Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1877-01-09
RICHMOND LETTER.

" iNii a HiloN 'oAOi III rum ~ iAtAo iltNtt
been seen in these parts before by per-
sons now above the ground. The Gov
ernor's reception was, nevertheless,
largely attended. All the members Of
the Legislature not at their homes and
very willingly snow-bound, attended,
and quite number of other persons
punch bowl Apple toddy, whiskey
and wines abounded, and immense
cakes, richly compounded at the best
Richmond bakeries, made the repast
complete. The American boy never
pictured an ideal New Years Day
that was more gloriously snowy. Even
Ex-Gov. Smith. who had twice dis
pensed the Inequalities of the guber-
material mansion, and who is now in
his seventy-ninth year, braved the
keen, wintry blast, and paid his new
years homage to the official hospitali.
~ of Gov. Kemper. The latter was
III one of his happiest moods, and did
the honOrs Of the brown house with a
grace and courtesy which did h i'm PEE
cular honor. Virginia has been bless
ed with a long line of Governors
whose virtues and abilities have add
but she has had none who have been
actuated by nobler motives and pur-
poses than Gov. Kemper.
To-day there will be held in the
House Of Delegates, meeting of the
people Of Virginia as far as can be
from notice scarcely two days in ad-
vance, to consider the great question
of the day, and to give expression to
the feeling that prevails in the State,
consequent upon the conspiracy to
prevent the inauguration of Presiden t
Tilden. Many of the other States of
the Union will hold formal conven-
tons to-day with view to the same
end.
The opinion prevails here that some
of the acts of Gov. Hampton and Hon.
Reu. Hill and some of the declarations
of Hon. a. II Stevens have encour-
aged and emboldened the enemy, by
intoxicating the belief that the South
is Indifferent as to the result of the
conspiracy and this meeting will dis
abuse Northern minds as to any sup
posed indifference on the part of Vir-
ginians.
The question of the Governorship is
being discussed quietly. The conven-
ton to nominate is likely to. be held
in May next, and it is not much too
soon to he casting about for the man.
Col. Holiday, of the Valley, Mai
Daniel, of LynchIurg, and Gen. Ma
hone, of Petersburg, seem most prom
inently mentioned Gen. Fitz Lee is
also spoken Of Hon. Jno. Go0de, |
learn reliably, will not be candidate
under any circumstances. As far as
learn Gen. Malone has the lead.
Very many persons who have hereto
fore autagOnized him are now decid-
eddy and openly in his favor. The
present management of the A., NJ q
o. r. II. has shown that he hus been
much misunderstood as to his policy
touching the conduct Of that line. He
is looked upon az the victim of a move.
ment under Judge Bond for and in he.
half of foreigners against Virginiais.
and he has no sooner been gotten rid
Of than fare and freigh.s have been
advanced. The result has added much
to his popularity.
The Legislature has gone vigorously
to work since the holidays. Some
few of the distant members have not
yet returned, but they are looked for
in due course of the business of the
Weather Bureau.
Your two delegates from Washing,
ton, and the delegate from Smythe
together with those of various other
counties, have been lat oriously engag.
ed upon a road law, which they think
will give us an efficient road system
Certain ii il we have no road system
now that is efficient The new law
provides for board Of road commits.
sioners in each Magisterial District,
composed Of the Supervisor, one Road
Commissioner, to be appoiatcd by the
County Court, and one Justice OF the
Peace, to be designated 10y the other
Justices, All persons liable to road
service, will be required to work two
days in the year, and the remainder
to be made up 10y taxation, not to eX-
coed seven and II half cents on the
hundred dollars. We need "A road
system. 1t is the crying need of the
day, and as our two delegates every
where pledged the people to have such
a law, If they could possibly procure
1t, they feel bound to comply with the
pledge.
The House of Delegates has already
made some important changes i'm the
School law Whether the Senate will
concur remains TO be seen, The first
changes the mode of appointing the
School Trustees. The Judge of the
County Court, the Attorney for the
Commonwealth, and the County Su-
perintendent of Schools are constitu-