The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-04-30
STATE CONSERVATIVE.
CONVENTION
$ E9c o ND pay.
ADOPTION OF MAJORITY REPORT
"A D,JO UR N M 2 MT

=
De Jarnette was appointed delegate from
Caroline county, the regular delegate, from
that county having left. .t. z1t.,.Ja. gf:ry,
Major ID. s., Hemmond,i from Amherst,
reported as delegate from that county -
The following, additional delegates we're
reported : Colonel 7. 8. Flournoy, Hall
fax; J. 8. Saunders, assistant superintend-
emit, ,Goochlaud; Wood Bouldin, Jr., Char
lottes;, J.. p Williamson, Petersburg
Charles O. Moore, Orange; A. d. a. Stuart,
Augusta ". 7. Sutherlin, DsnVille.; J. A.
Littlepsge, King William William Watts,
Geo. w. Hansbrough, Roanoke; Ex-Gover-
nor William Smith, Fauquier F. D. Jones,
| Cumberland D. 8. Hammond, Amherst |;
r. W. Hunter, Frederick P. W. Mckinney,
Prince Edward William Martin, Henry,
Mr.. McMulin moved that the hall be
opened for the public and the press gene
rally. aHE a 10. .gjiE.s =,
The proposition was divided SO as to ad-
NIT the press, irrespective of politics.
Mr.. Hunter Marshall offered resolu-
ton providing that vote be taken on the
propositions Of the Committee Of Thirteen
at i o'clock, and for the equal distribution
| of time between the advocates of the differ
emit propositions. This was adopted. &
Mr.. John Goode, Jr., arose, and with ap-
| propriate remarks withdrew the report OF
the minority in order that the vote might De
taken on the proposition of Mr.. Shackel"
! ford adjourning the Convention until ten
DAYS after the proclamation Of the Presi-
dent fixing the time of holding the election
in this State. He thought that this would
harmonic contending elements, and afford
% La limo xubioh ~.
rounded them. - - laIaal
Mr.. shaokelford sgain urged his resolu-
tons, and opposed any hasty action. He
| implied from his remarks doubt as to the
competency of this body to take action
| upon matters SO grave, and touching the
| vital interests Of the entire people of the
State. r aLI'S.s ~. ~!
Mr.. Baldwin expressed surprise at the
change Of programme disclosed by the op-
ponents to the msjority report. When this
meeting was called, it was proposed that it
should be popular convention, and the
counties and cities were invited to send
representatives. The question had arisen
as to whether the powers Of the body were
equal to 80 momentous an occasion. 1t had
been determined in committee that the
powers would be ample, and men had been
selected capable Of giving fair represent
tation Of the sentiments of the people, and
of presenting the unbiased judgment OF the
Conservative party of Virginia. The ex-
| pediency Of public meetings had been con-
sidered, and it had been judged best to
take the working men Of the party, whose
zeal in fulfilling the duties which had been
assigned to them had proven them true to
the party, beyond all doubt, as the pro-
| pereEt and best body to consider the great
questions to DO brought before them. The
Convention had been called in the tnte-
rest, if not upon the suggestion, of those
who held the very doctrines held by the
gentleman from Norfolk (Mr. Goode). They
claimed that certain grave errors had
arisen in the course pursued by the party,
and this body was to be q purifying
ordeal, through which it should pass to cor
rect them. But now it seemed that those
who got up the meeting, and refused to in
fuse the popular element into it, had
been struck with the beauties of popu-
lar legislation. he did not believe that
the proposition could do any good. It was
but o postponement Of the difficulty to make
worse one. 1t urged the people to put on
their harness, and to magnify factions,
and infuse into the body Of the people feud
and disco1d. That was the very opposite
Of what should be desired. If ever there was
time when all good men should unite to
afford immediate opportunity to crush out
discord, it was now. 1t was time for
cultivating mutual Cancellation and for
bearance one toward another. Our can
didates had resigned the trusts that had
| been coDfided to them. The question now
was as to whether they should thrust can
didacy upon the people for the purpose OF
cryatalzing the differences existing, and
make them for the future irreconcilable.
Governor Smith said that he had since the
: war been content to remain at home and
attend to the practical reconstruction of his
domicile. He was content to yield to the
action Of his people without mingling him.
self in politics. He had been satisfied to
let the tide of events sweep on, convinced
that it would land US where we would find
honor and safety. He had watched the pro-
ceedipgs of the great Convention that met in
this city in 1857 and he accorded with its
action fully. Here the Governor paid an
eloquent tribute to that Convention, the men
that composed it, and their action.
} Time rolled on, and under the auspices
, Of that body the Convention met here in
May, le6S. Robert E. Withers, gallan.
soldier, was selected as standard-bearer, to
60 forth conquering and to conquer. A can
yass was inaugurated Of unsurpassed &C.
tivity. Everybody united in the common
effort to save the State. He said that here
was line Of duty marked out which every
. obligation of honor urged us to follow. 30
powerful was the result of this canvass
that our enemies could not let an election
come of, 80 sure was their own defeat. The
. honor and intelligence of the State tri.
/ umphed over ignorance and alienage. And
yet in this the hour of our might we had
cast away the pearl of victory. In the
midst of this repose Of a giants strength
y We heard a still small voice from the "hub''
:. Of Staunton. When every man in honor
was bound to redeem these pledges, the
quiet was broken by the Staunton letter,
based upon "recent intelligence fr m
Washington" which made it the spa: III
duty" Of some Of the discreet cit ms
to meet to consider the difficulties that
surrounded US. And yet We were
masters of the situation. These sages
now came into this Convention to preach
harmony, when they themselves were
responsible for the discord that already ex-
listed. These FIVE wise gentlemen had not
only taken upon themselves the duty OF
acting for the people of Virginia, but took
it upon themselves to say whe should con-
suit with them. Twenty-eight gentlemen
who met here appointed a committee OF
nine, who went to Washington. 1t had
/ La Al l.l l,,S