Year: 1869

The newly-elected Governor Of Virginia,
Gilbert c. Walker, who arrived in this city
on Tuesday, and leaves to-dayfor Bingham
ton, n. Y, his native place, where he in
tends to-spSld eight or ten days, told our
reporter, who visited him yesterday at the
st. Nicholas Hotel, that there was hardly a
word OF truth in the report Of an interview
with him published in the Herald yesterday.
He said that the editorials in the Times ex-
pressed very correctly and fully bis views Of
the issues in the late canvass in Virginia and
of the results of the election. He was sorry
that some ofthe Republican Journals had ex-
pressed different views. he regarded bis trl-
umph in Virginia as the triumph of the Ma
tional Administration, and wastuly with Ge-
neral Grant, and in accord with his Admlpls-
tration in regard to every question Of public
policy upon which action thus far had been
taken. General Grant was regarded in Nlr-
ginia by the men who had carried the late
election with reverence and affection as the
man who had made it possible for them to
triumph. A new departure had been taken
In political affairs in this election in Virginia
If General Grant recognized it, as he be-
ieved he would, and placed himself Squarely
with the people of Virginia i'll this move
ment, there would be no bounds to his
popularity among them. Any man who
took advantage of the tide of this new
departure would be carried to the
highest honors. Governor Walker said
that he had not sought the position
to which he had been elected, and
engaged in the banking business in Norfolk
when called upon to act us the standard
bearer of his party. In the late contest the
people of Virginia had thrown off their apa-
thy and come forward almost en- masse to
cast their votes at the election. Those who
had not voted ut al had forfeited the respect
OF everybody, and even those who had come
IN ut the eleventh hour would meet 4 differ.
ent fate from that Of the eleventh-hour peni-
tents in the Scripture-they would not be
forgiven. The real issue at the election was
with regard to disiranchisement and the
teSt-oath. Universal suffrage and the pro-
priety Of ratitying the Constitutional
Amendment were conceded by both parties.
Those white men from the North who
had gone down to Virginia to serve their
own ends had, in order to compass them,
worked upon the feelings Of the ignorant
negroes and instructed them according to
their own views. Many Of the negroes
had voted for him, and two had been elected
to Office by his constituents. The white men
of Virginia had naturally objected at first to
Icing ruled by the class which they had re-
garded rs servile. but they were willing to
give them the right to vote so that they had
the right themselves. They had no bitter
feeling against the negroes, and would not
refuse to employ them because of their ac-
ton in the recent election, but would en-
deavor to show them that the calumnles
that had been uttered against them were
false. The colored men who declared that
they would vote for him had been threat
ened with violence by the Wells party.
Many, however, did vote for him. A
negro club was formed in Norfolk,
where he dwelt, but was threatened with
violence, aud its members were COM
PEELED to carry arms to protect themselves
when they paradcd. After the election was
over, when he went to Richmond, Governor
Walker said he was received with remarka-
bic enthusiasm. lie did not regard this as
personal expression Of feeling toward him,
but thought that, as their standard-bearer
in the late campaign, his coming gave them
the occasion for rejoicing that they had been
elevated by being enfranchised. When he
was first nominated there had been some
objection to him because he was Il northern
man, but this gradually passed away, and
he was warmly supported in the. latter part
of the canvass bv those who at first opposed
him. Virginia, he says, will be one of the
most loyal States in the Union under the
new order OF things.


The Governor, who is remarkably fine
looking man, and speaks with ability and
ease, appears to be enjoying excellent
health. He comes north, he says, for the
purpose OF resting, after the fatigues of the
canvass. At the end of eight or ten days
he will return to this city and remain here
few days, and then he will return to Nir-
ginia. He spent the day quietly at the st.
Nicholas yesterday, receiving q few friends.
Ne,r York Times, 18th.