The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-06-28
SOUTHERN POLITICS.

Review Of the POLITICAL Situation In virginia
Platform ~ the GubernatOriai Cnndfdates-
The Ticks.ts-The Congressional C"nv"ss-
Gerryulv. ndcrins the Congressional vote.
RICHMOND, Va, June Is, 1869.
The NJ esent contest in Virginia Is one OF the most
comp on record, II Is Totally unlike any poll
tcay canvass that before occurred anu even the
otter reconstructed states of the South DO not iur
Uish simtude OF that which now excites
and arouses the masses from me moun'ai"
to the seaboard. Former campaigns were
merely contests between tire wing ana
democratic parties, the result making ht little
difference to the body polite. TIRE issues are now
narrowed down 10 the political life or deathof the
white or black race. II is not question wnether
the state shalt governed by ell classes Of The peo-
Die, but which shall be the governing race. Inc
Walkerlles not, however, SO proscraptve as the
Wellsites. The former, composed o. the whites OF
the State generally, favor the Underwood constitu-
aionexpurgsfed, on the ground that, that nstru-
mept is defeated, Wells would be cortnued In his
present position, armed with power TO harass ana
Cypress them; or this were not result To
whole instrument ITSELF In all lie hideousnees
would be forced upon them by Congress, and Wells
possibly as Governor Alabama Is q lesson not 70 pe
forgotten Expurgated, the constitution ID devoid
OF nearly all its proscrpve features OF the whies,
while it guarantees the negro every possible right
thewhites ever did enjoy. Such Is the positen 81
the whites. On the Otner mana, Tue Dldck5, uehueu
by Wells and one or two Others favor the corstlti-
ton In Its entire shape-proscrptlve features and
all; they want ninety per cent OF me whites aus,
franchlsed, and the whole native race dsquallned
from holding ONCE. This Is actually the case not
withstandlng that even President Grant favors the
constitution eXpurgated. II any doubt can be en-
ertaned Of this fact the fonowing copies Of the
tickets Of both parties:-
WHITE TICKET.
For Tor aganst) constitution frhe provisions sub
mitted TO separate vote being eXceptedl For Gov
ernor, Gilbert c. Walker; for Lieutenant Governor,
abr. i, attrto. for CAn
bly, - -; for delegates to General Assembly,
Gr rsl d so ior for Son~ressman
at large, -. The second is as follows:-
Against clause four section one article three Of the
constitution The third Is as follows:-Against Sec
ton seven article three OF the constitution.
BLACK TICKET.
Alexandria for Lieutenant Governor, DIR. j. d. Har-
ris, OF Hampton; for Attorney General, Thomas X.
Bowden OF Richmond: for Congressman at large, A.
Here lies the great difference between the two
parties, or, rather, races The one OF intelligence is
allowed by his leaders to exercise ms judgment and
discretion as to how he shall vote, whether "for''
or ''aganstn the constitution, and whether "for or
bufwel trained black, to 40 the bidding OF his mas
ter, simply deposits the ballot placed In his hands
by those whom he knows are authorized TO deliver
between the races the unfortunate blacks are urged
TO their own destruction by unprincped and adven-
the negroes he intends to protect and defend
their rights the same as those Of the
white man; but Wells does not tell
them the same thing. His doctrine is that they
must be placed in supremacy to the whites, that
they must be the law.making and governing power,
and in short II must now be bottom rail on top"
This comprises the gist OF the speeches made by the
gubernatorial candidates, and 1t is easy TO Judge
which If successful, can make virginia prosperous
and happy. AS an instance OF tie result OF this the
negroes In this city nave nominated for the Senate
and House Of Representatives ticket composed Of
four carpetb aggers and seven negroes. .
curious feature In the campaign Ia that the
whites have but few candidates in the field for Con-
gress- They have not the privilege OF electng men
of their own choice who can serve, and thus being
without the proper material they have become
careless as TO who they put in The field at least
at present. Probably just as the election comes or
names will be placed upon the tickets in the different
districts, not with any idea OF their election, but
simply as matter OF course that Congressman
should be voted for. As the districts were gerry
wandered by the convention there would be little
USE according TO the last registration for though
with an overwhelming majority under the former or
old apportionment they could NOW Scarcely elect
half the delegation The following carefully prepared
table from the Official registration lists will show
how skilfully the last apportionment was made
by the radical convention. This Is the registration
OF 1867