The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-06-16

COlleel0f-A Heml1Aheelee VI AA4 AA'
mInisIraiion ~ RiehmOud.
BEVERLY, W. Va, June II.
ElIlon IntSliigeaesF,
The appointment Of Hon. Francis Il.
Pelrpoint to be Collector Of Revenue ior
the Second Congressional District Of this
State, in place Of General Brown, recalls q
very interesting conversation your cor
respondent had with Hon. Samuel Woods,
OF Philippi, while he was attending court
here, which illustrates the character and
goodness Of heart Of Governor Peirpoint
toward Contsderates while he was GOV.
eruor, as we'll as his Armness and deter
mination to do right in the face Of the
fierce yictors OF the old regime who thought
1t contamination to touch q rebels hand.
Mr.. PeirpoiRt was then Governor Of the
Restored Government Of Virginia, and
was securely ~ensconcsd in the executive
msnsion at Richmond. Mr.. Woods had
been his lifelong friend and class'mate ct
college, but in the conflict between the
States had, as 10 we'll known, united bis
fortunes with the Confederacy. Alter the
war had ended, and peace was being re
stored, with many mlsgiVings aS 70 his
reception, Mr.. Woods went to
Richmond and called upon His
Excellercy ut the executive man
sion. Hs was anxious TO advise with
him concerning the sentiment oithepe0ple
in Western Virginia towards Conieder.
Rtes. He had heard q great deal Of their
hostility anddesired to learn from q reliable
source the exaC state OF the public pulse.
The Governor was standing In the corridor
Of the White House disposilg Of some
c~allers, and when he raw his old friend
Mr.. Woods approach he left them ab'
ruptly and crested him with open arms.
II . nature asserted itself with the Rrdor
q enthusiasm, and retiring TO his private
Office he instructed his valet that he would
ba engaged with Mr.. Woods for q long
time, and that he should admit no one till
directed. During that conference admis-
sion was denied TO many Of the most
prominent men OF Virginia, among others
10 Judge Meredith, who had called by ap.
pointment. The Governor advised Mr..
Woods not to return to West Virginia, that
during the wGF the country bad been de-
spoiled, and the rag.tag had got on top.
Hs then inquired particularly OF Mr..
Woods whStthepeopleot Virginia thought
Of him. lie said he had been beseiged by
d%vlegstionSot people protesting friendship
for him, and confidence In the integrity and
humanity Of his administration, but that
they we're nearly all strangers 10 him aud
parcel Of ViTginia'B aEistOCrRcy, that the
Iabofs, struggles and hardships oil his life
we're not In common with their Teiued
and easy elegance, and their professions
rave him no security. Mr.. Woods told
him plainly In response, that he had be.
come acquainted over . large part OF Vir-
glnia, aud especially In the valley from
Winchester TO Lexington, and that the
people generally considered him to be y
COARSE and illilerate politician; but that
on all occasions he had taken pains to To-
form them that, on the contrary, he was o
regular graduate Of Allegheny College, al
member Of the church and q man OF the
striCtest moral, social and professional in.
tegrity; that bis political views were the
results OF convictions OF long years ago,
before such views became popular or re-
munerativc. This information pleased
the Governor very much, and he said he
was the same kind oil q man still, and that
the people OF Virginia would never be
settled till the negroes were admitted to
all the rights OF citizenship, which, he said,
was one Of the fixed purposes OF the Re-.
publican party and that as Boon 90 the
new Legislature met, which would be on
the next day, he intended to recommend
the passage OF O bill removing from the
laws Of Virginia all the restrictions upon
the right OF suffrage. The Teorganized
I egtslssure, composed Of thirteen mem
bers, nearly all Of them from West Viz.
giniS, aud q motley and curious looking
crew indeed, 10 the war.used inhabitants
OF that strange and famous capital, met
the next day and passed such q bill i'm.
medlately. 'That night, says Mr.. Wood,
'the Governor and l talked until nearly
morning ID the privacy Of his household.
| told him II be had the courage TO follow
the convictions Of his heart and the die.
tates Of his conscience he would become
the most popular Republican In the State.
He replied that he intended 10 do H., or
else, said he, III resign my office He
had, up TO that time, surrounded himself
with the best elements In the State
among them Gen. Kemper. who was his
ardent supporter-but when he appointed
a few negroes as notary publics about
Richmond 1t iusulted the %aristocratic dig.
nifty OF Virginia's noblemen, and by that
foul act he fell"
"And from The meridian Of his glory
H. hASted 10 biz, setting
His devotion to his duty lost him bis
%atation, and his claims to political prefer.
nent vanished. Since then he has had no
share In the emoiuments Of his party. And
II remained Tor the just and Obseryant eye.
oil President Garfield to reward . couscien.
tiOus man and q ~magnAnimons friend 10 q