Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-12-26
Col. MOsby's Regiment of Virsinians

II, Salu OUt. oouu o. n1DsUy 10 d repre-
sentative of the Herald who called to get his
views of the crisis, there shall be auy fighting
as the result of all this Political bu ioess, |
shall be found on the side Of d N. Grant aud
the administration. | have read what Gen.
Shelby said to one of the Herald correspond
euts 10 ST Louis, aud | stand precisely where
he stands. He promises to raise a regiment 10
Missouri to sustain Gen. Grant IT he shall H.
augurate Governor Hayes Chat is il it shall be
necessary to do SOY an | will under'akc to do
the same thing iu Virgins lu less than twenty
four hours
Col Mosby was entirely unprepared for the
qu stoDs to which the above answers were
glvso, aud he spoke W, tn a readiness aad en-
pnasS which certa!uly carried With them the
conviction of his sincerity. He was sitting in
his Office at the time-a humble it'll: office
looking out upon judiciary square and the City
Hal! aud the inarlstc statue Of Abraham Lin
coin iu this city. The distinguished ex Con
tederate practices Law in this city now, uut ne
does not seem to have more business than he
can att, nd to- | meatiou this b.cluse there
ure large pumber Of people who believe that
his devotion 10 Gen. Graut has brought him
iortuue as we'll as tane. Such Is not the flct.
hlosby is good taker; DOT very hlcut, per
hapS, but what he says Is generally worthy OF
attention HIS iu:ell!gcDc, is far aouye The
average Of what may De touud 10 Congress,
which is not, after all, much OF compliment.
The conversation Continued as follows:
"What, Coootl. do you th!uk ot the present
situation OF afalrSI
'W ell. there Is great deal OF democratic
blus.r. but il is all nonseusa.'
How ,uaoy are there IKE yourself iD Vir.
gina who would support Gauera Grant 10 he
,vcut of trouble growing oul Of the inaugurs-
t.on Of Mr. Ha}es?'
''rh re is a large Uumher 10 Firg giua who
won support Hayes. | do not kuow Anybody
there who wants 10 fight Oh the dem .crat'c
side. think Hayes is iairly elected, aud l
could nor, without stultlfyirg myself, refuse to
support bim by fighting, il it Is nrc,sSary to
do SO.
The conversation then drjfted into Mosby's
attitude toward the administration during the
last three or four years
Il tts; m.i enerai Grant said he, in
1872 H. treated me very klGdly. l have al
WAYS occu warns admirer of his ever sioce the
close # tie war, and | thi"k the fight made 90
him oy the SDutncrn white men h IS been the
great biuuIcr Of our Southern politics. l have
nad many conversations with bin, and | know
that he was able aud WltilGg to do more Tor the
Southern people than any man 10 he Uulted
States If the Southern politicians Wouli have
permitted hm TO kave duae 1t.
"What was your idea 10 your course toward
the administration r
"Aly idea was to build up party In the
South opposed u the sectional dsuulor demo-
cracy. The South for the last ten years mas
suffered under many evils and grievances, and
the cause OF 1t all has been "SoIld South, or,
rather. tic attempt to make solid Souta. l
thick tba, is The cause OF Ill cur mlsrue and
misery. And for this reason: Ii has driven
the white III Of the South into one political
party 10 aauc, with the Northern democracy,
and it has Soldiicd the negroes 90 the other
hand and given that element a prominence 10
our politics which it never would have had
otherwise. Again the solid South idea has ac-
,ua!ly compelled he negroes 10 States aud DIS
,ric:s where they were IN majority to take
possession Of the goveroment; not ony that, II
has c9mocsd the administration to be on the
side of he negro, and tuus given color 10 the
idea that General Grant was attempting to
elevate the negro over the white man, when
he ucver had aUy such purpose.
Colonel Musby then went on to speak OF the
pocy of the Southern white leaders.
The governing idea of the Southern poltl-
clans" said be, is revenge. They would DOT
be willing to accept any benefits from the re-
pubncan party. They have the idea that the
demncratic party, if it c1mes into power, will
play the part Of an avcngng Nemesis; that
through it they will get indemnity tor the past
as vel as security for the future.
Suppose the democracy comes into ncWer,
what advantage will it he to the South!
II do not thiuk it would be OF any advantage
in the end. There would be reaction 10 the
Sonth against the North and 10 the North
against the South, which would bring back all
the old troubles and for the next Eve or SIX
years we should be fighting over all the old bat
Ties. [ think that under Hayes, on the basis OF
an honest acceptance OF the results OF the war;
the South would get everything to which she
is fairly entitled.
"You believe in driving the carpet basgcrs
from power and giving tho offices to the white
yes, but at the present time the democratic
poli,lcians are 10 favor OF the carpet oaggers.
The creates; utfeuce General Grant can IN their
eyes commit is to give oouthcro sen''cn'1
an Office. because i, deprives them OF all ground
of n,mplsint. Carpet bagscry .uld have
oi,srpeared long ago from the South 'un'
der Grant bus i0r the interference OF the
Sonthero nolltic;ans. II a Southern man ac-
csp,ed otnc. under him he Was ostraclzed 80
ciaIlv and every other way He became al
on,lay 10 society The Southern politician:
have been actiug ever slnce the war exactly a.
Iha carpet baggers .culd have them act auC
keeping up this war
Then you, as Southern mao, have more
hams uodrr liaves than under rilden p
:Certaiuly have. Under Tilden look TO
four years OF confusion, discerd and slrte.
"What is the temper OF the Southern people
toward you ?
VERY bitter aoi ,pindie,ivo. As 90 e'i
d.nc. If !, here is an editorial from a demo
cTa!io paper III Cup@per, the O3sctver "ho'
WIS sent 10 NE to day. -. ;.
"Ina W,rrontop penpIe are down on raai
Gals CoonelJ ohm S. Mosby has removed hl
f,,ri,v to Washington, his foolish and unSls
course hay,Dg caused all of his. old friends
g;ve him the cold shoulder. 1t is vel to sa
fhat. his lamly were much beluved-au lnte
estiog lot Of children, ignorant OF their father