The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-10-05

or che new Movessent Of 1860.
10 hs Editors az tke gtspatchs
Az the political history Of the perio1 be-
tween 1851 and 1870 Is under consideration,
[ beg that you publish the enclosed as q
part OF lis history:
In September, 1857, I called on DIR. Gra-
ham. al Rockbridge, at the house OF bis
son-iu.lsw I'm Richmond, aud proposed that
we should interview the editors OF the
three leading political papers In Richmond,
and II possible induce them TO recommend
to the people OF Virginia 10 request Con-
grcss 10 repeal the Sheilabarger bill Sub
stausiassy the fifteenth smendment). upon
pledge shat we would adopt the fourteenth
amendment. We believed that such move
ment, commenced by the three leading pa
pers, would result In speedy readmission
OF the State into the Union. IL was agreed
by the Doctor and myself that l would see
the editors OF the Wig aud Dispatch, ana
the Doctor the editor OF the Enquirer NY
task was an easy one; but the Doctor, after
two interviews, failed, aud nothing could
be done. When the December QS6I) Con-
yention met, over which Mr.. A. ii. Ii. STU
art presided, sgain. with few friends
labored with many OF the members 10 In
duce that Convention 10 make such pledge
10 Congress, and that failed. The leading
men disapproved OF the measure, and the
proposition was not made to that Conven.
ton, although ii had many friends. Next
came the Underwood Convention (then al
ready In SESSION. that made the present
constitution; then the dismissal OF Cover
nor Peirpont as Governor OF Virginia; and
then the reign Of Underwood, Hunnicutt,
Wells e. Co., with five hundred and ffty'six
officers appointed under the test oath, which
deprived most Of the people OF Virginia
from holding Office, making room for dis
honest men from the four quarters OF the
earth to come to Virginia 10 collect our
revenues, and in majority OF cases kept
a large share OF Is. Then came the Repub-
lican Convention held in Petersburg TO
nominate q Governor under the Underwood
Constitution. | attended that Convention
as q spectator. Believing, as did, that none
OF the men spoken Of as candidate were
worthy OF the position, l did what could
TO split the party. The split came, and
many OF my friends came 10 Richmond
that night. Some OF them were my
guests. 1 prepared a short preamble
and submitted it to my Liberal Repub-
llcan friends and to my personal friend,
+. G. Rutiip, who was kind enough
Il
10 the Richmond Wig, Dispatch, and En-
Quirer. ! gave them a history OF what had
been doi0g, the necessity OF The new move
ment, and requested their cooperation.
Eich OF the editors approved of the move,
and the Wing and Dispatch catered boldly
in the support OF the Liberal Republican
movement, and 50 did the Enquirer as soon
as It could do so consistently. No impor-
In hu ha II n
Iicans without The concurrence OF the three
editors. l caEvassed the city Of Richmond,
got the signatures OF the liberal men OF both
parties to the number of three hundred in
two half days, and the ball was put in mo-
tion that finally eliminated in the rcadmis-
sion OF the State in the Union. Now. Mr.
Editor, all ! claim is that | originated and
laid down the plan OF operation. and that /
did not relax my effort until the State OF
Virginia was admitted as one OF the States
of the Union. After the ball was put in
motion it was managed by some OF the
abest men in Virginia, and no man did
more than General Malone, nor could
the movement have been put in motion
without the earnest and able efforts OF the
three newspapers OF Redmond. There
were some OF the Committee Of Nine that
lican fliends went TO Washington we found
that Congress bad laid the reconstruction OF
Virginia on the table, and had determined
to let it lie over until the next Congress, in
spite OF the efforts Of the Committee OF
Nine. Now let me say that Mr.. Bacon
Crenshaw did good work. Without his &C.
tive aid 1t would not have been a success;
but may say in truth that the move could
not have been success except for the fact
that it was made for our country, and for
nothing but our country. The only mis-
take that was made was in the personnel OF
our nominee for Governor. That was not
our fault, but misfortune. We thought him
a patriot. One good was at least accom-
plished: it drove out Of our State every
carpet-bag thief that had come here to steal,
and to plumber us. Not Que OF them re-
mains, believe. FRANKLIS STgARNs.