The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-02-10
VIRGINIA POLITICS.


Political t'ompIoxion OF the I.egsslaturo-
Work 60 be DOno-Tho Rxodus ef tho OSlSrod
People.
RICHMOND, Feb. 6.--In view of the fact that
the meeting of the Virginia Legislature next
Tuesday Is the reappearance OF this body, after
six years absence, with the exception of its
phantom fitting In '67, one Is surprised TO find
so much apathy In the public mind regarding
IL. There fs nothing, indeed, to be vitality in
terested about. The Conservatives are perfectly
satisfied that tho ignorance of the State (by
which they mean the backs) has not got pos
session Of the law-making power, and the Re-
publicans are comforted BY the reflection that
If the Rebels Cby which they mean the whites)
don't fulfil their promises, they will again lose
the control OF affairs.
II is impossible to determine how parties will
divide, though 1t is generally agreed that the
first three weeks OF the session will End tho
lines drawn. The election of Judges, however,
will not draw them, for the tidal wave of log
rolling will blend all the little streamets so that
they cannot be defined. To-day upon the streets,
and in the hotels. the eectioneering for the
Judgeships is very lively. The candidates have
come from the country in swarms; and indeed
there was no time to be lost, for some of the
Richmond lawyers had already commenced cast
ing wistful gances over into the green pastures
of the districts, and spying out spots of yerdure,
where they might chew the end OF Circuit
Judgeshp or browse on the pickings afforded
in the more humble Office of County Judge.
The Republican party now forming with such
leaders as Senator Lewis and Representatives
Platt, Mines, Booker, Aver and others Instead
of the indiscreet and weak leaders Il has here
tofore had, will make larger gap in conserva-
tive ranks than the conservatives themselves
dream of or the Republicans even hope for
1t is hard to say who the men are who are to
become prominent this session. for there Is
hardly man of note in the body. On the Re-
publican side the noiseees leader ia Judoe or
Senator Thomas, of Henry county. OF short
stature, sallow complexion, oyerhanging eye
brows, and black lustreless eyes this man
gives the law to his party In voice utterly un-
impassioned, but voice that commands the
instant and afterwards patient attention of both
parties. Among the cOlored men, of whom
there are eight or ten, f. s. Norton the member
from York. is considered the leader. He is a
bright mulatto of little education, but with great
fluency of speech, and seems to have hardly a
vestge OF that bitterness in the matter of color
| which Is too much found among the colorct
| people. All of these were in the constitutional
| Convention.
| Auditors, Treasurer, and Secretary. The Secre
| tary of State, 1t appears agreed, will be Jane.
| Mcdonald, for many years editor of the Rich
a.ond Wing; for Treasurer, George Rye, o.
| Shenandoah and for First Auditor, William +
Taylor, of Richmond. The Judges of the Su
preme Court are likely to come next, and tn,
| fourteenth amendment will make the choic,
very difficult. The Circuit Judges come next
and then the County Judges. Provisions fo
! operating the educational clauses of the Consti
tuition will then be considered: for this the Rich
| mond city free schools (separate for whites
and blacks) will be taken as a model. James
z. Southall, 1t is said, will be Superintendent o
| Education.
The Tax bill raising means for paying back In
terest, and the set lement with West Virgins
about her share of the debts, are subjects tina
| will receive early attention. The session will
last, 1t is thought, about six months.
The emigration of the colOred people to tn
South is already recognized as a serious matte
for this State. | learn from a gentleman en-
| gagged in the business for the last six month
that the number he carried out of tho State wa
2400. These went 10 Alabama and Louisiana
This is only one return, and the State is swarm
ing with agents from the South who are driving
just as thriving h business. 1t is estimated tina
since July last 10000 colored men have gon
South leaving the women and children her
with us. Think of sweeping off go, 900 muscula
arms out of State in six months. Is there an
country out of the densely crowded cities O
Europe that could stand 1t? And then no whit
labor comes to take its place. The negroes say
and they mean it, that if we ever get prosperou
enough to pay them 500 month, cash dow
CHATS what they get South), they will com
back to old Virginia.