Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-01-05
For the Spectator.
The Richmond Conference.

zens, to distinguished gentlemen in other parts
of the State, about forty gentlemen assembled
in Richmond, on Thursday last to confer and
compare opinions upon the present perilous
condition of the Commonwealth. The imme-
date occasion Of the meeting was the supposed
necessity OF taking prompt means to prevent,
if possible, the imposition on our people of the
odious constitution prepared by the late Con-
vention Governor Wells is reported to have
declared that whatever was necessary to be
done to ensure the ratification of that Consti-
tuition would be done, which we presume
means, neither more nor less, than that if its
adoption cannot be secured by fair means, it
will by foul. 1t seems also to be understood,
that within fortnight, bill will be reported
in Congress, to vacate, within 20 days from the
passage of the act every Office in the State
The effect Of this measure would be, to throw
the State into state of anarchy, and to fill all
our positions of trust with adyenturers, carpet
baggers and scalawags.
The urgency of the circumstances, in the
opinion OF the gentlemen referred to seemed to
require prompt and decisive action, and hence
the Conference in Richmond. The object was
not to supercede, or interfere with the action of
the Central Committee, or the people, but to
be IN concert with, and auxiliary to the more
general authority.
The gentlemen who composed the Confer
ence did not profess to act as the representa-
tives of the people, but entirely for themselves,
and on their own individual responsibility.
Among those present were our county. men
J. Niche, Maj. Ell. NJ Bell and N. X. Trout
and others. From other parts of the State
came such men as Wyndham Robertson, of
Washington James Z. johnson, of Bedford
Thomas S. Flournoy, of Halifax; w. T. Suth-
erlin, Of Pittsyvania; Ara Dickinson, Of
Prince Edward; John L. Marye, of Freder-
icksburg, G. w. Boiling, of Petersburg, Mr.
Slaughter and Mr.. Glass, of Lynchburg; Thos.
Branch, Mr.. Neeson and others of Richmond
Mr.. Garrett, of Essex; Mr.. Harrison, Of
Loudoun; W. 3. Rufin and Col. McCrae, of
Chesterfield and Mr.. Pendleton and Mr.. john
son, of Giles; and Magruder, of Albemarle,
Whitehead, Of Nelson, and other gentlemen Of
prominence from other quarters.
In the opinion Of these gentlemen we are
now between two opposite, but equally formi-
dable dangers. If we adopt the Constitution,
our condition will be intolerable, because we
will be under the absolute domination of ad-
venturers and the worst classes Of our popula-
ton. IF we reject it, we shall probably be re-
garded as contumacious, and be subjected to
harsh and coercive provisional government ad.
ministered by the worst men, and sustained by
such militia as is now inficting untold hor-
rors on the people Of Arkansas.
TO AVOID these evils, the gentlemen who as
sembled in Richmond, thought it wise to send
delegation of their own number, to Wash
ington, to try to secure a modification of the
Constitution, on the best terms they could. To
this end, they proposed to consent to universal
suffrage as the best and only means of getting
rid Of the sweeping acknowledgements and other
equally nisohieyous evils, imposed By this Con-
stltution as it now stands. They regard negro
suffrage as now inevitable It cannot be
avoided The republican party have the gov~
eminent for four years to come, and negro sufS
frage is one Of their cardinal doctrines. They
would just as soon tolerate the restoration of
slavery, as surrender the ides Of negro suffrage.
Unless therefore We are prepared to renew the
war, and fight for exemption from it, we may
just as we'll yield to overwhelming necessity
When we were overwhelmed by superior mill.
tary power we gave up slavery, as logical
consequence of defeat. And now that we have
been overwhelmed at the ballot-box we are un>
der similar necessity to give up our views on
the question Of negro suffrage
Entertaining these opinions the Richmond
meeting selected delegation OF nine gentlemen
to go to Washington, to try and negotiate a
compromise with Congress on the basis pro-
| posed by Judge Chase, the N. Y. Tribune and
N. Y. Times, viz: Universal suffrage and
universal amnesty" The meeting did not
pretend to have changed its opinions on the
merits Of the question: but on the contrary.
avowedly yielded to power they could not re-
sist They thought it better by this timely
concession, to take the chance of avertlng the
other terrible evils that seem to be in store for
us, rather, than by inaction, to lose every thing
Whatever doubts may exist in the minds Of
any Of our readers, as to the wisdom or ex-
pediency of the measures adopted by the Rich
mond Conference no one will question the
patriotism Of their motives. The future will
show how far the movement will be successful.
We can only hope, that by earnest appeals to
Congress, some favorable impression may be
made on that body, and that it may be induced
to relax It's harsh policy towards Virginia.
The following is list Of the persons who
compose the delegation to Washington Alex.
Fl. Ii. Stuart, John l.. Marye, John B. Bald
win, Wyndham Robertson, VIM: L. Sutherlin
VIM. L. Owen, James E. johnson, James
Neesop aud J. Slaughter.
These gentlemen will repair, at an early day
to Washington, and use every effort ID their
power, to secure favorably result.
When the issue of their negotiation is as
certained, they will make report to Conven,,
ton of the people, which it is proposed shall
be held in Richmond, on 10th February: II
the adjustment is satisfactory, that body will
take the proper steps to ratify tiff their eff
forts fail then it will be for the people OF VIr-
ginia, by their convention, to decide what shall
be done in that melancholy contingency.
Lest it should be supposed that the=e gentle
men proposed to interfere with the proper
province Of the Executive Committee at Rich
mond, We will state, that we have learned that
that committee, at one of its late meetings. IN
cined to the opinion that it had power only to
ND oorr,, affact tho noljcv
ed by the Convention of Dec. 1867, from which
it derived its authority, and that it could not
legitimately, even under the changed condition
of public affairs, mark out new policy. This
idea of their powers-which was probably the
correct one, necessarily limited their capacity
for usefulness, and seemed to the Richmond
Conference, to justify that body in taking such
action as in their judgment, the pressing necess
sites of the occasion required. We can only
await the progress of events with hope not
unmingled with solicitude.
SENSIBLE REsoLUTIoNs-The negroes in
Perry county, Mississippi, have formed Dem
ocratic club. and have adopted several resolu-
tons, of which the following copied from an
exchange) are a sample:
1st. That the et-baggers won't do, but
that the Southern whites will
ID That the carpet baggers can't do, but
that the Southern whites can.
Sd. That the carpet-baggers can be trust
ed but that the whites can.
RANDOLPH MACON CoLLEGE.-The ami
versary celebration of the Franklin Society of
this College will take place on the 18th inst, at
I o'clock, p NJ. Eulogist-J. Harmon, Of