The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-06-19

| Reporter Have you pledged yourself to
support the candidates OF either the Lynch
burg or the Richmond convention !?
! Colonel Mosby: have NOT. am not in
accordswith either of the political parties in
Virginia. ] am opposed TO the ConserVa-
tive party in the State, because by its war
| upon the Administration It throws all the
| Federal patronage and the Federal influence
| against the true people of Virginia and
thus keeps alive and affords sustenance to
THE RADICAL PARTY OF NEGROES AND CARPET.
-1&-n5~ BAGGERS. -r5- s-..a.
I think it is wrong, too, in its policy Of
tarraying white men against negroes, for it
turns the negroes over to the control of the
worst element in the State. In this way
about one.third of the counties in the State
| of Virginia, where negroes have local ma
| jorities, are under their dominion, and will
be kept so as long as this policy prevails.
But if the Conservative party would reverse
its policy the Radical party would be dis
banded.
| Reporter Do you really think, Colonel,
| that General Grant has shown any disposi-
| ton toconciliate the people of Virginia.?
| Colonel Mosby: General Grant has been
very liberal in appointing my friends to
| Office, because it was his edrnest desire in
this substantial way to conciliate the people
| of the South; and he has been more liberal
to me from the fact that have declined to
take anything for myself. ,..., ,.s i
| Reporter: It has been stated that Mosby's
guerrillas of your old Confederate
command-are those upon whom your faVors
have fallen. Are not all of the Federal ap-
| pointees from Fauquier of this class?
| Colonel Mosby: They are not. l have
secured appointments for some of the best
officers, and men in my commandment who
fought under me during the war against
General Grant, and who fought under my
flag last year for him; and there never will
| lie a genuine reconstruction of the South
until all the Federal Offices in the South are
| filed by such men as they are. l mean men
at the same time true to the national Govern
ment and to the people of their own State.
| Reporter: With your views on this sub
ject, ought you not to accept an appointment
for yourselfl r.: 2s
| Colonel Mosby: do not, for the simple
reason that it would impair the moral in
fiucnce of my position. have been trying
to act as mediator between the Virginia
ipeople and the national Government, and
could not do it ii l had accepted an office.
| Reporter: Since you took this position
and espoused the cause of Grant, have you
seen any disposition on the part of the
people Of Virginia to prescribe you socially
on account of your political opinions?
| Colonel Mosby: Yes, have; but it has
never had any more influence on rue than
the arrows that the Lilliputians shot at Gul.
liver. think that they persuaded them.
Greeley commanded my battalion and that
edited the New York Tribune during the
war.
Reporter Have you ever advised, OF
would you now advise, the people
of Virginia to support the Radical party in
| local elections or on questions of State
policy? -,5
Colonel Mosby: As everybody knows the
Radical party in Virginia is composed of q
mass Of negroes led by few white men,
don't think the white people in local elec.
| ton ought ever to divide on questions OF
Federal politics; if they did, the negroes
would get control of the State government
| 1 think the Conservative party en- mdsse
| OUGHT TO GO OVER TO GRANT. ~
I think there ought to be reconstruction
of parties in Virginia, because majority ol
the Conservative party diSapproVes OF its
policK.- Ii one of the State conventions,
according to Governor Wise's programme
would refrain from making nomination,
would Re in favor of running an independ
ent ticket. A large majority of the white
people of the State, who see the necesslt!
for a reconciliation with the National Exc
cutiyp, would support such ticket, and sc
would majority of all in the State who are
friendly to the Administration. Such
ticket would not endanger the safety OF tht
State Government. and the white people
wouldn't follow me or anybody else into the
camp of the negroes and carpet-baggers
even if I desired them to go; which l dt
| not. u.
Reporter: suppose you know that you
are accused by northern papers and some o
our own of conspiring with Grant to set up
a personal and military Government, witt
him at the head, and of already plotting tt
secure his election for third term.
Colonel Mosby: / have never had any
conversation with General Grant with refer
ence to his reelection for third term, bu
am perfectly free to say that II be makes a:
good President as I believe he will aud i
a candidate for reelection, have no doubt
shall support him. And not only think
that, but think, too, that four years from
now General Grant will be thecandidate Q
| the whole southern people for President
But whether he desires reelection or not
do not know.
Here the interview ended.
l.