The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-07-18

Tho vir9tssa Delegation to COu2Yess-A New
Set al Observation-Disclosures a Mixed
Party Of CarPet- Ia ggers and Loyal Virgin
ians--A Friend Of Ben Buffers i'm the Dele
gatior- Brief Sketches OF the Congressmen
Elect.
RICHMOND, July To- 1869.
The delegation elect 10 Congress from this State is
composed OF gentlemen who, with one or two ex-
ceptions, have never before appeared prominently
= before the public aud consequently OF whom but
little is known. After q good deal OF inquiry and
search I am enabled to give the readers OF the
HERALD the following sketches OF the delegation,
which, however, in consequence OF their very re-
cent aud In some cases unexpected debut before the
public, is rather Incomplete Some Of the gentle
men have very Interesting records. The delegation
s composed OF three radicals and SIX conservatives
Richard S. Aver, radical elected to Congress from
the First or Williamsburg district, is native OF
Maine Nothing is known of his early history,
which seems to be enveoped in cloud. The first
heard of him was about the middle OF the war; when
he joined the army and came to Virginia. He rose
to the rank OF captain, and by some shrewdness and
speculation amassed a considerable amount OF
money, which al uio wars close ne invested ia lands
In Richmond county. During the first stages OF re.
construction he became an extreme radical, joined
the Union League and was afterwards elected from
his county by the negroes the Constitutional Con-
ventiOp, IN which he was comparatively
parliamentary law was exceedingly limited Int he ne
had the good sense and discretion not to make an
exhibition OF this shortening by mixing In debate
he was never known TO rise except on two occa-
sions. and then TO move to adjouru ard his speeches
were mon0syllablc faye nay" Mr.. Aver was
was decidedly the most popular OF tho Two with the
negroes, and would nave been elected, but that
segar and Lewis both u whom ran also, divided
his vote, which secured Ayers election. Aver is
radical Of the deepest dye, who will never give his
party any trouble, but as has will stand at The
top Of the Congressional list he will require be
no
clerk
James H. Platte, Jr radical elected from the Sec
somewhere IN Canada whence his family emigrated
70 Vermont, where ne received good education.
HIS father is said to be quite wealthy and Platte
himself Is reported to be worth s0nlc TWO three
hundred thousand the wealthiest carpet-b Dagger In
the State. He entered the army Ut the commencement
OF hostitles and nlled with credit to himself the
position OF either quartermaster or comInissary In
1895 he came South as tue superintendent Of SONIC
baras bus a9s Just fns var
his family he located IN Petersburg. He soon
gave up the mining operations and being favorabIy
zone 1000 acres OF land between this city and
petersburg, which he has since considerably I'M
Nominated by the negroes OF Petersburg and after
wards elected member ofthe Constitutional Csuven-
sta.,s%anshp than any repaoiicsn memoer in the
body. His course there WAS liberal, and he dstin-
Se geasuss This Soweser d
not redeem him with the people, who
plsced him under the carpet-bag ban
time Mr.. Platte became an extreme radical, ana 10
him was mainly due the nomination OF Wells At the
Petersburg Convention In March asG when the split
occurred In the party whicn ultimately resulted In
bringing out walker as the conservative republican
candidate for the oovernorshp Mr.. Platte was
opposed by the notorious Dr. Bayne negro, over
whom he wGs elected by about 4,00O majority. He
is considered the only gentleman among The radicals
In point Of family and culture, and his capacty
talents acknowledged TO he of o good order.
Charles II. Porter, RADICAL elected from the Third
Sf ss esh Was IS rig Ia i % and
entered The army Ia 1852 as private and served In
this state for considerable period without achev
ingly ambitious. The fortunes Of war threw foters
command into the Department OF the James, then
commanded by General B. r. Butler. Here, uniortu-
natey for either Mr.. Porter OF General Butler, the
former was found uttering reasonable anyuage,
such as sending Old ABE, the Yankee government.
Ben Butler and all to the internal regions IN the
streets of Norfolk, and saying further that he would
rather live under the Jet Davis governmental not
lions Porter arrested, aud the matter being
brought 10 the ears of General Butler, ne was sem
he served at the Rip Raps with bali and chain. and
the remaining three In the trenches ct Dutch Gap.
When the war was over Mr. Porter remained m vir-
Rinia and, having some knowledge OF law succeeded
IN procuring the appointment OF Common wealLhs
Attorney OF Norfolk from the military. lie became an
active politician but failed to secure the nomination
from the negroes OF Norfolk for the Constitutional
Convention. Nothing daunted, however, he came
up to Chesterfield county, where there was then a
lack OF "Oyaltvn and there succeeded in getting
elected by the negroes to the convention Of 1857,
where he made an Important figure. In that body
prominent In etfectng the passage OF ths proscrip
tive measures OF which the constitution was expur-
gated In the late election. MIR. Porter was OF
the radicals who left the convention when General
Butler was introduced to that body by Judge Under
wood conservatives. 1t VIII be remembered all
'sSs 4, 4 is sn believed, 70 meet face %
The national Legislature and he has been snosessn
after an ardu0us campaign and a NJ rd fight WIN
dtihculty he procured the nomination from this dis-
trct, ana was once afterwards near losing IT, He
prosecuted the canvass against Hunncutt and Field
Cook tcoored) with tue most untiring energy
different assembages, and Mr.. Porter deserves the
credit OF coming out boldly in all mas addresses for
ONCE Of the whtes He had s no eSs sW arr rs'n
and scorned to disguise ms real sentiments In one
OF his speeches he told the negroes taey might con
descend TO allow their children to go the same
scnool with the children OF certain class OF rebeIs
who were worthy that favor; but the majority OF
rebel children not ut associates for tue children
OF loyal colored men. But Tor the fact that Hunni.
cut, Cook and Mulfcrd, the conservative candidates
running against hun. which divided that vote In the
district Porter would not have been elected. As Il
Is his majority Is small and the election TO be
had over his prospects would be ruined.
George w. Booker, corset vatfve republican elected
Ia tue Fourth district, Is native OF Henry county,
and ls'a lawyer OF distinction IN his section OF the
STATE , pror 70 tle war me-. Booker took no part In
practice OF his profession lie was steadfast Union
man, and opposed secession with all the energy OF
which he was capable, aud even when the tide OF
war did cone he stili maintained his Union
sentiments and lived In retirement dur
Ing the storm of desoatlon and bloodshed
!hat swept over the country. Shortly after
the close OF the war Mr. Booker YVES elected to the
teglslatnre which assembled IN 1850 under Mr.
Jonnsehs reconstruction programmes. In 1888 he
was nominated Attorney General on the Wells
ticket, but was thrown overheard by the ultras at
the petersburg Convention In March, 1899. His
thorough repuolicanism, ability to take the fesl
oatl, ana DIS consistency, secured him the nomlna-
ton OF the conservatives IN his DISTRICT where he
nas been elected by handsome majority over the
radical candidate. Mr.. Booker will make a uood
representative and fearless defender OF republican
principles.
Robert Ridgway, conservative republican e,ected
IN the Fifth district, Ia a native OF Abingdon VA
and was educated at Emory and Henry College
where he graduated with honors. Eariy in nfn ho
ente.ed upon the practice OF law, and achleved con-
siderable distinction az the bar among tao members
OF which he was noted for his legal attaInments
social culture and Refinement and high order of
talent About 1851, together with h!s legal profes.
sion, MI. Ridgway became journalist aud In the
editorial deDartm0nt OF a local Reforrt