The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-01-04
From the New York Herald Qnd,y
Views of Col, Moshv

sASW0 VI WI AAOoUys
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20.-<sIf" said Col.
John S. Mosby, to representative of the
Herald, who called to get his views of the
crisis, ''there shall be any fighting as the re-
suit Of all this political business, shall be
found on the side of Gen. Grant and the Ad-
ministration. have read what Gen. Shelby
said to one of the Herald correspondents in
st. Louis, and stand precisely where he
stands. He promises to raise regiment in
Missouri to sustain Grant il he shall inaugu-
rate Gov. Hayes THAT is if it is necessary for
him to do SOY, and will undertake to do the
same thing in Virginia in less than twenty
four hours.
Col. Mosby was entirely unprcpared for
the questions to which the above answers
were given, and he sppk'' with readiness
and emphasis which cafrh ID with them the
conviction of his sincerity. He was sitting
in his office at the time-a humble little Of
flee looking out on Judiciary Square and the
City Hall and the inartistic statue OF Abra-
ham Lincoln, in this city. The distinguish
ed x-Confederate practices law in this city
now, but he does not seem to have more
business than he can attend to. I mention
this because there are y large number OF
people who believe that his devotion to Gen.
Grant has brought him fortune as well as
fame. Such is mot the fact. Mosby lis
good talker; not very fluent, perhaps. but
what he says IS generally worthy OF atten-
ton. His intelligence is far above the aver
age OF what may be found in Congress, walch
is not, after all, much of a compliment.
The conversation continued as follows:
"What, Colonel, do you think of the pres
ent situation Of affairs?'
teWell, there is a great deal of Democratic
buster, but it is all nonsense"
Slow many are there like yourself in
Virginia, who would support Gen. Grant in
the event of trouble growing out of tie in
auguration Of Gov. Hayes?'
ssThere is large number in Virginia who
would support Hayes. do not know any.
body there who wants to fight on the Dem
ocratic side. 1 think Hayes is fairly elected
and could not, without stultifying myself
refuse Is support him by fighting, if it is ne
cessary to so."
The conversation then drifted into Mos
by's attitude toward the Administration dur
ing the last three or four years.
ST first met Gen. Grant," said he, ''ir
1872. He treated me very kindly. have al
ways been warm admirer of his ever since
the close Of the war, and I think the 1igh
made on him by the Southern white mer
has been the great blurder of our Southern
politics. | have had many conversations
with him, and know that he was able and
willing to do more for the Southern people
than any man in the United States it the
Southern politicians would lave permitted
him to have done it,
''What was your idea i'll your course to
ward the Administration %
''My idea was to build up 4 party in thu
South opposed to the sectional disunion lie
mocracy. The South for the last ten years
has suffered under many evils and grievan
ces, and the cause of it all has beena 'Soit
SOUTH or rather the attempt to make it sol
id. think that the cause of all our misrul'
and misery. And for this reason: 1t ha
driven the white men Of the South into on
i political party in alliance with the Northern
Democracy, and it has solidified the negroes
on the other hand, and given that clement
prominence in our politics which it heVe