liberal and commendable spirit
towards the blacks, Erea The most iRreterate
| tBlPracticabiItieS and do-nothings hare yielded
and tinse-hOROTed Institutions OF the stripe Of
Henry Il. Wise, John Letcher and others, are
rapidly becoming reconstructed, to the point Of
dchRoleledgiRgthc ''aigger" a part and parcel Qf
the body polite. Indeed, so far has this
feeling progressed that a movement has
been set on foot by many leading conserva-
tive gentlemen to send DR.. Alexander Sharp
brotheriI law of President Grant, formerly
postmaster here and now United States
Marshal of the District of Columbia, to the
Senate. This will be altogether in the power
of the conservatives, who now calculate
they will have on joint ballot majority of
thirty three, and a clear majority in both
houses OF the Legislature. Such announce
ment meets with appreciation in every quar-
ter in which it has been mentioned, and the
movement cannot fail to be productive of
the most harmonious results. This is an ev-
idence that Virginia at least will go into the
Union as thoroughly reconstructed State
She would then have a representative at the
White House as well as in the Senate. Cen
servatism must triumph over radicalism in
the end.
In the Virginia election the Wells ticket
represented the extreme element of the