Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-04-22
The Virxinia Elections.


The Richmond Erominer evinces some concern in
relation to the supposed party feeling in Virginia
and charges that the old or former Wings are de-
vising plans to defeat the old former Democrats
at the approaching election. If theres are such
things as Wings and Democrats in Virginia, it is
more than we have here. We had thought that the
existing revolution had destroyed the two old par
ties AID that the only difference now was as to how
the government and the war should be conducted,
and whether shall have at the close of the revo-
luton, that liberty under . written Constitution
which Americans have been accustomed to enjoy.
In this State we have one great party called Con-
seroatsoe and faction called Dsstruetre-thel latter
acting in opposition to the State administration.
The former is composed Of about forty thousand
old Wings and thirty thousand old Democrats; the
latter is composed Of about thirty thousand old Dem
ocrats and ten thousand old Whiss-this being the
full vote of the State. This division into parties
was forced upon the Conservatives by chose who
had possession of the State government when the
war commenced. The Conservatives struggled in
vain against it They were forced to submit to it
even in the midst Of war, or quietly consent to be
prescribed from all places of honor and trust both
civil and military. and to be marked, with their
children after them untrue to their native lard
though they had oqntributed and were contributing
more men and more means to the commen cause
than their opponents. Thus forced to organize
themselves into party. they entered the campaign
for Governor and members Of the Legislature, in
1862, holding and announcing the following prin-
cples:
"Resolred That the parsyism, fayoritism, inef6-
cheney and mis-, ue which have marked the admin
istraton of public affairs in this State, since the
commencement Of the present war, deserve the
stern and unqualified rcbuke of the people; and
that change in this respect is Indispensable to the
preservation OF the credit and character OF the State
and to that unity of sentiment and spirit so much
to be desired, and without which the efforts of our
brave soldiers and people to establish our indepen
dence must Be, sooner os later, seriously embar-
raised.
Resolred, ThatOur Constitutions, both State and
Confederate should never be violated on any pre-
tence whatsoever but should be sacredly observed
by all whose duty it is to enact expound and en-
force the laws.
Resolred, That the people are the source of all
power and that they, and they alone have the right
govern through their representatives duly chosen
Resoleed, That it IS the duty of the Legislative
and executive departments to retrench and reform,
as far practi able in the administration of the
| government A prudent economy is especially ne
cessary this time, with increased public debt
| and heavy taxes on the people All useless Offices
| should be abolished, and no more money should be
! expended than Is absolutely required to carry on
the government and to enable the State to cOntri-
butte her due proportion Of men and means to the
| common defence.
Rssolued, That the military power should always
| be subordinate to the civil power whether IN war
or in peace; aud that martial law should never he
declared, nor the writ Of hnbens corpus suspended,
! except when indispensable to the preservation OF
=; civil society or Of the State itself"
They triumphed by an immense majority.
These, in brief, the principles Of the COnserva
tives of this State sanctioned by the people at the
polls and by large majority in the army, and
carried out BY Gov. Vance and the Legislature.
The Conservatives are stronger now than they were
when Gov. Vance was elected; and there is no
GROUND for apprehensiNh that their hofd On The
people will he impaired, notwithstanding the at
tacks SO constantly made upon them by the organs
of the Destructives and mere handful CT Their CO.
adjutors, which may now and then misead certain
parties and presses outside the State. 1t was
charged by our opponents during the campaign,
tina: Gov. Vance and his supporters were untrue to
the South; that they would divide the people into
factions, and thus injure, if not mperil the cause
and that their policy if such was not really their
design, would deliver up the State to the Yankee
hordes The Examiner Can see for itself that all
these charges were unfounded The people Of tht
State never united and harmonious rs they
arr under Gov. Vance's administrator, and nevcl
more determined to maintain all their rights sgains
all ene,bies whether ut home OF abroad. The Con
ederate cause has not been injured but it has beer
greatly promoted and inyigorated in this State by
the triuusph referred to.
We have no disposition to intermeddle in. the at
fairs of the people of Virginia; but we may say t.
the Examiner that party lines distinctly draw
in this State, and that former Democrats and frme
Wings who are Conservatives, are as thorough,
united and harmonious in their action as either Q
the old parties ever were. The same remark ap
plies to the Des.ructyes. We are satisfied that
vast majority u the people Of Virginia are conser
vatve in their character, and that they approve tn
principles above set. forth, which embody the sui
stance, far as they CO. Of those fundamental prn
cples Of free government contained in the first in
augurd address Of MI. Jefferson. We have been
constant reader Of the Examiner, and we think "
are not mistaken in assuming that these principle
are the same which have governed that journal i
its brilliant and useful course. We should rejoic
to see the people Of Virginia range themselves o
the side Of Conservatism at the ballot boz. Wha
D; may happen in the future tho destiaissI 4
Virginia, 1.-THE mother Of States) Of Tennessee 9TH
f daughter of North Carolina) and Of North Caroln.
4 must ever be the same. They are indissolubl
bound together by similarity Of Interests, by con
tguity Of territory, by natural and artificial mean
of INSTRUMENTATION, by the memories of thei
has been shed in this second var of independence
In the language Of Mr.. Graham, of this State, il
his great speech in our State Convention on ties