Year: 1873




pagn In this State is unusually tame, for beyond
the mention OF meetings, held In various places in
the newspapers there is little said about 1t. The
financial crisis absOrbs AL interest and IL the main
topic OF conversation In all quarters, to the excu
sion of everything else. With the opening OF Oc-
tober, however, the political canvass promises to
assume more lively aspect and the stump will
resound with the trumpet tones OF many orators
in the most approved spread eagle style.
But that the campaign has been well ana
actively started it cannot be denied, the two guber
material aspirants being now and for some time
past on the stump In the southwestern portion Of
the State which, besides the Valley and the Pied
mont region, is the main ground Of the contest.
The HERALD correspondent has recently visited all
of these sections, and, vi wing the situation from
an impartial standpoint 1t seems clear that the
conservatives are destined to carry the day. 1t
should be remembered in the outset that the result
in November next between Kemper, the conserva-
tive candidate for Governor, and Hughes, the re-
publican candidate ior the same place, will be the


FIRST AND ONLY REAL TEST


OF the strength OF parties in Virginia since the
In 1853, when Walker was elected. large percent
age OF the conservatives were prohibited from vot-
ing by the reconstruction acts OF Congress, and in
the subsequent Congressional and other elections
there was no real issue to test the strength OF





between the democrats and republicans, without
any efforts at caJoery on the part OF the republi-
cans or Greeley concihation on the part OF the
democrats. l do not write now to cucumber the
columns OF the HERALD because OF any great
activity or excitement in the canvass or because
OF any new exigency In political affairs that would
justify me, but merely to state the case fairly and
correct grave misapprehensions that now exist at
the North with regard to the issues in the cam
pagn. 1t is only proper that the people the whole
country should know the exact attitude of parties
certain republican journals alleging that tho
conservatives have made It white ana black
mans fight. This the democratic organs deny;
but to arrive at a correct understanding OF the
subject it will be necessary to review briefly the
main occurrences on the political stage since the
overthrow Of the secession movement Imme-
dately after the close OF the the people OF vr-
gnia, through their accredited representatives,
lost no time in endeavOring to ascertain from the
authorities at Washington the conditions upon
which they could be restored to their old relations
In the Union. They we're told that before the
Southern States could be received back into the IA
mily fold they must OF their own accord forever
abolish slavery within their borders, declare the
ordinance OF secession null and void, repudiate
their war debt and proceed to elect members to
the National Congress who could stand the test Of





three requirements had already been complied
with by the Pierpoint government and embodied
In the Alexandria constitution, as 1t was then
called and that instrument was promptly and
cheerfully accepted by the people OF the whole
state as their organic law. 1t remained only to
fulfil the last condition, which was done by the
selection OF original Union men unobjectionable on
the score OF previous opinion conduct during the
war. This was the


FIRST PRACTICAL STEP TOWARDS RECONSTRUCTION
suggested by Mr.. Seward, and known to be in ex.
act accordance with Mr.. Lincoln's views, and 1t
was emnently proper that 1t should come from the
recusant States The result ls well known to the
readers Of the HERALD who are familiar with the
political history OF the country since the close Of
the war. This plan OF reconstruction did not suit
the views Of the extreme men OF the republican
party, whose avowed leader was MIR. Thaddeus
Stevens, OF Pennsylvania. From that factioh, the
Others concurring, the fiat went forth that the
Southern states were to be regarded in the light Of
subjugated provinces, amenable to the most rig.
orous laws of conquest In other words, they were
to be subject to such rules and regulations as
would e1ectually radlcaize Airicanize and recon-
struct them in the interests OF the dominant party
to enable them to maintain their ascsndancy in the
government. The first step In furtherance Of this
scheme was the establishment throughout the





solute and irresponsible as were ever exercised by
tetrarch or satrap, the acknowledgements of large
class OF influential white citizens, and the investure
OF the entire negro population with full


POLITICAL RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES


The military commanders were ordered to make
registration lists OF the qualified voters under these
restrictions, and, when completed, to hold cleo
tions for delegates to conventions for the purpose
OF framing organic laws Tor the several states thus
prescribed, subject to the approval OF republican
Congress. All the officers registrars, judges and
commissioners were required to take the iron.
clad oath. and the voting was to be done
by ballot thereby placing the entire ma
chinery (farcical as 1t was) In the hands OF
political adventurers carpetbaQgers and others OF
the same persuasion. The fruit OF such election in
this state was convention, memorable In its his
tory as the underwood Convention" composed
OF outcast NOrtherners negroes, Canadians, Nova
Scotians, Hibernians and what-nots and they set
to work and framed constitution, which perpetu-
ally excluded nom all participation In the govern
ment the great body Of the native white people OF
the State. Finding that their protests against this
unrighteOus scheme for their social and political
degradation were unavailing and that there was
q liked purpose on the part Of those who con-
trolled the legislative branch OF the government