The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-03-19
Tho New Movement"

CONFERENCE.-The efforts Of the hon. MT.
Stuart not only to establish his own relatlohs
TO the Committee of Nine, but to prove the
effectiveness Of the labors Of that committee,
remind us of the old Latin adage, =" Pdrtu.
riunt monies ct nascetur T7atcutuS mas.
That committee was, in truth, q failure, ana
all that Dir. Stuart can gain by proving MS
paternal relation to it is that be is the father
of failure. speak what / know when l
saw that the labors of that famous committee
closed the door and fixed in the minds OF
congressman determination not TO take up
the case of Virginia at that session.. !,
The men who really obtained the great
boon Of rsadmission for our dear old Com
monweallh were little handful Of True Re
publcans of whom we rarely hear mention
Stearns, Gilmer, and others. When this
committee reached Washington the most diff
ficult part of their work was to convince
congressinen that there was no danger OF
Sandy, ct id onsne genus, forcingtheir way
to the front again at that time. They said
plainly, if we could hope that Virginians.
true men, who have not heretofore taken an
active part in politics, would now come for
ward and take hold, we are ready to help
them, but we DiU not do anything to re>eat
the old stagcrs. We answered we are true
men; the men who broke the power OF Rad.
icllism at Petersburg, and have put forward
as our staudard-bearer q northern man, u.
G.. Walker, whom we believe to be true
map : and we pledge you that Virginia Is
ready for reconstruction; ready TO accept, Dy
the advice of the noble Lee, the situation as
it is; ready to execute faithfully the Constl-
tuition of the United States, if only we may
be allowed to vote out the most ohJectloha-
BILE features of the Underwood Constitution
After much labor bestowed by the LITTLE
band OF True Republicans, the matter seemed
TO eliminate to this point: "lf we could
only feel that You represent the sentiments
of the people OF Virginia, we would grant
your request" At this point +. Stearns
suggested that therest remain In Washington,
ana continue their labors with individual
members of Congress, while he would go
and bring on number of gentlemen to con-
firm our statements; the result Of which
was that in a few days committee of
trent,-tco appeared before the commit
tee of the House Of Representatives, Gene
ral Butler chairman. They had promised
to give us two hours, but the Texas ques-
ton coming before them that morning,
we only were allowed ten minutes to present
the cause of Virginia. The spokesman whom
we had selected for the occasion, seeing the
Texas case was consuming our time, billed
down as we'll as he could, and in the ten
minutes put in only the points, and these as
sharp as he we'll could make them. Allu-
ding, among other things, to the fact that
Grant had said to some Of them that Virginia
ought to have the privilege of voting on the
Objectionable features Of he.proposed Con-
stitution separately, Butler growled back,
/" nv, then, does he not tell Congress SO III
q message?" and dismissed US. Acting on
this suggestion, and by the advice Of the no.
Bile Farnsworth, the committee waited on
General Grant, who promised them to send
a message to Congress on the subject, which
he did. The most Objectionable features
were stricken from the Constitution and Viz
ginia readmitted.
I feel that should fail in doing justice to
all if / did not mention the valuable services
of General William Mabone-tirst at Peters
burg, afterwards in aiding by his counsel
and urging forward the True Republicans to
do their whole duty-in which they were
nobly supported by the twenty-five, among
whom were such men as Judge Guigon, +
G.. Rufin, the lamented j. r. Branch, Henry
HudnalI, j. w. Wright, j. w. Lcwellen, l.
A. Brander, and others.
This is the true history of the restoration
I! when the little band Of True Republicans
alluded to the Committee Of Nine it always
elected from congressman smile Of deri
sion. and, as l said before, they, bad etiectualy
| barred the door against admission. One
more name l must mention as one that de-
serves the gratitude of all Virginians.
mean L. @. Washington, of Washington
| whose disinterested labors are worthy Of al
praise.
That the Committee of Nine did great
and valuable service in preparing the minds
CT the people for the then coming campaign,
and smoothing the way for the alliance be-
tween the Conservatives and True Republic
cans which saved the state, will not deny ;
but in moving Congress to action in favor
of Virginia they had no more force than has
the fly in the mail-coach towards propelling
| that vehicle. AN EYE WITNESS,