Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-01-21
Tuesday Morning, January u, 1868.
CONSERVATIVE STATE CONVEN-
TION OF WEST VIRGINIA.
It's General Proceedings.
Plan Of Organization.

ton held at Wheeling on the Sth inst, we
submit so much of the general report as will
convey an intelligent idea Of what was done,
and of the work cut out for the accomplish
ment of the Democratic Conservative party
during the present year. After the perma-
nent organization of the Convention, COM
mittee consisting of one delegate from each
Senatorial district was appointed to report a
plan of party organization, and an address to
the people. This committee performed their
duty by reporting the annexed
plan OF ORGANIZATION.
The committee believe that in order to as
sure success in the coming canvass, five OBJ
iects should especially be kept in view:
1st. The collection of money in liberal
sums to be used for lawful political purposes
ID The polling of the entire registered
vote of the State by townships, in order that
the actual strength Of each party may be as
certained. Two lists should be prepared ,one
for each party, that will show the present
strength of each.
3D. Lists should be prepared containing
the names of doubtful voters, with a state-
ment of the supposed political inclination of
each voter.
4th. An enrolment of the names of such
unregistered voters as can subscribe to the
test oath should be prepared.
5th. Provision should be made for bring
ing to bear upon doubtful or Radical voters
such legitimate instrumeutalities as will in-
ducc them to unite with Us for the overthrow
of Radicalism.
Other proper objects Of organization will
readily occur, but in order that the ends
named, constituting the prime conditions Of
success, may be first secured, your committee
recommend,
1st. The appointment of State EXecu-
tive Committee, composed of active, earnest
and untiring men, to whom may be entrusted
the general supervision of the organization
and the campaign. In this appointment the
fitness of the men for the work should be an
essential condition of selection.
I'd. The organization, at each Court House
in the State, if expedlent, Of County Asso-
ciations upon the plan herewith reported, to
which should be assigned the duty of county
organization. Said Associations should be i'll
direct communication with the State Execu-
tive Committee, and should make to it de-
tailed monthly reports, or oftener if possible.
Of the progress Of the work.
3d. The organization of Township Associ>
ations upon the same general plan with the
County Associations, to have over their town.
ships the same care that the County AssOcia-
tiOns exercise over the counties.
4th. The organization, where possible, OF
| School District Clubs, under the same con-
stitution as the other Associations to take
! immediate charge of the work in said Dis
| tricts. When such clubs cannot be cstlb-
lished. then the township Associations should
superintend the work.
The Clubs should make regular and fire.
quent report Of their operations to the town
ship organizations these should report in
like manner to the county Associations
When from any cause reports cannot thus be
made, they should be forwarded directly to
the State Executive Committee.
In order that all these organizations may
be speedily completed, the Executive Cons
mittee should call upon the people of the
various counties to meet at an early day and
form the County Associations, and then should
proceed at once to the work Of organization.
This done, contributions to the general
fund should be actively solicited, and the lists
| referred to should at once be prepared. Then
our qualified but unregistered voters should
be promptly registered, and every Legitimate
influence that will induce doubtful voters and
Radicals to act with US should be brought to
bear In this we include the circulation OF
documents, general invitation to men Of the
opposite party to attend our meetings, district,
| township and county, and the influence of
personal intercourse and tireside discussion
| I'VE cannot overrate the Importance of circula-
ting our own newspapers. Each association
! should solicit subscriptions to the general fund,
and where parties are too poor, or tor any
| reason unwilling to take these papers, free
copies SHOULD be sent them. When disfran-
chisement is attempted it should be opposed
and obstructed by every lawful means, and
| when voters are unable to defray the expenses
| of their own defence, the associations should
supply the funds for that purpose.
We also suggest that it be the duty OF the
State Executive committee to employ good
men and send them into counties where their
services may be needed or asked for the pur-
pose of etfecting organizations i'll such coun-
ties. The following constitution for the
county association is recommended. With
| slight alterations the same will suffice for
| township associations and clubs.
PREAMBLE.
We, the Democrats aud Conservatives of
- County, Of the State of West Vir-
ginia, believing that the perpetuity of Repub-
lican Institutions depends upon the mainte-
nance of Constitutional principles in the ad-
mlnistratlon of the Government. State and
Federal, and that upon the Democratic and
Conservative party mainly must we rely to
check the Radicalism now threatening to
overthrow the Constitutional Government of
our fathers, blot out sovereign States, and
subvert the liberties of the people; in order
to secure such thorough organization of oul
party, as will make it efficient in promulga
ting its principles, and to defeat the evil mach.
nations and purposes of its enemies, wheth
er sought to be accomplished at the polls OIL
by fraud and violence elsewhere hereby
] pledging each to the other and TO the worlc