Year: 1869

THE CANVASS IN VIRGINIA.


Position Of the observation-disclosures with


Grant-Dissatisfaction with His Course


Loss Of Popularity Among the vir&inians--


Who will be Chosen Governor ?-Nexr0es


Coming to Congress from Several Districts.


WASHINGTON, May 20, 1859.


The political situation in Virginia is becoming
very interesting and the canvass is being actively
prosecuted. The points OF struggle are the consti-
tuition, the State ticket for Governor and other
Offices, the Legislature, and lastly, members OF Con-
gress. In respect to the first there was general
expectation by the people that General Grant would
avail himself Of the authority conferred by the law
OF Congress TO give them separate vote on the
county organization system. This expectation was
based upon General Grants emphatic declaration
last winter to the committee OF nine that this system
was the worst feature OF the constitution, he pro-
ceeding to give his reasons for this opinion. The
late conservative Convention at Richmond, regard
ing the President as committed to this position,
withdrew their party candidates and were generally
disposed to regard the President as liberal and
friendly. They appointed committee 10 wait upon
him In reference to the submission OF the consti-
tuition, but 1t was some time before they reached
Washington.


The first interview with him In behalf OF this
organization that Of MI. L. q. Washington, who
stated by request the points on which a separate
oath was desired. in addition to the disfranchise-
ment ana test oath clause. These were the county
organization system aud the clause denying the
Legislature any power TO pass stay law. In re-
spec the last the President expressed opinion
but in regard to the former SAID that he had been
looking over the constitution, and found that to
strike out the county system would endanger the
item Ha wa here N n
servatives did not oppose educational system by
the Legislature, and did not ask any vote on the
part OF the constitution which provided Tor IL; but
they were ayerse TO the provision which allowed
conntes and districts where negroes largely prepon-
derated to lay heavy additional taxes upon property.
The President reiterated hls general objections TO
the county system, declaring 1t to be unsuited to
Virginia however well adapted to Massachusetts.
Ono or the northern part Of Illinois. In the
great confidence Of the speedy restoration OF
Virginia to prosperity, and OF the great natural
ence to the clause denying the Legislature any
power to pass stay law, II was urged that this In
terdict was not usual; that It was proper subject
for the Legislature to act on subject TO judicial re-
view, and that the general Indebtedness OF the
farmers, consequent upon failure Of crops and the
depressed condition OF industries, made such a
Temporary measure Of relief almost indispensable.
The impoverished condition or the people was


strongly @ aa ae a he snbec VIII"


Inc next day committee arrived, headed by Mr.
John X. Edmunds, prominent Virginia statesman,





In this interview Mr.. Edmunds, being Informed OF
what had already occurred, judged It best 10 make
only one request III behalf or tue virginia people
VIZ, an opportunity for separate vote On the
county and local organization system-leaving
intact, however, each ana all the clauses which
relate 10 the school stem on which the President
had insisted. In this Interview tile President again
stated that the question was still to be determined
said that t would be settled that day reiterated his
objections to the county organization and his dim
Guilty about the school question but assigned
other reason Tor refusing chance to the people to
yntQl au "A plf
appeal Tor this vote, and having distinctly proposed
to leave In every clause which had any relation TO
Grant would give It TO them. The President told the
committee that ~ was not his business TO make
constitution for the State or Virginia; but the Vlr-
ginans say that all they ask is an opportunity ior
the people TO vote whether or not particular sys-
TEN should be part Of their constitution. They
object to this system as largely Increasing the
number OF officers, and thereby saddling them III
ther impoverished condition with an expense they
ere not able 10 bear. Also that in counties where
the negroes largely preponderate they Will iii the
magistracy and local Offices and thus hold the hives
and property Of the whites ut their mercy.


AT the Cabinet council held after this last inter
view the form OF submission of the constitution was
discussed at length, and much division Of opinion
prevailed. The final determination was however,
entirely adverse to the request OF the conservatives.
The people allowed To vote on the disfranchise
ment and test oath separately but not the county
system the stay law clause. The result is q bit
ter feeling OF disappointment The conservatives
think that General Grant has surrendered to the
ultras and they complain that he has failed TO stand
to his own position. Acting upon has frank ana ex-
plicit declarations TO Mr.. stuart and some twenty
Nirgnians last winter, that he was opposed TO this
ruinous county organization they proceeded TO COM
bat the ultras headed BY Extra Bully smith, In the
Virginia Convention, defeated them after a hard
struggle. aud finally took out Of the field the
conservative party ticket. They were trying
to act upon nne In accordance with
General Grants known views, and to get others
to do so This result puts all moderate men at a
disadvantage In their contests with the ultras and
has created very painful impression an over the
state A few days ago there were all the materials
OF q respectable Grant party In Virginia. and there
was a growing feeling for him OF confidence and re-
spect. This feeling has been almost wholly dssi.
pated and the people feel now thar they have greatly
overrated General Grants good VIII Tor them.


But this disappointment, while very acceptable 10
the Wells party ana the carpet Daggers, Will not
seriously change the tendency OF public opinion
Governor Wells having been forced by stress OF
weather TO give up the test oath and disfranchse-
ment, there will be an overwhelming vote against
those provisions. ON the existing registration the
whites have majority OF some IA 0O0 which will be
doubled by the new registration. The vote on the
constitution removing all disfranchisement for suf-
frage Will increase the white majority to 10000 and
upward. This IL death TO the carpetbagge and
negro supremacy, who at the most can only prolong
their power localities by the county organization
Mr.. Walker the rival republican candidate for
Governor to Wells, advises the acceptance Of the
constitution, with the test oath and dsfranchsement
stricken out lie thinks II better to organize secure
the State Executive and Legislature and to amend
hereafter. 1t IL believed that Walker will beat Wells
by from 30. 900 to 10000 majority. The republicans
sustaining walker claim they will be able to poll
fourth OF the negro vote.


The Legislature h great point Of struggle, "a II
will have TO choose two Senators and will have
power TO provide for amending the constitution. Tn
der tho present apportonmcnt and registration the
counties where negroes preponderatc elect twenty.
hntt M onu