The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-12-11

Most Of the statesmen 10 whom common
fame hiss ascribed the purpose Of defeating
General Grant by a conspiracy or by an
open coalition with the Democrats, have
repudiatcd any and all connection
with the scheme. But now comes CO.
vernon Walker, of Virginia. with an offer
to be the standard.bearer Of the discon-
tented, and with programme Of COM
plants and grievances that ought to satisfy
Tue most malignant or captious of General
Grants enemies. Walker was elected Go
vernon two years ago by union of the
old line Nirginians with the Conservative
Republic ms. He was in fact the candi-
date against the carpet baggers. He has
made an excellent Governor, and has sue
ceeded In winning to himself the conf
dcnce OF the people and in rallyiug around
him the ancient elements of Virginia poll
ties. At the period of his election, and
for some time after. 1t was the flshion in
Virginia TO speak well OF President Grant,
and many gushing euloges were pro-
nounced upon him. But as the State
administration grew strong, and Governor
Walker began to respond to the cntc-
| ing endearments OF the ancient regime,
, there grew up In Virginia bitterness Of
feeling. and there was manifested tone of
criticism and abuse toward the President
which showed that their wonted fires still
sm"uldcred in the ashes of Old Dominion
fcud slism. Now We have from Governor
Walker a message in which the cid stock
phra.coloGy Of the time before the war
plays conspicuous part. lie appeals to
fir9in'ans for the reasSertion of their
rights, and demands the observance OF the
, Constitution rs framed and understood by
! our fathers. He sees the absorption of
, State powers and functions bY The Federal
Govcrnnc III, and sounds tic alarm. bell to
warn the people against the woes that are
I to cone upon them.
| Under the resolutions of rs he would
T., marshal the forces OF the State to do battle
against Federal cnCrOachmcnts, and would
renew the old strife that Virginia absLrac.
tionists have always had with any govern
ment that refused them all the offices OF
which they stood in need. We will do Go.
vernon Walker the justice to say that he en-.
tiers his protest against extreme southern
doctrines, and speaks Of secession without
the slightest respect, and Of its fate without
sympathy or coincidence. How desperate
the condition of VIRGINIA il, and how deeply
she suffers from Federal tyranny and
usurpa,ion, may be inferred from the fact
thar in the present Legislature the Con.
, servatives have 90 [sic] majority in the
| House ands 23 III the Senate. Surely, with
all this power the Conservatives may inau-
ylirite q reign Of honesty, reduce taxes,
give free education to all, foster labor, and
do all the wise and excellent things men,
toned in the Governors message. Walk.
er's words must be full of encourage.
mcnt to those Democrats who are casting
shout for an available candidate. The
, S,other Of States and statesmen has been n
prolific mother of Presidents. and there
l. never absent from her cradle promi-
sing candidate for the stimulating nourish-
ment afforded by the White House and its
surroundings. There Is nothing new in
Governor Walkers denunciation. 1t is
familiar to those who have read the debates
in Congress and the diatribes OF the press.
The facts of General Grants ADMINISTERS
ton which prove its success and popularity
are sufficient answers to all this wild rheto-
ric.-Hetr FORK Comm efridl.