National Republican., 1882-09-01
Republicanism in Virginia.


Although Virginia was the backbone of
capital was the capital also of the confed-
crate states, that portion of her popula-
tion which inhabited so much of her
territory as was within the Union lines
was represented in both branches of the
National Congress from 1861 to 1868, and
in the Senate up to the close of the war
in 1865. Not only so, but the new State
f, of West Virginia was carved out of
that territory in 1868, and has of
course been represented in Con-
gress ever since. In 1865, the
war being ended, the legal fiction of a
State of Virginia, existing outside of
West Virginia, and outside of what had
then recently been the confederate State
of Virginia, disappeared, and all the ter
ritory which had not been erected into
the new State became, as it now is, the
State of Virginia. But from the close of
the war in April, 1865, until January,
1870, Virginia was an unorganized State,
and had no representation in either
branch of Congress.
We propose now to trace the course of
political events in that State, with view
to showing what has been achieved and
by what party combinations.
In 1869 the Republican party was de-
feated by mixed party calling its ticket
"True Republican" This was n coali-
ton between Democrats like Malone
and Republicans like John F. Lewis, who
fhn lanInrS rnSnaptiyalv Of t1,n fuf r,
parties to the coalition. 1t is true that
Governor Walker disappointed many
of his supporters, but the legisla-
ture chosen at the same time rati-
fed the fifteenth amendment and
elected Lewis (Republican) and john
ston (Democrat) to the United States
Senate. The fifteenth amendment was
ratified by ex-confederates in that legis-
lature, and foremost in the work of full
filling this pledge made in the election
was General Malone At this first valid
election after reconstruction the Repub.
licans elected three members to the
Forty-first Congress, the other six being
of various shades of Conservatives" In
1870 the same result was had. In 1877
the STATE WIS CuTTlCu lOl NIdIlJ lOI L lSSl'
dent, and the Republicans elected five
members to the Forty-third Congress
In 1873 the Democracy elected Kemper
governor and Withers United States Sen
ator. In 1874 the Republicans elected
bat one out of the nine members of Con
gress. In 1876 the same.
In 1877 the Republican party in Vir
ginia wholly disappeared. The decree
had gone out that party service
was Il disqualification for Office
and Republican committeeman were
lacking in the fortitude required to place
themselves under the ban of the appoint
ing power. The election went Demo
cratic, therefore, by default. In 1875
again but one Republican out of the mint
was elected to Compress.
In 1870 the party remained in til,
same unconscious condition, and tn,
great body Of the colored people and
majority of the white Republicans en-
Enthusiastically supported Malone and Iii
followers in their revolt against the or
canized Democracy. The result WAS
Coalition legislature and the election O
General Malone TO the Senate. In lStt
tle Republicans elected two Congress
men, the Coaitionists two, and the Bour
bons five.
In March, 1881, General Mahones ad
ven. into the Senate, and his sturdy