The "Alexandria Sentinel" was removed to Richmond at the beginning of
the war. Of course, when hostilities began all the old party lines in
politics were obliterated. They were only to be found and known as the
Southern or Secession party or States Rights men. The armies of the
Confederacy were achieving success in nearly every encounter, while
the North was making tremendous efforts to fill up the depleted ranks
by enlarging the drafts. The South meanwhile was also putting forward
all her limited resources to counteract that of the North, and yet the
Southern cause was being worn out day by day by the forces of
attrition. Her ports being closed by the blockade, she was becoming
exhausted by slow degrees being decimated by disease and lack of
proper nourishment, as well as by the bullets of the enemy. So when
the strong attack by Grant was made on the lines around Petersburg,
the thin grey line gave way, was forced back by over-whelming numbers
and began its final retreat to the fatal field of Appomattox, where
General Lee sadly signed articles of peace and surrender of the
remnant of the gallant old Army of Northern Virginia.
The Southern people had fought and suffered for four long, dreary
years for what they believed was right, and there was no unprejudiced
commentator of the Constitution who did not give the South the right
to secede from the sisterhood of States when her rights by the spirit
as well as the letter of that instrument had been withheld and denied
her.
Now that the surrender had taken place a new era confronted the
people. I returned from the field of surrender and stopped at
Maynard's farm, where the "Soldiers' Home" now is. I gave my parole as
a private in the 1st Company of Richmond Howitzers. After reaching
home I walked down Main Street, and could hardly recognize my
surroundings. The great conflagration which ensued at the evacuation,
had left a mass of debris impossible to imagine or describe by an old
resident of the city. The South was now a conquered country, though
never recognized as a government de Jure, nor de facto by the
Federals, and according to the theory advanced and upheld all through
the conflict by them, we should have at once enjoyed all the rights
which belonged to the seceded States before a separation occurred. But
such was never the case, as a system of legislation was begun that was
a blot upon the civilization of the nineteenth century. I allude to
the reconstruction era in Virginia, which period has been depicted by
several writers. As the ashes from old Virginia arose Phoenix like
from humiliation and re-established her State government, thereby
enabling her to get rid of the barnacles which had nearly sapped her
political life and she struggled on through many trials and hindrances
until at last each year brought new evidences of substantial success
and prosperity. New conditions now confronted this community, as
before the war the State had borrowed large amounts of money to aid
her infant enterprizes and improvements, which by lapse of time had
accumulated in interest unpaid a considerable amount. Then there
sprung up the Readjuster party, and its opponent, the "Debt-paying" or
McCullough party. The former maintained that as the State has emerged
from the conflict of arms financially ruined and it could not be
expected to pay in full the original debt, but should be allowed to
scale it so as to enable the State to meet her obligations. The
Funders or Debt-paying party claimed that a just debt should be paid
dollar for dollar. The two parties went before the people, and
Governor Cameron was the nominee of the Readjusters and John Warwick
Daniel was the Funder candidate for the office of Governor, and the
Readjusters won and Cameron was elected Governor with the whole
legislature Readjusters. With the election of a Readjuster State
government there was a complete change in the whole administration at
Richmond. Not a single "Funder" or Debt-payer was left in office;
there took place a regular clearance of the Augean stables. There
never was a more prospective party formed. General Mahone exercised
supreme control. He had some very able lieutenants who aided him in
carrying out his drastic policy. The British bondholders employed Mr.
William L. Royall, a distinguished lawyer of this city, paying him a
large salary to look after their interests. He kept the State on a
gridiron by attempting to force a reception of coupons cut from the
bonds as payment of State taxes. These coupons were of no value as a
circulating medium, and consequently would deprive the State of all
means of carrying on the government if they were successful. The
Funding party, realizing that they had made a mistake in their way of
settling the debt, changed front and adopted the Readjuster theory or
plan of scaling down. They appointed a committee of the best men in
the country, with ex-President Grover Cleveland as one, to formulate a
settlement on the basis of the Riddlebarger bill. The creditors
accepted the terms and the vexed question was thus forever settled, at
least so far as Virginia was liable. Mr. Royall of course lost thereby
his lucrative job. The Century bonds were issued and a sinking fund
set aside for the payment of interest. This settlement killed the
Readjuster party and the offices of the State were restored to the
Conservative party. General Mahone and his lieutenants flopped over to
the Republican party. Virginia has been steadily prosperous ever since
then.