The New York herald., 1879-09-28
The War Between "Debt PAYERS"
and "Readjusters."
HOLDING THE BALANCE.
No Split Amorg the Conservatives on
National Issues
RICHMOND. Va. Sept. 81, 1879.


ers." Having completely defeated the republican
party they commenced to fight among themselves.
and 80 the debt question made the issue. The
debt payere having control of the party organization
and having on their side almost unanimous press
and all the leaders of character and influence in the
State. are the most powerful section. They are
putting forth all their energies; every available
speaker is on the stump; every newspaper is doing
its whole duty, and all the sinews OF brought
into active operation.
Both of Vrgna's United States Senators and all
her Representatives with the exception OF Jorgen-
son. the republican. and John I. Harris. who calls
himself ga readjuster in the cool. have taken the
stump in support of the Mccullough settlement
Among their speakers also Ex-Governor Kemper,
Judge Allen late Speaker OF the House Of Delegates
John II. Chamberlayne. editor Of the STATE; J. l..
NJ. Curry, ex-Congressman of Alabama, resi-
dent OF Virginia; Thomas Stanhope Flononoy. John
w. Daniel. ex-Mayor Kelley. OF this city; General
W. Ii. Payne, ex-State Senator Phlegar General W.
B. Talaferro. Lieutenant Governor James A. Walker,
late commander of the Stonewall brigade; W. W.
Walker aud Thomas Whitehead and host Of others.
OTHER
At the same time the strength Of the 'Forcibles''
is not to bic dsspsed. At their head is General
William Malone, who is regarded as the ablest the
most skilful and experienced politician in the State
He organized the conservative party in 1869. and
conducted the campaign which overthrow the carpet
baggers and placed the government of Virginia in
the hands of her own people. Besides the General
there arc probably half dozen other leaders and
as many organs OF the Forcibles. These combine
all the essential attributes OF successful politicians
and daring agitators Notable among their leaders
are the Rev. John L. Massee, Abe Fulkerson and
John Paul. ex-State Senator's; Colonel William Z.
Cameron, Louis L. Harvie and Colonel Wyatt NJ.
Elliott. Their arguments against the Mccullough
settlement of that character that calculated to
| capture the rural voter-being favor Of
| a rebellion rather than against an increase
| Of the pre:ent rate of taxation, to which
both factions pledged. The Forcbles have
| large following in the south side. southwest and
eastern portions of the State, and some OF them 90
SO far to claim that they will be able to elect
majority OF both branches of the next General AS
sembly In this event General Malone would be
elected to succeed Withers in the United States
Senate; Parson Massee will be the candidate of the
Forcib,es for the Governorshp in 1880; the McCul-
| Tough bill would be repealed and clean sweep
would be made of all the present State officials.
| NEGRO VOTE.
| National politics, any discussion of national
issues. rigidy excluded in the canvass. The
publicans have no regular organization in the State.
nor in any portion OF 1t. except the Fourth Con-
gressional district which elects o representative
| from that party to Congress-. aud where they have
| about eight thousand majority. In this district,
which is in Soutbside Virginia, the ''Forcibles"
| pcct to get large support from the negroes and
also in the Second congressional district, where
| they have u partial organization. This may be re-
| garded doubtful. The negroes never have given
u nominee of any wing faction OF the democratic
| party q support that insured his election. Both
sides will endeavor to obtain the negro vote. but
neither will be greatly benefited by it, The republi
can leaders unanimously in favor of the McCul-
Tough settlement but the rank and file OF the party
know very little about 1t. II there
possibility of the permanent disruption OF the
servative party it is more than likely the republicans
would JOIN the side which promised to effect such
desirable result. At present there is no such pros
pect. The republican party holding the balance or
power and with chance of carrying the state
| with tact and good organization, stands
| looking on taking little or no interest in
the fight. AS the impression seems to be prevalent.
however. that the conservative party is disrupted to
an extent that will affect the national contest in 1885,
| the HERALD correspondent called upon prominent
leader OF the debpang faction to obtain his views
this point. as well the issues involved in the
canvass. ExMayor Kelley. who. one OF the speak
the side OF the deDtpayers. has already filled
out entering into the merits of the Mccullough bill
do you think will be able to defeat its opponents
| ut the polls In November?"
81 entertain doubt of the defeat of the forcib
reaajusters and the election OF u large majority in
the Assembly Ill favor of the settlement. The bill
passed after exhaustive discussion, during which
many who were at first hostile to it's sup
| port. 1t passed the Assembly by vote of nearly
two to one and 1t has not lost friend since but has
What is your estimate Of AZ strength Of ths
at woul. % tb1 aeirst 81 ssaiaiion 90 estimate
the strength X enc forriOies. mails dozen uevs-
papers and half dozen pGlAe spsakers eomFrisa
ing OF fn2u has niuch moro 70 DO with AIS
strength than suy - iiisal ooayictions."
No rF1s' 'NCNr pisRJrLroN
"Do you rsgNlu a pr sent splM a. perm nansnf
disruption OF tie 5nscr atisc partyi -
There Is n'f tna sifh.ess chance o. pernt nc--
disruption OF tAr conservative party 7n .Ais issue.
For personal tds lssnes NN' b. invented wherethcy
Us ours. but any danger will consolidate Wehave
no factions.
| able extent by the republicans negroesg"
ssThe 'readjustcrs will seek strength everywhere
from the negroes. whose political standard OF duty
| IL defeat of conservative nominee in most cases.
But our coored people have little interest and no
| enthusiasm in the matter.
..What do you consider tho attitude of the republic
| can party in the State on the debt question:
..The brains the republican party is unitedly on
the side OF paying the debt, Ihe repuoiican !. party
q misnomer to speak of q republican party in Vir-
gina. .,, .,v .tror,,, fro,, tbs ,e,uh
"We will receive moral support from the repub-
lcans and the only republican paper III the State Is
| outspoken in its defence of the settlement
| "pid the conservative party in Virginia ever re-
| ceve any material support from the negroesr
..The conservative party never received any sup
mort from the colored voters. Individual candidates
sometimes were helped. but always far less than
they expected. :. - -
"In a national contest. how will the conservatives:
the forcibe readjusters and the republicans voter
.The forcib readjusters will unite heartily with
ms in national politics as against the republicans
Ths is a purely State issue. Ii 1t has any relation
10 A national question the republicans are as pro-
nounced against the readjustcrs as democrats could
be; but in truth it touches national politics at no
| noint When the Presidential contest comes that
danpor will arise which always consoidates us. The
rcadjusters would resent as pointedly AZ the debt
payers any imputaton OF leaning toward repuDli-
l'canism.
| THE poRc1BLE READJusTERs
IL is understood that the plan of the forcibe read
usters is to refund the entire debt West Vrginas
| portion exceptedl in three per cent bonds. running
nty or sixty years. until the state is in condition
| 10 pay the principal. Nobody knows with certainty
| what their plans are They claim that they belong
to the conservative party and deny the right of their
| opponents to read them out OF it. In some
! places they are making their fight within
| the party; in Others outside OF Il. as the
| chances of success seem best They repudiate
ms .trongly the dobt-payers any coalition with the
republ cans but do not deny that they will ondcavor
to obtain many coored votes for their candidates