Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1872-06-01
Longstreet and Mosby.


The New York Republican papers Says the
Baltimore Gazette are quoting, with every
mark Of approval, the recent letters Of General
Longstreet and Col Mosby. These two men,
SO conspicuous during the civil war, 50 fallen
now from their high estates, are welcomed,
with flourish Of trumpcts and beating Of
drums, into the camp Of the party whose ten
der merces have been manifested to their ma
tive South by the encouragement given 10
earpet-saggers to plunder it right and left, by
military domination, the Ku-Klux law, and the
suspension Of the writ Of haJcas corpus. Yet
General Longstreet undertakes to say that Re-
construction has been carried on in q spirit
Of good faith, and the duties Of the times have
been as successfully me. and discharged as we
should expect. Al things considered, "
be adds, g am constrained to say that think
that the people eve it to themselves and tho
President to return him to the Office he has
filed so WELL" Truly, General Longstreet, in
thus ehampioniug General Grant, proves him
self more than kin, though less than kind to
those by whose side he fought, and to the peo-
pie in defence Of whose cause he won for him
self the honorel namo lie has since so sadly
furnished. Gen. Longstreet, however has been
for some time in full utilization with the Grant
republicans. lie was rewarded for his defec-
ton, not only by having his disabilities remoy-
ed but by an appointment to a lucrative Of
fetal position, aud having thus sold his honor
for q mess of pottaga, his support of Grant
aud the whole series Of Reconstruction laws,
down to the last and most infamous measure of
them all, is nothing more thar might have been
expected
The detection Of Colonel Mostly will surprise
those who do not know how easily his vanity
can be baited by cunning hands to ensnaro bis
better nature That he, living as he does, in
the valley that was so icarfully devastated du-
ring tic war, and which be once made famous
by his exploits, and knowing the people aud
their sentiments ought to do--that he should,
as between Grant and Greeley, declare for
Grant, is matter Of disappointment and re-
grct to his best friends. That Le should 20
further, and write such an iuiudcious letter as
has appeared over lis name, announcing public
y bis intention to support General Grant even
if Mr. Greeley should happen to be tie nomi-
nee Of the Democratic National Convention, is
piece Of folly Of which few thought him ca
pable. The indiscrec. zeal that has impelled
this overture to General Graut,-stimulated
perhaps by tho seductive influences Of the
White House-is what Talleyrand once chaac-
to!izcJ as worse than crime. It is a most
Nosul blnadcr, and we venture to say that
among the people Of tho Valley, Colonel Mosby,
though he may stump it" for Grant, will
not muster, from among tho. men who once
rallied with alacrity at his bidding, as many
converts as would make up a corporals guard.
His influence in Virginia, IN favor Of the re-
election Of General Grant, like that Of Long
street further South, viii amount to nothing,
and the exultat.on Of The republican journals
over the letters Of these two ex-Conioloratc
officers, will only serve to deepen the shame Of
those who once honored them, at finding them
now loagned with their opprcssors.