Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-05-31
For the Spirit of JefEerson.l
A LETTER FROM RICHMOND.
R1oHMoNp, May rs, $50.

quietly in this city with every prospect OF a
Conservative triumph. The candidates on
the Conservative ticket are old, welI-knnwn,
and popular citizens, whose competency and
honesty have been tested in positions of re-
sponsibility often heretofore. The Radical
candidates are none of them natives of the
State but two-Mills and Chahoon. The
latter is a native of Montgomery county, as is
said, but has resided in the North, and was an
ofieersin the Federal army. Strange to say,
not single colored man has been placed upon
the Radical ticket, although their vote is re-
lied upon almost exclusively to carry the cleo
ton. This omission was commented on very
significantly by colored speaker at the mass
meeting in the Capitol square last eveaiDg.-
The same is the case in Petersburg, and
throughout the State generally. The colored
voter is expected to elect interlopers over
native Virginians, but is by no means thought
worthy of participating in the spoils of office.
The street corners here are thronged with
voters, mostly of the colored persuasion cleo
ton days are supposed to have added con-
siderably to the already large number of
regular and recognized holidays. Ju regard
to the progress of the two races in Virginia,
[ may call your attention to the remarkable
report of the health. officers OF this city, for
the week ending on Saturday last, by which
it appears that out of twenty-five deaths among
adults, only four occurred among the white,
and the remaining eighteen among the black
residents of the city. This mortality, and
the emigration Southwark on the part of the
blacks would seem to point to the wisdom of
the policy persued by the late Senator Bland,
and endorsed by delegate Hunter, last night
that of affiiating with the Conservative,
rather than with the Radical party,
IF the Conservatives should be defeated in
this city-which is not at all likely-the re-
suit will be attributable to the impolitic step
which the party adopted in having u primary
election on last Thursday to decide between
the candidates for nominations to the various
offices. This was a serious blunder, in a.
much as it caused disaffection on the part of
the defeated candidates for nomination.
Another strong objection to such primary
elections is that the people are withdrawn
from their business avocations t11ice, instead OF
once only, at each election. hope this may
be the last experiment of the sort in Virginia.
The Court of Appeals is still in session
Hon. Richard Merrick, of Washington, made
a brilliant forensic effort on Thursday last, In
an important railroad suit now pending. l
heard Judge Christian compliment his speech
in very high terms: The same Judge, on
Yesterday, delivered the opinion of the Court
in the cases of Farmers Bank as. Anderson,
and Exchange Bank u.s. Knox and others, on
appeal from the Circuit Court of Richmond.
The profession will be generally surprised %
learn that this elaborate opinion, covering
thirty pages of manuscript, decides that the
notes Of the Bank acquired by the debtor
after notice OF the assignment of the assets Of
Il ofit NJ
creditors, eau not be paid at their par value
in discharge of debts due the Bank by such
debtor Several suits from your county pend
ing in the Court of appeals of West Virginia
involve the same question. Tho Courts Of
Pennsylvania have decided differently, and
Judge Underwood has followed their de-
csions.
l saw Mr. Nccson, Judge Neridith, and
John Howard, on the. street to-day. Wr.
Bocock is lying at the Exchange Hotel and,
under the attention Of DR., Mcguire, is i'm
proving with every prospect OF recovery, with
out the loss of his fractured leg. All Of these
gentlemen were injured in the great cutas-
trophe. l visited the Capitol and looked in
upon the desolated and abandoned chamber Of
the House of Delegates. The rubbish has
been removed, but no other steps taken to re-
pair the ruin The main building is as secure
and firm as ever, and nothing caused the
disaster but a very unskilful supplement to
the original design Of the building. n cons
sequence Of the catastrophe is that the cons
gregatiGn of st. Paurs church insist upon
pillars under the galleries in that beautiful
cditice, and the vcstry have wisely yielded the
point ST. Paul'S is the largest, and most
fashionable church in the city, and its gall
leries are now supported by iron chains, some
what on the principle of the wire suspension
bridge, and have hitherto been regarded as
perfectly safe. A Richmond congregation
may now be regarded as having galleries on
the brain which is far better, however, than
having them Oh the head.
The crops between this and Culpeper, and
Lynchburg, are looking moderately we'll for
this section, but do not compare with those
of the Valley.
The tobacco tao, amounting to over So, OOO,-
600 in ten months, arrests and prevents that
prosperity which the monopoly of production
of that staple would otherwise insure to South
side Virginia. At the very moment when
the Yankees are. asking for increased protec-
ton in the tariff, and subsidies for New Eng
land shipping interests, they are grinding the
life out Of Virginia by this iniquitous tax.
Yours truly, DELTA.