The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-05-03
From the New York Times.
The Compromise Movement i'm Wiz.



. The Virginia Conservatives appear to be
acting cautiously, wisely, and IN good faith.
The movement begun by! the committee Of
nine, whose appearance at Washington
early in the winter attracted q good deal of
attention, reappears in the Richmond Con-
vention with degree Of strength that
must command respect, and moderation Of
purpose which promises satisfactory results.
There are foolish men in the Convention,
evidently-men to whom experience has
brought no lesson and danger offers no
warning; but their futile ultraism only
brings into stronger light the general
good sense of: the. majority. The folly
Of starting third ticket with the view
of diverting those who we're originally
opposed to reconstruction from the second.
Republican organization is appreciated !;
and as the great body Of the white Vir-
ginians are anxious for the restoration Of
self-goYernment to their State, and are pre-
pared to acquiesce in the conditions Of
restoration laid down by Congress, there
seems good ground for hoping that the con-
stitution will be adopted shorn of its OBJ
noxious provisions, and that State organizl-
tion will be effected under other auspices
than those of Governor Wells and his adhe-
rents. Il. s-a.. -.--s. = ..1.s..r. ,1. =
The President, it Is understood, ,om not
identify Federal authority uith either the
Wells or the Waller ticket. Both are Re
publican, and he has no intention to taEe
part against either. This determination is
right. All General Grant should be asked
to do is to. carry out the views expressedain in
his message to Congress By providing for
separate votes upon the essentials of the
proposed constitution and the proscriptive
provisions, which are not essential; and
that he will do this we have no doubt.
For the rest, it is only necessary
that the district commander take care
that the election be q free elec-
tion-that all the voters Of the State,
black and white have an opportunity
for expressing their preferences without
hindrance or molestation. These tcondl-
tions fulfilled las iunquestionably they will
be) the prospect seems, clear. The only
danger to be apprehended was the nomina-
characterize result Of which would have
been either the total rejection Of the con-
stitution, or its ratification with all the pro-
visions that tend to make reconstruction
odious. With this peril obYisted, the issue
at the polls will be between the extreme
Republicans, with Wells and the scslaEags
at their head, and the moderate (or Wslker)
Republicans, including the best men Of the
party, and with, the main body OF the Con-
seryatives for the time active in their sup
port. The result should not be uncertain.
Of course an attempt win be made to fas-
ten upon the anti Wells Republicans full
responsibility for the political antecedents
Of those who for the time became their al
lies. The article we quoted from the Rich
mond State Journal exempli6es these tao
tics. It makes no difference who or what
the man may have ,been," We are told, "Re-
publican or Democrat-once he accepts the
nomination Of the Conservative or secession
party Of Virginia, he, is bound to enforce
Its policy" Ergo, because the opposition
Republican ticket receives the support OF
men who were formerly secessionists1 the
State government which the combination
may elect must enforce the obstructive poll
tcy.IsrThe Wells seetion:ofjthe party natu-
rally desires that this impression shall be
widely spread, it damages their ,Republl-
can opponents by arousing suspicious as tc
their trustworthiness and sincerity.
| But the facts, 50 for as known, do NOT
/ warrant any such conclusion. True, the
great body of the negroes are on the side OF
Wells. The northern .adventurers who
have gone into the State, relying;upon their
ability to secure the negroeshsupport, have
jsined their fortunes to his. On the other
| hand, it is certain, that Walker and his as-
| sociates are tried and trusted Republicans,
1 whose. record win bear.the closest scrutiny
and-who bolted from the Petersburg Con:
yention- because the nomination Of Wells
| On the prossriptive platform was the wo.k
/ Of the enemies of reconstruction, Whe
adopted that method Of accomplishing itts
defeat. The, Walker wing, then, has the
\ support of the white Republicans OF the
Steie.' Its nominees are unobjsctionable
personally or politically; and its platform
! Substantially smbodies the principles=aae
objects which, General Grant in his msassgs
| formally sanctioned. TO allsge that "thil
| platsor m.aloses tstlmerits, and that thess
| Nominations LOSE their worth, because fNr forr
mer rebels, NOW organizing themselves, a.
Conservatives, render them support, is Pre- prs.
posterous. 20 -. - -, ~. 80
4 Ittthe Conservatives sought positions OF
the Walker ticket, or made their Bnppor
1 conditional, upon changes IN tho policy 9
1 ho ,,nbafd fiaa case Eotlfd be ditfereptI In