Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-07-15

Virginia Correspondence Cincinnati Commercial.
Learning that the intrepid guerrilla was in
town, called upon him this morning, and re-
newing or reyiying an old acquaintance with
him, told him what his town folks said about
him. 81 don't care" said MOsby, "what they
say about me. know that am right as was
when | voted for Douglas. The same people
said then that l was crazy. There were 600
votes cast ut the precinct, and | was one of the
two men only out Of that six hundred that voted
for Douglas. I've always been in the minority
from principle, and now my principles have
placed me where | am likely to be-with the
majority, for | believe that Grant will be re-
elected. The people round about here underrate
Grants strength. There are hundreds of people
that know personally who will vote for him in
preference to Greeley, and as many more who
will not vote at all. believe in Grant, and if
we've got 10 surrender again, I'd rather surren-
der to a soldier than to an old woman.
When the war ended, | was excepted in Stan
ley's order about parong confederate soldiers.
understood from that exception that was not
to be allowed 10 surrender. was outlawed and
couldn't give paroe-n other words, the al
tentative was presented to me of eXiing myself,
or continuing the war. Ofcourse, in Justice to
the people, to myself and to the cause for which
had fought, the fair name of which | would
not tarnish, | disbanded my command.
thought seriously about running away; but
finally concluded to remain and meet whatever
fate was in store for me like man. Military
trials and prospective executions were then fire.
quent. The possibility of my arrest by STAN
toms order was to say the least, threatening.
| went home and quietly awaited the result,
which soon came in the form Of an order from
| General Grant allowing me to take parole on the
| same terms as those extended TO other confed-
crate soldiers. | mention this fact to be an
| indication of Grants natural generosity He is
a soldier, and as such respect him. Some of
our deluded people here believe that he is a fool.
| tell them that man without brains could not
have carried the immense army under his COM
rnand to Richmond, even if there had been no
opposition. tell them, when they say he is a
radical, that he has been riding with the hurri.
cane, and has abated its strength. He would
have been foolish to have opposed it; as much
so as the extreme men of the south who have,
| to greater or less extent, provoked it. And
then he is as much of Il friend to the south MS
Greeley. He saved Lee, Johnston, Breckenridge
and other southern soldiers, while Greeley only
put himself forward where others were ready to
20 on the bail bond of JEFF Davis. OF course,
Greeley's act was magnanimouS, but it was
done in public, as though he was seeking noto-
riety. Grant, on the contrary, in the pursuance
of his official duties, aud in quiet, unostenta-
tious way, firmly put himself between the CON
quered leaders of the southern army, who had
been paroed, and danger which threatened
most dire results. | suppose Grant would sign
a civil rights bill like Summers, if congress
should pass one. Well, Greeley would do the
same, and his past record, unlike Grants, has
been such as to urge the passage of that kind of
laws.
l don't see any difference between the men
from political standpoint, except in favor of
Grant, who has been a democrat is a soldier,
and whose administration has given us a good
government in this state, if not anywhere else.
Why, ask these people, these old Virginians,
with whom have lived all my life, what they
have to complain Off | ask them opoint out
specific cause of complaint. They cannot do it.
haN hoe fbair ;,, tI,f. g,.
years, without interference from outsiders, I'M
less you call carpet-baggerS outsiders; and we
have got most of them-all of the most obnOX-
ious ones-weeded out! The present govern
ment suits me very well, and | don't want to
risk change After all, the election of Greeley
would not be the assertion of any direct princi-
pie, and congress would govern us as it does
now. Each congressional district would have a
voice, and the majority would rule as it does
now. We wouldn't be any better off, for there
would be no change except in the signature of
the executive to laws that congress might pass,
and Grants signature suits me better than
Greeey'S. 10 tell the truth hate this Greeley
movement, and many of those men who are in
it, as earnestly as | hated the north when the
tiercest passions OF the war prevailed, and when
the fight was the hardest. The present situation
reminds OF the time when Virginia was dragged
out of the union. The people are all protesting
that they don't like Greeley, as they protested
against South Carolina and secession then; but
they are following the SchemerS as blindly as
ever, aud the politicians have got the reins in
their hands as usual. There are not dozen men in
the state who belong to the conservative partywho
will vote for Greeley because they like him or
believe in him, or because they know him, but
they will do it because the politicians tell them
to do so. | have knocked about Through this
section considerable of late and have vet to find
a conservative who takes to Greeley kindly
They all swallow him as they swallowed seces-
sion. You may tell your people that if there was
any other choice than Greeley, the democrats of
Virginia would take it. As it is, and as | said
before, many Of them will vote for Grant, while
Others will not vote at ALL