The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-15
POLITICS IN VIRGINIA.

POLITICS IN VIRGINIA.
~~-~-~~->~~~~>~~-~~>~
Interview with Governor Wa;ker-He Ex.
presses His Views an Earnest Repubf.
can and supporter OF CRAMPS Administra.
tiOn.
A correspondent OF the Baltimore American gives
the following account OF an interview with Gov.
ernOr Walker, OF Virginia held 10 Norfolk On she
10th inst.:-
The apparently inexpllcable political summersault
recently made by both white and colOred repubil.
cans IN Virginia, Tennessee aud probably most Of
the other southern states induced me a few days
since, while on visit here, to call upon Governor
Walker, the newly elected Executive Of Virginia.
found him al his Ofce In the First National Bank, OF
which institution he Is President and its largest
ON entering the once Of the Governor found him
surrounded by the Council OF Georgetown, who
were the guests Of the Council OF Norfolk, and had
called to pay their respects.
On taking leave OF the Georgetown delegation the
Governor opened a conversation on the political
affairs OF Virginia, declaring himself to be an ear.
nest republican, an uphoider OF the Reconstruction
acs OF Congress- IN favor OF the adoption Of the nf
teenth amendment, and nrm and unwaveri ng
friend OF general Grant and his administration. On
asking him how 1t was thai he had been
so earnestly supported by those who mad
hitherto been the most bitter opponents of
all these men and measures he remarked
that was evident that people outside OF Virginia
did not distinguish between the people and the poll
tcians. He contend d that the great mass OF the Old
politicians of the State had opposed his election,
IuSlDK 10 N0ts tHeDsSiFes aHd HHheNciIX all WNOni
they could control not 10 vote; that he mad sue
ceeded in cutting the mass OF the people loose from
the Old politicians, and If sustained by the republ
can party and the administration would soon Sue
coed IN making good republicans Of them. great
many men lie admitted nad voted for him as what
they regarded the least Of two eviisn but he con.
tended that the great mass had given him cordial
support because they detested his opponent
they were disguised with the old politicians and be-
resentat,on IN congress aud tue restoration Of the
state to ts Old position IN the Union. which Is now
the 1rst and ardent W ish OF all the people.
Upon expressing the opinion that he would be
oversaughed a. Governor Plerpont mad been, by the
shrewd and cunning politicians by whom he wodld
be surrounded, the Governor promptly replied that
ne was Northern man, with earnest and settled
convictions on all national TOPICS and that he tn
tended to De Governor Of virginia ana not q mere
tool IN the hands OF any set OF men, lie also sgnin
cantiy remarked that the new constitution gave 10
the Governor the veto power-that he mad been
elected by large majority OF the popular vote OF the
State, and would not come into his office like Gov
ernOr Perpoint. withsoiAy che meagre backing OF .
title OF Governor Pierpoint 10 the executive char
he had himself regarded as q most ridiculous
one, and 1t was so viewed By every honest and
Intelligent man IN the State. His administration
was farce from beginning to end, aud no one
had any right 70 expect any good results TO Tow
from it,
In alluding to his canvass Of the State the Gov.
ernor said tna1 he had confined himself to discus.
sion OF what would be best for the interests Of the
Virginia great. powerful and wealthy State He
had denounced their neglect OF their own interests
for the promotion of the political interests OF profes
siona politicians, ana had told them that all their
past and present woes were the result Of their bad
teachings anu worse actions. They mad driven them
TO the verge Of ruin, and had proved themselves Ut
tery incompetent to lead them ont 81 1t. lie said
thai he was everywhere compmented by the people
on this new mode Of eiecuoneerng N vlr-
Old political harangues from the huslngs
and personally promised to stand hrmly BY MIN
III his effort 10 regenerate and disentnrai the state
Virginia reconstructed would be hooded with new
and vigorous population. wealth and skilled labor
would now INTO her borders, the price Of lands
would rapidly enhance. her cities become great and
prosperous, and in no way could THIS be done so
rapidly and efectually as by the voluntary return
OF tue people 70 their allegiance TO the old dag. and
the utter abandonment not only OF the exploded
Ideas that led 70 the rebellion but OF that class OF
men who had since the close OF the rebellion aD0red
TO keep them arr aged In bitter anagonism to Con-
gress and To the great party OF progress that had
shown a devotion TO principle, aud capacity and
10 carry out It's conscientious pur-
poses OF government that must and did command
The respect and admiration OF the whole civilized
world.
In the course of conversation he alluded to the
,fYort being made to induce General Candy 70 ex-
dude nom me Legislature those members who
,ould not take the IrOn-clad OATH expressing the
lope that nothing OF the kind would be attempted.
such course was pursued he declared that he
ould not and would not remain In the state. He
o control those men, and TO bring them up to the
support OF tie administration Of General Grant The
,eople were with MIN and he had reason to believe
hat even large portion OF those who voted against
lin were nov satisfied with the result hence they
would not oe sustained by their constituents IN any
actious legislation. The people wanted peace and
we're determined to have IT, and II sustained and up
leid BY the republican party and the administra-
Ion. ne would pledge himself TO make Virginia the
most loyal OF all the southern states. II contrary
curse was pursued he would regard It as triumph
0 the Old po'iticlans, who were already claiming
hat their prophecies about 10 be fulfilled, And
nat the result or che recent election would not b
accepted by Congress as restoration OF virginia 70
VII equality ~ One Of the states In the tnion st
MOVEMENTS OF Ex.sEcRErAnY sswARD.-Mr.
lillian u. seward. aie secretary OF state, accom-
,anied by hi son Frederick seward and wife, Mr..
itch, OF Auburn y. T.; Mr. William ). Dodge, late
collector of customs at Alaska, aud an escort Of
athens OF the territory from the lower part OF the
SOUND, arrived aere by the Hunt on Thursday morn
ng. The venerable statesman was received with ali
lit honor and reverence TO which hts position In
in. salute was dred, aud the usual hospi.
ates anu KIND Offices were extended by our
linclpal ciiizcns. About three r NJ rthe
eonie assembled IN the Olympic TO listen "a
n address ifJm me distinguished visitor the hall
eng Illcd 10 repetition and q large proportion Of
nc audience adde's. air. seward, IN FEW well
hosea words, expressed bis eradication at the
tanner OF MS reception al all points on the Sound
e predicted Tor our Territory destiny az great aud
3 glorious ds jhat Of any portion OF our national
omalh. AZ the conclusion OF the remarks many Of
lir people were presented to Mr. Seward who rs
clved eacn with cordial grasp OF the hand ana
race becoming one who has filed 90 many xAIted
ostuohs III puoiic life. About four O'CLOCK the
arty returned on board the Hunt and left for Victo
IT, from whence Mr.. seward and party viii proceea
2 Alaska oy tne steamer Active, winch seasel =
aae, special charter for the occasion. -Ollnluia
HoshtDs0n fsritorrl Standard Jlp -