Alexandria Gazette

Strictly from Richmond.
{Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette}
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, JANUARY 31, 1880.

H. D. L. Poe, the negro member from Norfolk county, will shortly introduce a bill repealing the election laws. He has so expressed his intention. It is hard to say what will be the fate of the bill. If the readjusters are disposed to tickle Mahone still farther the bill must be passed. He says to-day in effect, that he belongs to no party, and gives the following sagacious advice to the so called readjusters to side with neither party in the national election, but to send electors directly to the electoral college who shall be pledged to act with neither democrats or republicans, and who shall determine as to which party they will affiliate with by subsequent events. The meaning of this new move is that Mahone shall send the Virginia electors unpledged, and should the contest be close, he could by this means bargain for any place he desired. It means either this, or it is an appeal to the republicans to come to the aid of the dying readjuster party which has shown that its name is a misnomer.

Nothing has been done yet with the Baltimore and Ohio and Chesapeake Railroad bill.

About in keeping with the actions of the democrats was the action of one of their number, Mr. Dickinson, of Russell, who offered a bill cutting off a part of King & Queen county and making a new county, to be known as "Dickinson county"-named after himself. The Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns have reported the bill adversely. But the way a committee reports on a question now is of small moment, and when a committee reports against the wishes of a readjustment member, the committee report is generally slaughtered. Therefore it is not improbable that this new county of Dickinson may be formed, for the man who wants to be judge of that county is patiently waiting, and third bills are steam and troublesome in these degenerate days.

The resolution offered by Mr. Moorman to-day, looking to the abolition of the county court system and return to the old magisterial court, will not receive much favor from the readjusters for. And yet many of them wanted it last year, and spoke in advocacy of the measure.

Members from the Rappahannock region are very much astonished at seeing in the last Frank Leslie's Illustrated newspaper dazzling pictures of scenes and incidents in the "Virginia oyster war." There is one picture of one of the State's navy chasing an oyster pirate vessel; another has a vessel on the lookout for pirates, fully manned and bristling with guns. Then again there is an oyster pirates' den, and other sketches showing that the guns are even now thundering on the waters of the Rappahannock.

Some of the better members of the readjuster party, so called, express their disgust at the continued rioting going on between some of their leaders and the republicans. Indeed some of them are making a "dead set" at the republicans.

It is probable that the State Conservative Committee will hold a meeting in a few days. Several of its members are in the city. Many prominent non-caucus members of the conservative party are urgent in their demands that the committee meet at once. When the committee meets it is rumored that some prominent readjusters will request to be recognized as one more in the conservative fold. Several of them are already beginning to show some signs of weak knees. As to what action the committee will take is not known. The problem with which they have to deal is a troublesome one. If, however, these men who have left their party and desire to return and give promises to do better, why then, like the repentant sinner, they can return. But such men will be watched with eagle eyes: they will once more betray the people as they have done under the false evil of readjustment.

STRONGBOW.