The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-04-29
MINORITY REPORT.

The minority Of the committee made the
whereas the people Of Virginia, by
their delegates duly chosen, met IN Con-
vention in this city in the month OF De-
Gambler. 1867, and after solemn and mature
deliberation adopted their declaration of
principles, setting forth and defining the
policy of the white people Of this State !;
and whereas in the said declaration Of
principles the Convention, in its own
language, did distinctly declare that the
government of the States and Of the Union
were formed by white men to be subject 10
their control, and that suffrage should be
so regulated by the States as to continue
the Federal system under the control and
direction of the white race, and that
in the opinion of this Convention the
people Of Virginia will sincerely CO.
operate with all men throughout the
Union, of whatever name or party,
who will labor to restore the constitution Of
the States and to continue it's government
and those Of the States under the routine
of the white race; and whereas the or
eanization of the Conservative party OF the
State of Virgins existed by authority Of
the said Convention and the action Of the
people Hereunder and whereas the Con-
eress of the United States have directed On
election in this State to be ordered by the
President, whose proclamation is daily
expected, at which election the Underwood
constitution is to be submitted to the people
for ratification or rejection, and at the same
time an election is to be for State officers
and whereas for the purpose Of consoll.
dating and making effective the strength OF
the Conservative party in the State IN oppo-
sition to the said constitution the State
Executive Committee and the county and
city superintendent, in the exercise Of the
powers confded in them, on the - day
Of -, 1868, did nominate State ticket:
Now. therefore, be it z
"Resolved l. That the declaration of
principles unanimously adopted by the said
Convention, composed of the representa-
tives of the white men of all parts of the
State, is binding upon this body until it
shall have been revoked or modified By an
other Convention of|equal powers, and this
meeting has no right to abandon the same.
81. That the meeting earnestly recon-
mend to the people of Virginia to adhere
steadfastly to the declaration Of principles
and to the plan of organization adopted by
themselves in Convention assembled, and to
continue to follow the leadership of their
| nominee for Governor, who has upheld the
principles of their organization with such
conspicuous gallantry and devotion.
"3. That the clauses Of the Underwood
constitution proposed to be submitted to
separate vote are immsterial and inslgn1t-
can't compared to the leading features of
that nstrument-negro suffrage, negro ELI
gibility to office.
81. That the same number of votes that
will strike out the clauses to be submitted
| to separate vote will, if polled to that
effect, defeat the whole constitution.
SO. That the military rule of one of our
own race, responsible to his superiors, is
| far preferable to the domination of an ire
sponsible multitude of ignorant negroes
and that, impelled by these considerations,
we call upon all white men, whether native
or adopted citizens, to vote down the con-
stitution, and thereby save themselves and
their posterity from negro suffrage, negro
office holding, and its legitimate conse-
quence-negro social equality.
SO. That even were an abandonment Of
the aforementioned principles to be agreed
on by this body, the seventh section of the
election law entitled AN act authorizing
the submission of the constitution, &c., to
the vote of the people, holds the restoration
| of the State subject to the subsequent ae-
ton Of Congress, and that in this fact we
find abundant reason to believe other con-
ditions may be imposed upon US.
81. That the act in question imposes
condition precedent in the adoption of the
fifteenth amendment, which is in violation
Of every principle Of constitutional law,
and should not Of right De endured b the
people of Virginia"
Judge Guild, in submitting the majority
report, made an effective speech in favor
thereof. ....-...
John Goode, jr., spoke earnestly in favor
of the minority report.
After some discussion, Mr.. Shackelford
offered Q resolution postponing all action
until ten days after the Presidents procla-
nation governing the election. ,Subse-
quently he withdrew this, and moved to lay
both reports On the table. This was lost
ayes, 20; noes, 30.
On motion, the Convention adjourned
until 10 o'clock to-day.