Year: 1874

RICHMOND, Va. Sept 8, 1874.


A considerable portion OF the press Of the state
having began the discussion OF the HERALDs prop
osition to call national convention for the con-
sdera ton OF the condition OF the Southern States,
that subject has become theme OF intense public
interest. Among the thinking and thorough con-
servatives of the Old Dominion the scheme obtains
general favor. Others, OF the Bourbon type, are
lukewarm and pretend to regard tho idea that
any good to the South can result from 1t as
preposterous; but all are gratiled that the dis.
cusson OF the wrongs OF the South has been
SO ably commenced IN journal OF such
great popularity and such wide circulation as the
new YoRK HERALD. Prominent among the latter
class are several Of the Old Southern Leaders, who,
though cautious In the expression OF their opin-
ions on the subject are yet inclined to acouiesce
in the proposed plan for the adjustment Of the
Southern grievances, and to give It quasi sup
port After Governor Wise. whose views for
warded yesterday, the next great representative
Vrglnian at present In Richmond upon whom
called was Mr.. r. NJ. T. Hunter. whose name
is familiar to everybody at all conversant with the
political history OF the country Tor the past three
decades. MI. Hunter was Congressman from
this State for number Of terms prior to the war.
For sixteen years he was chairman OF the Finance





Senator from Virginia in the Confederate
Congress- and for a while filled the po.
sition OF Secretary OF State in the late
Confederate government. At the last session
of the General Assembly OF Virginia he
was candidate for the successorsbip to Sen.
ator J. F. Lewis In the United States senate, but
was defeated by Lieutenant Governor Withers
who had local claims upon the party which at the
time outweighed the great influence Hunter
wields in the Old Dominion. Later during the
session, vacancy occurring In the office Of the
State Treasurer, by the insanity OF the former In
Cumbent Mr.. Hunter was rendered the position,
and having signlfed his acceptance OF 1t he was
unanimously elected, and he now prestdes over
the financial department OF this debt ridden State.
Mr.. Hunter, though about sixty, is still hale,
hearty and vigorous man. with the norid COM
plexion and appearance OF a healthy granger OF
forty. found him IN the Treasurer's Of1lce en-.
gagged in the discharge OF his official duties, and
having signided to him the nature Of my mission,
he expressed his willingness to be interviewed
and asked me to be seated. He had read the
HERALD article Of the Attn inst, and asked


"What are your opinions in relation to the sub
jects treated OF III that edltOrlalW


MIR. HUNTERlIt would require more time and
consideration than could give the subjects at this
time to do them luii justice, II, indeed, could rem
der 1t at all. was much struck by the wisdom,
and, what Is much better. II possible, In such
cases, the good spirit which 1t manifested towards
a people who have not been treated either with
justice good policy heretofore. / believe that If
the government had been guided by such views in
its conduct towards the South heretofore and
since the war, 1t would have been better Tor all
parties concerned, whether those parties are con-


SECTIONS OR RACES.


CoRREsPONDENT-In what respect do you con-
slaer the recent policy OF the government towards
the South deectiveY


placed In the hands OF the worst ana most incapa-
Bile elements OF society, as was done In The South
roo and nNh anfinn
the ground OF punishment OF those who were most
capable OF meeting the difnculles Of the case and
when those persons whom 1t was most Important
to cOnciliate were so treated as to be convinced
that there was q purpose to


DEMoRAL1ZE FOR THE DESIGN OF DEGRADING
them what could be expected but rum social,
political and personal. There Is no safe f0unda-
liOn Tor free government and self-government but
the selErespect OF people. To destroy this proud
and conservative feeling In the breasts Of pe0-
pie, OF purpose and by desgn, IS an act for which
It's authors Will be held accountable not only here
but hereafter. The rull measure of responsibility
is to be reckoned not only in this world, but in the
next, where such things can be more fairly esti-
mated and more justly appreciated.


CORREsPoNpENT-Do you think the South has
been dealt with more severely than any other con-
Quered rebelllOus provinces


MIR. HUNTER-I would say that history records no
such instance previous to our case, except the
treatment OF the


HELors BY THE sPARrANs;


but refrain lest 1t should be deemed extrava-
CANT BY the many who believe that would be i'm
possible but pass from the consideration of our
selves and our own troubles.





people OF the North have suffered, as well those
OF lhe south, from the effects OF reconstruction?


mr. hTsIEsmtae m picture OF ruined ruined people
the gardens once OF cultivation and civilization. II
confined only TO the South might not excite inter-
est enough to awaken attention. The resumption
OF empire by the jungle and the wilderness implies
such waste OF the elements OF refinement and
civilization as must be felt to be realized In the
South we know what it is; may 1t be long before
the North


SUFFERS FROM THE SAME CAUSES


i
HERALD seems to realize the fact that the North Is
already beginning 10 suffer something from the
same causes and in this article 1t wisely the
people against the reflected misery which is some
times occasioned by gross mistakes and reckless
C0RREsPONDENT-In what way do you consider
the North suffers from the enects OF the mistaken
policy Of the government towards the SoutAf
panic Occurred in New YORK, Which Ha It was a then
said would not last long. 1t was occasioned, II
prudent Indulgence to railroads, certain degree
OF confidence IN the banks. Confidence would
Almost year has elapsed. and confidence has not
yet revived under the spirit Of enterprise or with
Seen desreyed in the war much Of Wasted
since in partial and impr0vident legislation.
The south once SO potent an agent In the pro-
ductOn OF wealth and the restoration OF credit,
had been stricken down, and was now


COMPARATIVELY POwERLFs5.


any, better In this section. Il may have as many
arms as Brareus, but turn where 1t may, or
to It's side by the action of the government, 1t
can DO nothing to aid ITSELF or Others until 1t Is
relieved from this course OF policy. The people Of
the North seem to have rendered this necessity
and the HERALD is not AFRAID to express It's opin-
ions in regard 10 II. 81 sac Onl7ieS Had this
been the case heretofore we should not have been
IN our present condition, to which we have been
brought by un wise and passionate legislation.


CoRREsPoNDENT-What, In your opinion, might
have been done to restore the prosperity OF the
country Immediately after the war;


Mr.. HvNTER-Wnen our slaves were enamel.
pated, without compensation, and our system OF
LABOR so changed, II not demoralized, as to be al
most comparatively worthless, no step was taken
to restore the capital or TO revive the credit with
out which II could not work. small compensa-
tion, even by way Of l0an-n0t more than


PRESIDENT LINCOLN HIMSELF SUGGESTED,
would have gone far to revive the credit and
stimulate the energies OF section which for so
long had furnished


THE BULK OF THE FOREIGN EXPORTS