The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1869-08-26
N A m1f.NsElIKIA n.

parent to him, but which the people have
not indicated in single primary meeting
hat we know of, and which may or may
not, be phantoms of the Heralds imagin-
alton.
In order to make point, the Herald,
by an extraordinary display OF ratioclna-
ton, based upon tedious and labyrInfhIc
display of figures, essays to Danish the
dream of the Virginians that they have
achieved decided victory over the Bit
ter-Enders after all. They have carried
Walker bounding into the Governors
Office. They have elected all but one or
two National Republicans TO Congress.
They have elected majority of two or
three and probably four to one Of the
Legislature, and have brought the Bitter
Enders down on their knees to the vlctors
whom they had but recently denounced
''as a squad Of galvanized Democrats,
with propositions of compromise. But
the acute perception of our neighbor IN
the midst Of all these shouts of victory
on the one hand, and lamentations on the
other. has ;4scertained that it was not so de-
cided a success as it ought to have been,
and in searching for the cause of the fall
ure, he discovered, or thought he discov-
cred it, in the neglect to hold Demo
cratic alias Conservative State Convention
preliminary to sounding the charge Of bat
tie.
We informed him that his premise
lacked one essential condition, viz:
foundation. For the facts lcere precisely
the opposite of achat he stated; and if it was
true that the Virginia people, contrary to
the universally received opinion, had not
done well, it was, according to the Herald's
own logic, because they held State Con-
vention, which would be fatal to the point
the Herald is trying to make. In this
dilemma we advised the Herald to shift
its ground slightly, and to assume that
they did achieve a great success over the
arch enemy, and that the secret oft was,
they rode to it ON the back of our neigh
boris hobby, "a Convention" But our
suggestion is discarded, and the Herald
insists, first, on the absurdity that the
Virginia Conservatives made poor race;
and second, on the mistake that they per-
sistently refused to hold Convention.
Says the Herald;
1.-THE Walker party in Virginia was what
the National Republican party is in Missis-
sippi, (Which is true.) Now 1.-THE CLARION
can mention the time and place when a
Convention was held in Virginia to pledge
the support of the people of Virginia to
the Walker ticket and thusto harmonic the
people, we think its editor has watched the
course of affairs in that State with greater
care than we (the Herald) has. There were
two Conventions held in Virginia. but
neither of them, to the best of our recollec-
tion, was for any such purpose. There eoas
no organized and concerted action in support Of
the Walker ticket"
Well, sir, the ''time" was April 2Sth,
1869; the 'place" was Richmond, as we
are informed by the official proceedings of
what was styled the Conservative State
Convention" as published in the Rich
mmd Enquirer, semi-weekly edition, of
April Both. The opening paragraph of
the journal of the body is in these words,
to-wit:
WEDNESDAY, April 2Sth, 1869.
The Convention assembled at u o'clock
NJ, and was called to order by 4. Z. Daniel,
Chairman of the Central Executive Conn
mittee. on whose motion Col L. J. Randolph.
OF Albemarle. was called to the Chair. and
| after Col. Randolph had taken the Chair. on
further motion of Mr.. Daniel, J. r. Fisher
and W. ID. Coleman were appointed Secre-
taries.
In this Convention" the plan of cam
paign was discussed The Conservative
candidates previously nominated, tender
ed their declensions which were accepted.
The Wells and the Walker tickets were in
the field. Col. Baldwin led the party in
favor of accepting Walker Ex-Gov
Smith led the opposition, and the latter
in the course of his speech, said: ''The
majority report actually disbands the
great Conservative party, and leaves the
''voters of tito choose between two car
''pet-baggers who came here forplace and
"plunder. = For himself, he
''would touch not, taste not, handle not
1.-The unclean thing"
Suffice it to say, the majority report was
adopted. Gov. Smith came to see the
error of his way, and went like true.
knight into the contest for Walker. No
one took more active part in the cam
vass nor rejoiced more heartily over the
victory. The State Committee, with Mr..
Daniel at its head, continued in the dis
charge of distinctions, in harmony with
the National Republican Committee, ap-
pointing meetings, assigning speakers, and
conducting the operations of the sanvass
generally. And at the close of it, Mr..
Daniel sent his celebrated congratulatory
despatch to President Grant on the tri-
umph of his policy.
Now, we repeat that the Herald is in
duty bound either to retract its charge
that the Virginians did not do as well as
they ought to have done; or if it insist
upon the allegation, then it must admit,
according to its own logic, that it was in
consequence of the holding of State
Convention, which is Its favorite hobby.