The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-05-29
ADDRESS OF THE STATE ExEcU-
TIVE COMMITTEE OFT CON
sEnyATIvE PARTY.
TO THE CONSERVATIVE VOTERS OF
VIRGINIA..

urged YOU "to organize for the purpos
of defeating such obnoxious provisions q
the constitution framed by the late Convcn
! ton at Richmond rs may be separately sub
mittcd and securing the election OF nropc
| persons TO the LEGISLATURE; but forcbor
| 10 make any recommendation in regard I,
voting on the constitution or for the princi
pal State officers. This departure from TIL
| former policy of the party is due in n grea
degree TO change i'll the conduct of tn
Government at Washington towards tn
State, and corresponding change III tn
| sentiments of the people themselves. Whcl
it seemed the purpose to coGrcc the adop
ton of the constitution rs 1t CAM
+! from the hands Of its trainers the,
were banded in unqualified opposi
ton TO it, and nominated candidate
who represented that opposition: bu
when it became probable, that in the form
of submitting it to the vote, an apportunlt.
would he afforded to cXpurgatc its most Oh
noxiols Enthusiastically restoring to TIT
white race it's legitimate influence in TIN
affairs of the State, with the accompanying!
power TO affect future amclioraton> in thu
| organic law-it became apparent that TIT
plan of unconditional resistance to recon
| struction had ceased to command the on
| indispensable condition of succcSS--d nn'tct
pc0pic. Many Conservatives, too, fatlGllet
! into compliance years OF passive suffering
had come 10 regard negro suffrage, alrcad!
riyctcd on eight of the southern States as ;
fixed fact in the destiny of them all !; and tx
accept it rs such, along with the alienation!
which would attend restored suffrage. re-
stored eligibility to office, and the win
lrawal of military rule. The test vote III Inc
Convention upon the policy proper to he
adoptcd in this altered state of circllm-
stances, may probably be regarded as a fair
cyponcnt of the change which had taken
place in the minds Of the people. A decided
majority favored the new line ofactlon winch
was ad0ptcd TO have gone into the APP
preaching struggle divided in counsel.
and distracted by the presence OF can
ddatcs of the several shades OF opinion,
represented by WithcrS, Walker, ana
Wells. would have been to assure the sue
cess of the last named. and perhaps the
adoption of the constitution with all its
cnormitieS. Some compromise, therefore,
became indiSpcnSably necessary; and that
was found in the spirit Of generous conccS-
sion with which Il minority, marked for its
purity, and patriotism. yielded
the ground OF unconditional opposition, and
in which the candidates who had stood on
that ground resigned their positions-con-
duct worthy of them, and which has en-
tailed on their tcllow-citiZens an obligation
as grateful as il will be firm and lasting.
Those who dissented from the majority only
required to he left free to vote at pleasure in
the election on the constitution and for state
officers and the Convention accordingly re-
Trained from making any recommendations
on those subjects. 1t prescribed no tests.
but confined its celebrations to those OBJ
icctS as TO which it will be conceded all Con-
Scrvatiycs agree-opposition TO the clauses
of the constitution which will be separately
submitted, and securing the election of Il
proper Legislature.
Muck and natural dissatisfaction is felt at
the refusal to submit the county organiZa-
ton clause to Il separate vote and it has
been suggested by some whose opinions are
entitled to respect that the disappointment
thus inflicted furnishes Il reason for recon-
>iderin" the policy adopted Gy the Convcn-
ton. and for its rc;iSScmbing for that pur-
pose. But ii would seem that such mca-
sure would involve loss Of time which
could i'll be spared from the work OF or
ganiZaton and preparation for action, would
induce doubt and distraction in our coun-
sells, and result at last in adherence to the
well-conSidcred conclusions already an
nOunced. Moreover, such course would
he departure from that liberation OF dis
Scnting opinions which induced the Con-
vcntion to leave the vote on the constitu-
ton and on candidates an entirely open
question. Could the minority of that body
hy any process grow into ma orty on that
question, it would surely be an Un@raciou>
return to prescribe Il test TO those who diff
fer with them when they would not will
luglv have accepted one themselves. But
there is reason to believe that instead of be-
coming majority they would, on the re-
assembling of the Convention, find their
numbers rcduced-at least there is none to
suppose they have increased.
But the question which rises above all
others in importance is Should not the
white vote be rallied in its fnll strength i'll
opposition to the test-oath and dislran-
cniSing clauses? The defeat of these clauses
will be in effect 4 measure of white enamel.
patton. 1t will rescue the white race from
political ostracism, restore to it the control
OF the State, and forever secure to the viz.
tue, intelligence, and property interests c1
the community, their legitimate influence
1t will empower those who pay the taxes tC
levy and eXpcnd them, thus frustrating Tho
organized Spoliation which Il combination
OF negroes, pauperS, and worthless auVcn-
turcrs would otherwise have inflicted. II
will confer the power of change or repea
over the Constitution itself; which under
the system of exclusion 1t designed TO per
petuatc, would have been forever ilnpnSSi
bic. On this subject the State Of Tennessee
affords a mournful but instructive example
There what practically constitutes the State
is just what was designed to be organized
under this Constitution. i'll its original form
The blacks, brutaliZed by years of slavery
joined with native whites of the l0weSl
order, and adventures from abroad, if pos
Sible, worse, make up the body polite
There we have seen mob militia, white
and black, headed by Il ruthan Governor, III
dulgin" its proper instincts in their widest
excuses. Lawless force usllrps the place
Of order and law. No right is sacred: nc
home is safe. Meantime, the virtue, intel
ligence, and wealth of the State are wholly
excluded from the government, and dcniel
its protection. Those who in fact o1rn the
State stand outside of the organization thu,
created, powcrlcSS to change, because de
MED admission into it. And thus must thi:
unhappy people continue, until perhaps (;
bloody revolution puts Il period to the SUI:
tcring they endure.
Only second in importance to the successful
assertion Of our rights as members of tn,
body polite will be the election Of a Legs
laturc with the power and the disposition
to avert or mitigate the various evils de-
signed to be inflicted under this con>titu
ton. The taxing power will be in il:
hands; the election of judges and other
State officers: legislation on salaries, count,
organization government Of cities anC
towns, education militia homestead ant
other exemptions; Il reapportiOnment o
representation after the census to be takcl
next year; future changes in the constitu
tion-all the great objects of Government
may enter into its deliberations. Can We
hesitate whether to contide power over
these vital interests to friendly hands. or by
Indifference and naction suffer it to devolyC
on such rs are alien and hostile: 1t is ear
nestly recommended that men of ability an(
character, deserving the confidence of the
people, he brought out and sruDorted fOl