The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-08-14
VIRGINIA POLITICS.

''sPLIT' IN THE CONSERVATIVE RANKS sTILI
WIDENING.
RICHMOND. August ~. 1879.
Virginia is having stirring political campaign Of
her own There national issues mixed up in
it,. The word 'silver' is never used by the can.
vassers. military interference with elections" and
Hayes policy" not heard of. What Congress-
did and failed do the late session forgotten,
It family quarrel grand scale. and virginians
are telling Virgnans what they think OF each other.
Often the language sis quite plain" Occasionally,
as ut Abingdon the other day. blows and pistol shots
are exchanged with other mpiments of the season.
sHIRKING ANrE-BEi.LUM OBLIGATIONS.
The trouble grows out of the debt settlement. In
1871 virgnia's debt amounted to S45,O0o,000. This
State assumed s300Oo.0O0 of it, and left the other
third for West Virginia to handle. West Virginia
does not recognize the obligation. So that third id
practically repudated by the Old Dominion and
West Virginia both. For the part which this state
assumed she issued new bonds bearing six per cent
interest the coupons receivable for taxes With de-
clining values bad crops, floods and other disasters
the people have not been able to meet the coupons
at maturity and run the government and public
schools. In consequence the coupons (two-thrds OF
the present debt is in coupon bonds have been paid
in for taxes and the schools have been put short
rations.' The officers OF government have suffered
some. but not much the schools. At the same
either registered have coupons receivable for
taxes. have been getting no interest at ALL
1t being the unanimous conclusion of the people
that enough additional taxation pay six per cent
on the $50, 100000 principal could be borne the
General Assembly. after much discussion. entered,
at the last session. into a contract with New York
and London syndicates refund the entire debt into
non-taxable bonds bearing interest for years
three per cent. twenty years four and ten five
per cent-coupons receivable for taxes Having in
1871 assigned onethird Of the principal to West
gna this contract substantially released the State
from one-third OF the interest. That the money is
honestly due there can be no question. 1t bor-
rowed before the war and spent upon railroads. canals
and turnpikes.
THE LEADER OF THE ANTS
For numerous reasons given this debt settlement
is opposed by some OF the people Their leader ID
his political opponents say many things not hand.
some. On the other hand in Virginia has
closer friends or warmer admirers He is man
risen from the people. He educated
gneer: built the straight road from Norfolk to
Petersburg and was gallant officer i'll the Con-
federate army. 1t was his troops which rushed
upon the hesatng federals at the crater and fall
ing upon them like an avalanche. turned the tide Of
victory toward the Confederates. After the he
secured the consolidation OF all the railroads from
Norfolk to Bristol, and elected president OF thu
consolidated company at $4,000 per annum. This
place be retained. exertng all the time great in-
huence political affairs until the road went into
the hands OF receiver Then he was candidate for
Governor on platform proposing ''readjustment'
of the State debt. Hismost formidable opponent
John w. Daniel the finest orator and of the most
accomplished lawyers in Virginia, General Mahones
after ascertainng that he could not be nominated.
threw his influence into the scale tor Colonel f. w.
NJ. Holiday. and he was triumphautly nominated
over Daniel and elected. And, by the way. it was
chiefly through Governor Holidays efforts that the
contract with the syndicate was made.
General Malone scarcely weighs hundred
pounds. He is OF medium height and very thin and
bony. He wears hat cooked on one side. like q
Confederate cavalry man, while his pau.s made
to puff out about the waist. If lie had bathing
suit. His voice is sharp and not pleasant to ears
ktnp nalutr
but he is man OF decided ability. He is fine
ganizer; he has an enthusiastic following; he IL
carrying on well arranged campaign against the
debt settlement; his party or "associatou' insist
upon REIMBURSEMENT of the debt upon terms yet
more favorable to the State They solemnly affirm
that without increased taxation they cannot carry
out our new contract any better than did that Of
1871
NEW UNITED STATES SENATOR.
In November Virgin mia elects members OF the Gen.
eral Assembly That General Assembly will elect
United States Senator IN place Of Mr.. Withers. II
Malone and the "readjusters' majority
of members then the General will be tho United
States Senator. That is clear II not-not.
Mr. withers announces that he will take the stump
for the debt settlement. Major Daniel. Ex-Governor
Kemper and John Randolph Tucker will do likewise.
MIR. Withers is by means certain OF reelection
should his side win. 1t seems to me they
to do. He never was the choice of the people for
Senator His earnestness and zeal are conceded but
the OF Virgniaus desire "a shining light in the
senate They would be better satisfied with Daniel
kemper or Tucker. all OF whom are orators. Kempel
could have been the Senator when Withers got in,
but having just been elected Governor he proudly
world" Wthers then Lieutenant Governor,
and had Kemper yielded withers would have been
Governor. But Kemper made it otherwise.
The Conservative State Committee, by vote OF
IL to q have passed resolutions claiming the debt
settlement tMcCulloch BILLY as a conservative meas
ure. They are organizing the party wherever pos
sible against the readjusters. There will soon be
''fring all along the line"
The readjusters. however, while respectfully dc.
Ginning to be read out of the conservative party
have their State Committee. county canvasserss
nominating conventions, &C., and are putting IN
their best Clicks" wherever they have the oppor.
tunty. In fact. they have been more active than
WHERE THE REPUBLICANS STAND
And where is the republican partyY The bulk OF
is cooperating with the readjusters; but the most
intelligent of its leaders favor the debt settlement
They WILL however, as individual members vote az
they please In Eastern Virginia, where they do most
abound, the readjusters can, general things
count on their support There having been ex'
citing local contests in May last the negroes are
better OF than usual having had their poll taxes
paid. in many instances by conservative candidates
Malone may divide it to some extent. but tired OF
the long agitation and influenced by party fcaty.
the masses of the whites. it me. will sup.
port the regular conservative nominees.
THE CONSERVATIVE APPEAL.
The Conservative State Committee in address
Just put forth says of the readjusters:-
This faction have steadily prosecuted their political and
peso,ns dsSns until now without disguise they are
Virginia. are calling conventions 20 put their candidates
aud oe elected under their machinery Thera
dongsthat this faction is seeking rule ruin
party IL they in thor plans the dis
ruption aud downfall OF our party are Inevitable
They promise to help Virginia by inviting her to try tho
desperate cxpcdicut repudatng solemn contracts
contempt for the decisions and they
boldly that they intend in the last extremity 10
overthrow the existing State government, conceal
Ing from the people that nftor all sucn
revolutionary proceedings virginia will stand con.
ssss an by it. the line They
fail tell the people such desperate policy viii
entail Virginia fresh and affecting losses In the value
Of all property tho prosecution OF all ana destroy
all hope revival her material welfare IL Is Ger.
that will bring his capital thrift or skill
into Virginia when she proclams herself bankrupt In
means aud character. -.
Happily and for Virginia. we make out
appeal for safety from these evils 10 people low
ing honor, cherishing the right proud OF theu
word and their traditions and anxious Tor peace
Tho pnth OF duty is clear Maintain everywhere
your organization Its mission is not ended fil vacan
cies established forms Select good and
true men candidates and put them IN the Held stand
by Your pledges 1871 Force those
surugcs disclose have the right to do their
lations this faction which asslils your party Make
Nnn DOM. whit