The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-11-14
"A Long Procession-D Democrats on
Horseback Dsmoetats ON Foot, p
Democrats Everywhere.
CHlNPIOy CROWD CERTAINLY.
A More General Outpouring OF the
People Than Was aver Be-
fore Seen Here.
SPARKLING SPEECHES
Mndc on the Cid eity-Hail Lot by
Harbour, siiI;s. Staples, Hope. Cab
eli. GIennan, Daniel. Gooirick,
scott. fudgin. GreeE.
Reirnc. R0Sscr. Evans,
and WeisIger.

After four years under sword and bayo-
net the Conservative people Of Virginia at
the polls in 1869 accepted the Constitution
(which is substantially that under which
we now lve). elected Gilbert c. Walker
Governor, and secured both branches OF
the General Assembly, and proceeded to
put the civil government into operation to
superseGe the military government.
For ten year, we held the state. During
that time there was general peace and good
order within our bounds; but our debt
had never been satisfactorily adjusted.
The ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF the State raised
perplexing questions; the measures passed
by the General Assembly did not meet
public approval, and IN consequence new
party arose. Many Democrats joined it.
In 1879 the ReSdiUsters elected both
houses Of the General Assembly, and took
possession Of nearly every Office within
reach: but its debt bill was vetoed by Gov
crnor Holiday. At the election in
1SSl il got the Governor and the two
houses. too. The debt was readiusted, and
appeals TO the courts Of last resort have
not shaken the settlement
SEED OF DIsCORD.
In the partition OF patronage the domi.
nant party sOwcd the seeds Of dissolution.
The caucus undertaking to dictate to Audi
tor John Il. Massey how he should appoint
his subordinatcs, met with check.
lie refused 10 allow them TO control
his official course. Senators NewbcrIy.
Hale. Williams. and LybrOok, who had
been elected az Readiusters, and Mr..
Winglield, Of Hanover, who had been
elected as an Independent kepublic N, sus-
tained MIR. Massey. Then the celebrated
"dead-l0ck occurred. All legislation
was StOpQcd: the senate would not fix any
dav for election OF Auditor. The dead.
lock at last was broken for a time (nd Nj.
Massey oustcd from the authorship, but
only 20 he resumed, and more securely
than ever. when the caucus General Nh
hone) came forward with a bill to reippor-
ton the congressional districts so as to give
eight out of ten members TO the Rcpubli-
cans; q bill 10 oust the circuit judges
a bill 10 make a iard sales com
missioner for each city and county. dc.
ssThe Big -Four senators and Mr.. Wing
field, Of Hanover, together constituting
the " Famous Five" cooperated with the
entreaties, nor promises OF reward could
budge any one Of the five. Partisan leCiS-
lation was stopped Al such bills passed
by the House were rejected 10y the Senate.
The regular legislative session came to an
end, and the patriot senators were still
firm. Governor Cameron called the two
houses in extra session; that opportunity
for reconsideration failed also, and the
A tl,l lfnt n1- ftr.f t1N
OF hope beamng for Democrats. Next
came the congressional canvass, when Mr..
Massey was supported by the Democrat,
for member at large. He everywhere
appealed to Democratic Readiusters to re.
turn to their party, and though the certif
cate OF election was not awarded him by
the State Board, the canvass showed Demo
cratic gains of G,000, and aroused the hope
that has been realized.
THIS CANVASS.
July %. 1883. the Democratic Convention
assembled at Lynchburc, adopted plat
form frankly acquicscing in the debt set
tlemcnt, and chose Mr.. John ;. Barbour a
chairman OF the state Committee.
Then came the canvass.
The Democrats organized as they haC
never before. Under Mr.. Barbour's sys
ltiIitt ulttAiNli, NtriiiNif Niss N'hAits
and precinct committees and clubs spran;
into vigorous life.
In 1863 Richmond was carried for Gil
bert G. Walker by 1G. The spring follow
10 inc we had bitter municipal contest ant
war on the streets. But the Democrat
never lei their hold 20, and ut nearly ever.
election thereafter made gains. When III
city government became fixed in the hand
oh
in. and we won our victories more easily
Our maiorities were often so large that tn
enemy boldly and perSistently cbarget
"ballOt-bOx stufiiug" upon us, and som
OF our country friends even began to be
lieye the charges. Last Tuesdays w0rl
throttles that idca-iOr, notwithstandin!
two out Of each three judges at votin:
precinct were against us; in spite Of th
fact that we hardly dared TO challenge
black voter for fear that it would raise
controversy and retard voting; in spite o
the fact that the blacks voted better tha
ever, our ticket was carried by a maiorit,
(2,GlD greater than was ever given an
ticket here before
Thousands who had for long years bee
uninterested in politics were enlisted. 5
many speaker, writers, cOmmitteemer
and other workers here as elsewhere II
the State did well that the honors Q
the victory are shared not hy few, but b
thousands and thousands. IL was the pee
pies triumph. IL was also decisiy
triumph. We have each house by nearl
two-thrids' majority; we have brought III
State back 10 her Democratic mo0rings
we have escaped many terrors.
OUR REJOICING.
II was for this victory that Richmond n
ioieed last night; for this the houses wei
illuminated this that the bonilres blazed
this that the caEnons thundercd TIL
that the long lines paraded the streets
this that the torches bIazed, the rocket
coursed the skies, and varied lights turne
the darkness into sunset colors; for th
the people laughed and shouted, an
in their hearts felt grateful 10 the Prov
dence that had prospered their efforts an
&. retinlted their party.
Great Is CIR victory; great our gladness
ai.c &c .s...,...,l:.sc.l ~. 5.eat Was u
largest and best OF the kind ever seen her