New-York tribune., 1873-12-27
SOUTHERN POLITICS.
TIE VIRGINIA sENAToRsHIP.


CONSERVATIVE cANDDATE-pRosPrcrs or THE
LEADING oNEs THE CONTEST BETWEEN COL
wrruERs GOV. wAIKER AND THos. l.. BoCoCK.
t,,ox Az OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF rHE TRIBUNE
RICHMOND, Dec. 23.-Until recently il was the
r,s for tho members OF the Virginia Legislature 70
come 10 the Capitol the first Monday in December
Introduce q host OF bills that never heard OF
again. deliver few commonplace speeches. draw their
per diem and mileage, and about the goth of the month
put home with their trunks full Of dresses for their
wives and toys for the ttlo ones, and demohns filled
with liquors. and the bosoms of their families spend
the holidays accumuating all the while their per diem
as LEGISLATORS. But last session, when II was not
absolutely certain that the Conservatives would carry
the November election, It thought prudent TO elect
county Judges 10 into office at. the beginning OF
the new year. II desirable TO have pretext and
apparent Justification for such election and the wise
ones Immediately saw that II the time OF meeting Of the
Legislature was changed from the first Monday In
December the ist OF January it would devoye upon
aud upon their to elect the county
Judges. This conclusion speedily reached and the
plan promptly executed. The time OF meeting was
changed and the judges elected. IT, at the Novem
Der election majority Of Republicans had been chosen
they would have found Conservative judges already
elected for three wears and they might. with some JUS
ce have made about it, but it 80 happened that
the Conservatives carried everything before them and
their pfecsu.ion gained them nothing. though it may
Christmas recess which menbcvs invariably drew
their paw and never rendered service. The Con-
have minority in the Legislature OF 90 on
Ioint ballot and mean to til the otbces with men oil eir
own party Each house j. elect its own officers, and
the two iog ther will elect Slperiutendents OF Public
Elucafi Public Printing and Puhlio Buildings Au-
dor q Public Accounts, Second Auditor, Treasurer,
Register OF the Land Once, Storekeeper o! the Penten
tary Superinendent of the Pententary and Secretary
OF the Commonwealth leaving 10 the new Governor the
app intment OF numerous inspectors OF tOOacoO no'
hsh guano In order that ,hs arduous. pro1tless,
and dsagreoabe task may bo quickly done as poss-
be the Conservative memcrs have agreed to assemble
here in caucns on the 81 inst MOST Oh the present m
cumbents will he reelected for they have proved faitn-
fu party interests, and that Is about all that IS re-
Quircd 20 establish claim TO ONCE.
TIE UNITED STATES sENArORIAH QUESTION
To IN all these Offices is no inconsiderabe thing. but 1t
IL as nothing compared 10 the selection of a United
States Senator TO succeed John f. Lewis QsepuDcan)
when as Vrgnians conceitedy believe the of the
world are upon the vast undertaking. Senator Lewis
was elected eutenantGoycrnor upon the Walker tCon,
ticKet in 1902 and. being loyast OF good
reputc was from that position elevated to the United
states Senate the certainly 10 secure the readms-
of the STATE into the Union. The project was sue
ceSsiuI the STATE admitted and Lewis and his col
league. John W. Johnson UOnservativel, took their
seats Senator'S Mr.. Lewis and the Conservatives
then parted company, and each went ther way. Mr.
LewlSs term expires March = 1872 ana MS successor
will be elected the second week in January, 1874 The
Republicans have no chance OF eectng candidate, ana
II Is somewhat doubtful if they will trouble themselves
10 nominate one. From the people comes a de-
mand Tor the election Of man OF high char
acer. distinguished abilities and national reputa-
on. The candidates are many and each one presenting
but the members of the Legislature Will find it difficult
indeed to select from the many one possessed OF all the
qualifications, and who is at the time popular and
calculated To serve the Commonwealth with JUDGMENT
aud disoreti0D The names of Gilbert c. Walker, X NJ
Il Hunter, John Goode. Thomas s. BOcock Alex B.
Cochran Robert Onld Robert L. Montague. Alex. II. H.
Stuart Robert +. WtheIs and Joseph Christian, have
already presented and their claims extent
oanvassed. Gen Walker is regarded quite strong.
having been called into service at critical time In the
history Of Virginia, and by tact and the display OF ab-
ties greater than he first supposed to possess
managed Affairs as TO bring credit and no little renown
upon his administration. he labOrs under the difficulty.
however. OF having been born in New-York State in
stead of Virginia. and there are many who ask;
Virginia has been so indi6erently represented
Congress since the war; that native son be now per
mttod 10 20 forth and convince the world that her race
of great is not extinct Nearly all the Senatorial
aSprants have hobbies which they propose to bring TO
the attention OF Congress should they ever get there
Mr. Walkers is to have the Federal Government
@ SS vna G a the S Ss a8d s it abs
appointing TO 100000 it is popular. But he is not
the james River ana Kanawha Canal BY GoseIn%eni
aid and there he is unpopular 10 is estimated that he
can start with rs votes about 65 being neces
linn by those who have the interests OF Others 10 Serve
aud though he may be nominated and consequently
elected the chances appear some what against hlm 49,
great of the day. and though for
he nursod his poor farm and attended his mill down in
rostrum. he was not forgotten During the last cam
paign the Conservative State Committee called him
forth from his retirement made him canyasser for the
at large and set him traDpng the valley and
Piedmont region. In Richmond he made speech enuD-
ciatng the principle OF Virginia for NiIginiaDs and
though he careful 10 that he meant by Virgin
IAN all native or foreignborn rightly imoued with Nr
ginian spirit his meaning was perverted by enemies.
and the expression was circulated to his immense disad
Not single foreigner or drectdescendant of
foreigner who is member of the Legislature can be
expected to vote for him. At winchester he
nnsaS States GoTesnmen By some ineenOu
impossible process. pay for the emancipated slaves.
These things have caused him 10 be olassed as
old fogy and Notwithstanding his services TO the nation
also the Con1ederacy. he is in danger Of being
he will at least get handsome vote in the for
there not few Yrgnians who stick TO him bark
The Hon John Good Of Norfolk Alexander B. Cochran
OF Augusta. Robert L. Montague of Niddleser, and
OF State reputation and two Of them at least
possess many OF the iSr the position but
but little chance unless the big men all 40 into the XII
spv tns reserve vii he called upon and one Of the
number selected:
PROSPECTS, OF OTHER CANDIDATES.
Thomas L. Bocock OF Appomattox, is the same gentle
man who, in by-gone days. presided over the United
States House Of Representatives. Later he was the
Speaker OF the Confederate House, keeping order. deco
rum and some in that body. when fred by pros
poets of the establishment Of thelr new Government or
enraged because OF a battle lost His disabilities have
lust been removed and he stands forth formidable
Candidate with friends all the State and Is un
kindy-perhaps untruthfuly said. with the railroad
influence OF Cen Malone at bis back. Take him, all IN
ALL he is aud growing stronger ard even II Gen.
Malone does not support 6im Will come INTO the contest
Judge Robert ould.of Richmond is kind Of Young
virg candidate. He is probably not than 6S
years age and ms mind Is clear his body stall
war and his heart as stout as III ne were only 10 lie
came from Washington at the breaking out OF the
war and appointed by Jefferson Davis Confederate
Agent for the Exchange OF Prisoners. Whoever 10
blame prisoners OF rOttiDg IN loathsOme places
OF confinement he for one cannot be accused OF that
crime His correspondence while in charge OF that
Bureau OF the Confederate War Department ls pointed
at now by all SOutherDers model Of sound Judgment
and high literary merit He is fine orator AMI ranks
with the best lawyers In the State. HIS name will not
be presented the until after the first ballot,
when is thought he may come out the winner In the
.....
Alex II. II. Stuart OF Augusta IL q gentleman OF the
old school, Six feet and three four inches tall admi
rably prOportOned, stately In carriage and courtIy
IN appearance, he Is man one would observe aud
nnart In a crowd of Before the a