Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-12-31
CONSERVATIVE CONVENTION.


ont the State the party seems animated with
the determination TO succeed, and with this
spirit actuatiug it, the want of Efficient aud
complete organization is fully exPerieuced.-
Heretofore no effective organization of the
conservative masses OF West Virginia has ex"
isted, and as a consequence. radIcallsm has
been allowed to perpetTaIe It's Oulragcs upon
tie rights aud interests OF tue people WIthou:
any systematic resistance. Here and there
political aspirInt, disguised with the tyranny
of BoremEu, aud siekeRed with the PrUScriP-
tive and intoleraut Legislation ii the so called
representatives OF TnesPeOPle, has raised his
voice against this cruel AMI vinuIctiVe spirit
OF oppression, bat this only to fud himself
deciIiIenized at the next election by the Gu
bernatOrial aPpOIntecs ON the Boards OF leg
istration. These dccapItatiOns have general
" been submitted 10 with a meeknesS that
has emboideued the party III power, until
their legislation has been directed almost with
the sole view OF PerPetuaiIng aud confirming
their reign of tyranny and terror, whilst the
great interests Of the State, which clamor for
consideration, are neglected. Every public
enterprise IS blurred with party caste, and
nothing can receive the favor and sanction OF
the dishonest officials OF the State, except It
promise 4 tendency to strengthen radieaiisE:.
A registration law, intended to embrace with
in It's scope all who sustained the govern ment
IN tine four years conflict with the Southern
States, is so perverted IN It's practical inter-
probation by the township registrars or coun-
" boards OF registration to give citizen
ship only to those whose fealry to radicalism
is uuquestiouable. and whose devotion to the
par;y Is sufficient to override all scruplcs Of
conscience aud all Pretensions to justice.
This is not all. One Of the very items
that was made count IN the indictment
against the King Of Great Britain, by our
revolutionary fathers. is distinguishing fea>
ture of West Virginia government. Nearly
four ffths of the taxes Of the State are paid
by men who arc shorn of the elective fran
chise, and who have no voice in the selection
OF their representatives. Thousands Of these
are men who never drew sympathetic breath
with the rebellion, except perhaps so far as
the safety Of friends and Kindred engaged in
1t we're concerned. and many even are di>
vested of their political rights who fought in
the federal armies. This disfranchisement
Is not because it is believed OF imagined that
their permission to exercise the rights Of Citi
zeOship would endanger the great interests
Of the State, but simply because the day Of
their reimbursement would witness the over
throw of r2dicalism. and forever loosen the
grip of certain officials upon the public purse
strings So palrably dishonest, SO utterly
destitute of principle 30 devoid of all that IS
Just and right, is the foundation upon which
this party rests, that it dare not submit its
fate to the people, but must needs tie the
hands of its opponents, Will the scum and
ra' DE the ignorant aud irresponsible. are
tuned IOJsc 10 prey upon the rights OF those
.ll ought 70 BE- entrusted with the guardian
sop of the pubic Interests The jury lists
70. che trial OF import ant causes arc composed
a the main of men who are destitute of ap>
preciltion of tie soleuui;y of an oath or the
resp pnsIDiity Of jurors, aud in nine cases out
Q; every ten, where issue is joined between
Il radical and a conservative. the decision is
N favor Of the radical, without regard to the
evidence adduced OF the plain provisions Of
law upon which the issue may lie based
Thus, what are Improperly styled courts Of
justice. are but parts of the grand machinery
s!'ch IS kept in perpetual operation for sus>
tanning she vitality Of radcal.sm. and with
a -. !
1 u, a, least In urficUio morris.
Thus the executive. the legislative, and
;hs judicial departments of the State govern
Heu, are welded not for the public good aud
for the general welfare. bat only to keep in
power set Of public P'uudercrs with whom
justice is mockcry and patriotism thing
fJr fca;hcviug the radical nest.
We understand it to be one Of the purposes
Of the convention projected for the s,h Of
January, and which Will assemble in the city
Of Wheeling, 10 concert measures for the an
initiation OF this trIple-headcd monster of
snG aim We give it our hearty support, and
earnestly hope that the means devised may
feet the refut so devuutiy to be wished and
that the next State election may usher the
dawn Of better aud brighter day for
West Virginia.
We publish in another column a list of the
delegates appointed to attend this convention
from this county, at the meeting held in
Shepherdstowu ON Friday, the 2oth inst
We hope that most, if not all these delegates
,viU nal n sn,ua s.ar-fra l., 10 In ,t.aud,rrn
We are exceedingly anxious that this county
shall be well represented, for we are con-
WINGED that nowhere in the State has the