Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-07-20
From the Enquirer.
Address of Messrs. Rives and
Hartman.

Hartman.
Tothe Democrats Of Virginia, who are in
favor of conforming to the usages of the
party, and who are for preserving the nation
al organization by supporting the nominees
for President and Vice President Of the
United States, Stephen A Douglas, Of Iii
nois, and Herschell V. johnson, Of Geor-
|gia, duly nominated by the adjourned Ma
tional Convention, held at Baltimore, the
undersigned, members Of the Democratic
State Central Committee of Virginia, beg
Eleave to submit the following statement:
BY call from the Chairman Of the State
Central Committee, its members held a
meeting in the city Of Richmond, on Tues
day, the 10th instant, to take such action,
as might be deemed-necesssry to harmonic
and conciliate the division now existing in
Virginia between the friends of Breckin-
ridge and Lane and those Of Douglas and
johnson. The proposition first submitted
ito the committee was whether State Con
vention should be held. The undersigned,
aware Of the fact, as the Democracy of Vir-
ginia generally are, that the State Conven-
ton which assembled in the spring pledged
to party to support the nominees of the Ma
tional Convention this pledge having been
made by the body which appointed the Cen
trail Committee could not be revoked BY
said committee, nor could the committee, Ill
the opinion Of the undersigned, take any ac-
ton or institute any proceeding looking d.
rectly or Indirectly to the support OF other
candidates than those named by the Demo-
cratic National Convention.
That the Convention, should the commit
tee decide to call one, was expected to nomi-
nate an electoral ticket, which would cast
the electoral vote of the State against the
regular nominees of the National Conven-
ton, Douglas and johnson, there cannot be
a doubt. Being satisfied that the object OF
the majority of the committee was to pro-
mote the nomination Of an electoral ticket
for the support of candidates hostile to those
of the National Democracy, the undersigned
did not feel authorized to aid in making this
inroad upon the time -honored usage of the
party, and they therefore voted against the
call Of a Convention; it, however, was adop-
ted. Still beng anxious to heal dissension;
to conciliate brethren Of the same party, who
have so often and SO CALAMITY fought togeth-
er under the same flag; whose eagles they
have kept perched SO long upon the ram
parts of the Constitution, the undersigned
submitted the following fair, just and chart
table proposition:
Whereas, the present division of the
Democratic party must lead to the loss Of the
electoral vote of Virginia, unless some COM
promise can be effected: and whereas, this
division of the party is caused by the nomi-
nation of Messrs. breckenridge and Lane,
by their friends at Baltimore, and by the
nomination Of Douglas and johnson by their
friends also at Baltimore, each by bodies
claiming to be the National Democratic Con-
vention; now, therefore, with the view of re-
storing the question as nearly back of the
hands Of the people as possible,
s.Resolved, That we recommend to the
friends of each Of the tickets to hold each a
separate Convention, to meet in Charlottes-
vile, on the 9th day Of August, to be sepa-
rately organized and TO be held IN separate
buildings, to effect a compromise, if posi-
BILE; and on the failure of which, that said
Conventions be left to take such course as
they may deem proper"
= This proposition, SO just in itself; to refer
to the distracted members of a great party,
brought into collision with each other, not
by any act of theirs, but by seceders from
the National Convention, was not met by a
direct vote on its merits, but fell BY a side
blow under motion to lay on the table. -
Was this not enough for the undersigned to
offer? It said to the divided Democracy,
we usurp no cover; we make no inroad upon
the usages of the party; you are the sover-
eigns; you are the sufferers; take the ques-
ton yourselves and arrange it as you think
best, and, if separate you must, why you
must settle the terms of the separation.
The politicians and presidential aspirants
had, by the nomination of two tickets, at
Baltimore, caused this division in Virginia.
They knew what would be the result of
their action; they produced the discord, we
desired that the people thus divided should
each separately consult and correct, If posi-
BILE, this fragrant violation Of the time-honor-
ed usages Of the party This olive branch
was laid on the table, to wither and die; and
the people, who were sold at Baltimore, are
uOW W Nc N6tCCCTCWs WuCuHOl oAOy VIII Ols
not! Freemen, shall the politicians or the
people rule? The issue is in your hands;
and if the past history Of the gallant lead
ers, who have passed from among us; if the
warning voice of those who counsel us to go
for the cause and not for men; if the clarion
notes of the Napoleon of the press. that great
and patriotic man. Thomas Richie, are still
ringing in our ears, "Raly, rally to the
nominees of our party !''-if these teachin Is
will not suffice to stimulate you to action,
and the decisions of Conventions shall be no
longer binding upon honorable men, then
YOU must choose submission. For oursel-
YES, we will stand by the party, its nomi-
nees, and its old platform.
The undersigned will not gointo review
of the facts which transpired at Charleston
and Baltimore, to prove whether Douglas
and johnson. or Breckenridge and Lane,
are the regular nominees. 1t is enough to
show that Virginia Democrats never consid-
er that one-third ola Convention can make
Senatorial, Congressional or State nomi-
nation, much less nomination for the Ma
tional Democratic party of thirty-three Sta
tes Yet this was the strength of the Sece-
ders' Convention, according to their own
showing. 1t is enough to show thatno mem-