Norfolk day book. [volume] (Norfolk and Portsmouth Va.) 1868-1880, 1869-05-17
THE DAY BOOK.
MONDAY MORNING, May II, 1869
From the National 1ntellig encer
The Virginia Can vass.

The recent Conservative
Convention in Virginia, by
Withdrawing its distinctive
party ticket, lett its members
free to choose between the can
didates of the two rival Repub-
lican organizations existing in
that State. One ticket or the
other is bound to be elected:
no other candidates are likely
to be presented or even voted
for, and none other certainly
will be elected Either Wal
ker or Wells will be the next
Governor of Virginia, and
the question is which shall it
be?
We are not entirely surpris-
ed to hvae that there is still
quite respectable body Of vo-
tiers who have not resolved to
vote, or for whom to vote; for
it is not pleasant for them
with their views to vote for
any persons originally presen-
ted by Republican organiza-
ton. They admit the person
al integrity and fitness of Colo
mel Walker, but they insist
that the office should be con-
ferred on a native Virginian;
and they claim, also, that it
should be a Conservative. To
these persons we have a word
to say, for we respect their
feelings, and can do justice to
to their motives.
AS a question of mere party
organization, a Republican vo-
ter might be puzzled to decide
which possessed the regular
nomination of that organiza-
ton, whether Walker or Wells.
There was a row at Petersburg
a schism, an apparent equality
of forces, and separate nomina-
tions. In these it is hard to
tell which has the impress of
legitimacy; and, if this were
all, both Republicans and Con-
servatives might well hesitate.
But there is much more to be
said Of the matter, and enough,
we think, to make every res
pectable citizen anxious, for
the best good to himself, his
family, and his State, to vote
for Walker.
In the first place, as to per-
sonal character, there is no
comparison between the two.
Mr.. Walker is a gentleman Of
large means, a Citizen we be-
lieve, OF New York, who NOV
ed to Virginia some three OR
four years ago, not to be a
candidate for office-for he is
no professional policiau-but to
embark in business. He has
put his ample capital into the
State, so that not only is he
absolutely identified with its
prosperity, but few Virginians
have so large a pecuniary stake
as he has in securing just gov
eminent, peace, order, and ma
terial progress. ssThus engaged
the Office sought him and not
he the office. All these things
make the emphatic distinction
between him and Wells, the
carpet-bagger.
The latter is a schemer and
a professional politician, ready
to take anything, from a Gov
ernorship or the Papacy down
to a pair of old breaches. He
is 'on the make and he has
made, they say, large sums of
money. He has held Office and
practised law, both together,
and by all this he is compare
lively rich. Inasmuch as ADLER
lawyers than he, more indus
trious aud more strictly devo-
ted to regular walks Of their
profession, made barely their
salt, we cannot help drawing
our differences. That he would
install a corrupt, profigate,
and oppressive State govern
ment upon Virginia, none can
doubt. The citizen who stays
at home gives half a vote for
Wells, and that vote means
that he shall pay four dollars
in the shape of taxes instead
ofone. Those Virginians who
feel that they are SO thriving
and prosperous that they can
afford to disregard expense,
and take this independent
course, ought to remember how
many poor neighbors they