The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-05-05
A Word Of Counsel to Conservatives.

To the Editors of the Dispatch:
Dear Sirs,-The time is near at hand for
the meeting of the Conservative Convention
which is to assemble in Richmond to or
canize ticket for State officers and to adopt
measures to make an effort to save Virginia
from the control Of as vile and unprinci-
pied set of men as the light of day ever
shone upon, and to defeat the adoption of q
most monstrous and loathsome production
called q Constitution for the Government of
Virginia.
1t is to be hoped this Convention will be
really what the word conservative imports,
and not meeting to patch up the fortunes
of broken-down politicians and political
hucksters. This is a subject of great anxiety
with the people, whose aim is to earn an
honest livelihood by the fruits of their in
dustry.
The defeat of the Constitution is the main
question, which may be accomplished by
the united action Of our white population,
to secure which it will be necessary to keep
aloof from all old political agitators and
prominent leaders in days of yore. The
people want none of these extreme men
from any quarter; they have either COM
mitted objectionable plumbers and are I'M
safe on one hand, or are full of bitterness
and prescription on the other, and when
weighed against the welfare of our State
and people, should be scattered as chaf be-
fore the wind.
To insure united effort on the part of
the white people of Virginia, great care
should be taken to select candidates from
among the moderate men of all parties who
have not been prominent nor made them
selves offensive at any former time to any
portion of our citizens.
A Virginia party of white men isthe only
party that the people will exert them
selves now to build up, and any movement
for the advancement of any other party,
however covert it may be, will lead us to
defeat and utter ruin. Let us, therefore,
take the wisest, most discreet, moderate and,
conservative old Democrats, Wings, Seces-
sion and Union men, to bear the white mans
flag in the coming contest but beware of
those who may have to encounter the ami
mosities and bitter feelings of other days;
indeed, it is immodest in such men to push
themselves forward, or allow others to do it,
whilst they may both gracefully and profit
ably advocate the claims Of others. BY the
adoption of such policy we may defeat the
Constitution and elect our State ticket. 1t
is not possible for us to elect many good men
who can take the teSt-oath, but the proscrip-
ton of such persons as are truly patriotic
may injure, and cannot advance, our lnte-
rest.
By the selection of our most moderate,
wise, and virtuous men we may strengthen
our cause at the North, which is the only
hope of our disenthralment from SO
wretched condition. want no Office, if
could get one; but desire to sec our govern
ment restored to peace and tranquility, and
our State to prosperity, which cannot be at
tanned under the rule Of extreme men.
While there is powerful party rising
up from among the people Of the North
willing, and, if wise and prudent councils
prevail, perhaps able, to restore us to the
Union on terms of equality, the people of
Virginia have quite enough to- do in build
ing up their own fortunes, without engaging
in the futile task of trying to resuscitate
dead political leaders, of whom the great
conservative element of the country has had
enough.
1t is needless for US to engage in the la
Dor of resurrecting fallen politicians and
dead issues. We need live men to deal with
living issues. For these things | am will
ing to work and under wise counsel be-
lieve the whole conservative element Of the
country, both north and south, can be
brought into harmonious and active coope-
ration, which would lead us triumphantly
to victory; while, under the guidance of
agitators, we must sink to still deeper ruin.
These, Messrs. Editors, are the opinions
of one aho loves Virginia. TIDEwATER.