Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-09-14
Col, Mosby on the Political Situation
From the New York Herald

i,tiny troubles He carefully read the Herald
call for \ National Convention of peace and re
constructions, aud said he most heartily ndorSed
every sentiment expressed in The Herald OF the
4th as well as in subsequent articles on the same
subject But the remedy proposed OF calling
= cnnvcnton--did not appear practicable to
him. While he believed it would be wise Tor
reprrseuta.ivc men of the South TO come to-
pcther and declare to the couutry dctermlna
lion 10 labor for the work Of perfect reconstruc
ton, without regard IL past prcjudiccs, yet he
did not see that even that would work any rad
ica change in the condition or management Of
affairs ia the worst localities. And in this re-
gard Col. MuSby may br justly called repre-
sentative man. Ills C" 'ccr during the var, his
adherence 10 old Southern customs and his Zeal
for the improvements OF the Southern States
make him competent Judge IN the cODsldcra
| ton of ii subject OF 50 much Interest to the
| Southern section OF the country. "lhrrr are
TWO elements" said the Colonel, constantly
W; rring against the peace aud prosperity ut the
South. The first IS relic OF the war--a deter
! nuatluu not to accept the situation aud conform
| To the existing c,ndlIion Of atflIr>--urd the
other is result ol the Wharf.-The introduction
of the carpet bag politician. whose only claim
for office vas his loyalty, aud who accepted po-
| litica trusts for which he was 10 no way fitted.
1t would be difficult TO say which of the two
classes has hndcrcd most the perfect recon-
Structiou OF the South.
You believe, then, that it would have been
the better policy if men Of the staup Of Long
street aux Orr had made terms with the al
ADMINISTRATION at tie bcginulug Of Grants first
| tcrm.'
III would have been decidedly better; but
the majority at Southern men do not like to he
charged with Inconsistency aud have refused TO
recognize: th" fact that the rebellion Is dead
and with it slrvcry too The Herald aSks-"Can
We really reconstruct the Southern States with
out the aid of the real sons the Soulh?'
M. sir, without their aid it never will be
done But how eau that aid be secured? Take
NY Own case for instance. My most bitter OPP
puucn,s 10 Virginia are Dot Vlrgiuians. but
what call the radical followers Of the repubi-
eau party. They hate me with "A heartlncss
thai party. The cause is simply the
Presidents friendship, toward me, and that
is based not on personal grounds. but
because Gen. Grant knows there can be 40 such
tEing as solid cons I'll ion unless the South
cru people tn mSclves help to make it perula-
nent. Extend my case ard you wall see that the
Southern people have but little to encourage
them The party Leaders seem to regard the
South az not portion OF the Union, but vast
corral of voters 10 be used for selfish purposes
only. Il We cannot hope for uagnaumltJ from
the dominant party, what can be expected from
a National Convention? No paper platforms,
declarations or resolutions will be Of any avail.
"What would you Suggest, then, as the
remedy Tor The evils fastening themselves on
the South"
II hardly knew how to answer that question.
The course adopted and have urged seemed to
me to be the surcst way out oi our difficulties.
"What is your policy theuY
ON the first place the Reelection OF Presl-
dcut Grant in 1876 and the agitation now OF
the third term movement. The name of Grant
is OF itself tower of strength, and all Glasses
4 of people 10 the South know the man. aud the
humber who believe that he is disposed to do
all in his power to lift the South from its dis
organized condition is Increasing every day.
Then let Leading Southern men assure the
President that they woald rather see men whose
interests are identified with the South appoint
ed to the federal offices in lace o.! carpet bag
the President would gladly carry out the sug-
gcstion, bur it is not his pa ace to seek Tor can
| didatcs while the people by their violence
evincc contempt Tor the President and the adj
ADMINISTRATION. Again, an essential reform would
be the selection Of Il better class OF men IA leg
isIarors and State officers say that would
begin with advocating the reelection OF lresl-
drut Grant; for | 10 not suppose It's doubted
that the next President will be a Republican
If is not Grant it will be some politician, and
from such President the South would have
but little to hope for in the way of peace and
reconstruction. Very much OF the evil burden
ing the South to-day is wholly attributable to
the indifference OF the people themselves; and
when they cease 10 take interest in their own
prosperity it would hardly be expected their
Northern ncighbors should DO 50 for them. >
''Wil the Civil Rights bill, in your opinioo,
hinder the work of restoring confidence in the
| South?'
Enthusiastically it will How much of tho
Souther trouble Is due To the elevation Ot the
slave 10 citizenship il would be idle TO discuss.
But if, in addition. you force him upon society,
compeI the whites to Meet him IN the schools,
you will have arraycd all there Is OF Caucaslon
pride against him, aud nothing but disorder
and a war of races would be the result.
You do not believe, then, that a National
Convention would bring about practical re-
suits?
Not as see things now. Talk will never
accomplish what | Judge ii TO be the ambition
of the Herald now to attain The Southern lead
erS believe all their drawbacks come from the
dominant party, and while they refuse to re.
cornrzc the party do not see what good 1t
would be to hold a Convention that Is pow
c.less to remedy real or imaginary wrongs.
However. am glad the Herald has ken the
subject up, and if it succeeds in improving the
minds OF congressman that may eventually lead
to the other work Of establishing the South on
an everlasting foundation OF peace aud pros.
pcrlty.
LAND SALES.-Thc following sales Of land
in rauanier county are reported in the War
renton Index:
On last Tuns,,av. Commissioners Hunton and
Forbes sold uIdcr the decree III the case OF
Thomas W. Smith, IN" following i*ndS De-
! longing to p. y. L. Smith: The o BAN
non tract o: Isl acres to \. H. Smith for ST. so
per scre the mountain tract of lIo acres to w
| il. G,,nes Tor $ per acre; the Folly tract OF -
acres 10 W. ii. Gaines Tor SlI ~ per acre, ana