Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-05-12
CONSERVATIVE STATE CONVENTION

| The Conservative State Convention met In
the concert hall of the Exchange Hotel, on
Thursday, 18th of May, in pursuance of the call
Of the State Executive Committee. There
were assembled the true representative men of
Virginia-thc representatives of her worth, her
ability, and her good people-all intent upon
the one object: the promotion of her peace and
prosperity, and the preservation of her honor
and dignity.
How great the contrast between the dellber-
ative assemblies Of the two parties now strug-
Cling for the mastery in the Old Dominion. In
! the one we have the true sons Of the Old moth
or State-the men who were born and reared
upon her soil, and many of whom are the lineal
| descendants of the men who gained her such
| glory in the past in the councils of the nation
They come together quietly, and in a manner
truly dignifed, united as band of brothers
with unity of purpose, purity of principle, and
congeniality of soul The honor of the land of
their birth is what they are working for. There
is no squabbling among them for position, there
is no fighting for the loaves and fishes, nor
greed after the spoils of Office. No; they have
holier object in view, and their calm deliher-
ative action and dignifed bearing is a true indi-
cation of the motives which bring them to-
gether.
In the other is brought together the slaves of
yesterday and the political adventures and seal.
lawags who have invaded and would fain take
bodily possession of our unfortunate State The
good of the State and Of its people is hidden
Al nj
selves and consult only their own avaricious de-
sres. They resort to every species Of design
and of political rascality There is no love be-
tween them, for they are in each others way
in the individual fight for office. They hate
each other so that it cannot be disguised, and
their deliberations are marked with disorder
and disgraceful confusion. With the one party
in power there is much hope for Virginia; with
the other in possession of the Government, we
may in vain cry out, ''God save the Common
wealth."
The Convention was called to order at ~
o'clock by r. T. Daniel, Esq; upon whose mo-
ton Colonel Moore, of Rockbridge, was called
to the chair.
| REMARKS OF COLONEL S. NJ d. MOORE.
| Colonel Moore, on taking the chair, asked
consideration for his ignorance Of the duties of
the position by which he had been honored.-
He considered it high honor to be called upon
to preside even temporarily over an assembly
OF true Virginia gentlemen, especially when, as
now, it might be the last one; for if this abom
Unable Constitution were adopted, they would
have passed away, or have gone to parts where
they would be free from It's oppression, ere they
could ever again convene in representative Ca
| pacity He had never dreamed that circum-
stances would ever have arisen that would have
induced him to participate In political matters !;
but the time had come when every man must
partake in the struggle to save the old Com
monwealth from disgrace, infamy, and ruin
He mil ht say, in the language OF some man OF
renown in the days of the first revolution,
These are the times that try mems souls,
etc
1t would be out of place to comment upon
that abominable instrument called the Constl-
tuition, after the able address Of the Conserva-
tive members of the Convention. There was
only one point which he feared might be over
looked. There were doubtless many who had
no conception of the oppressive taxation that
would be heaped upon the people by Its pro-
visions. He then gave as an example the
amount Of taxes paid for education in West
Virginia He himself had lands in that State
and when he went there to pay the taxes on
them, he gave the authorities leave to go to
the lower shades and take the lands with them.
He advised concatory course towards the
blacks He believed that considerable num-
Der of them in the upper counties and else
where would vote the Conservative ticket. -
They were beginning to understand pretty we'll
how little they were to gain by adherence to
the Radical party They understood fully that
the Radicals didn t intend to let them have the
lands. He counselled the Conservatives to
work steadily until the time of election. AS fol
making square-up fight, he would only coun
sci this when the time should come. He be-
lieved that an address to the people of the
North would have its weight. They had been
influenced heretofore pretty much by the man
ufactured lies of the Freedmen Bureau agents
throughout the South: but they were begin
ming to see the true state of affairs As to the
Importance of affairs. As to the importance OF
nominating a man foi' Governor, he had some
doubt He believed, however, that if able men
were nominated for the different offices who
could go among the people and advise them
and give them counsel, much good would be
wrought He did not know how it was in 9th
er parts Of the State, but he could say that in
his own county the people, were well aroused
and hard at work When he went home he
would appoint men to go out and work among
the people, and when he was able he would
work himself He would inform those men
> younger than himself, and more able to strug-
gle, that the old gray haired men were with
them When the time came, they would find
out, in the language of one OF his friends al
though the hair on our heads has grown gray,
like the snow upon the summit of Etna, our
gray hairs can never cool the fires below In
conclusion, he again thanked the Convention
for the honor it had conferred upon him, and
urged that they would act in harmony for the
grand object in vicw-the defeat of the mon
grei Constitution:
Mr.. James r. Fisher of Richmond, was ap-
pointed temporary secretary
Mr.. Martin, of Henry. moved that commit
tee of nine on permanent organization be APP
pointed. This was carried and the following
committee was appointed William Martin, OF
Henry Bolivar Christian, Of Augusta James
Barbour, of Culpeper J. L. Marye, Jr., of
Spottsylvania Thomas +. Goode, of Mecklen.
burg; j. T. Seawe Of Gloucester; Robert
Ould of Richmond George w. Boiling, of Pc
tersburg; Thomas s. Bocock. of Appomattox
LIST OF DELEGATES PRESENT
The committee retired, and the roll being
called, the following members were found pres
ent:
Abemare: Thos jeff Randolph. Aexan-
dria: Hugh L. Latham and George William
Brent. Allegheny T. McAllister Amelia
| Dr. r. Wood and s. S Weisger Augusta !:
John B. Baldwin and Bolivar Christian. Bot
etourt: John c. Shields, alternate. Bruins