Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1870-09-30
FRIDAY MORNING. SEPTEMBER %. 1870.

other Convention III hichiiiohu A"S' "O'
which is reported in our Richmond ex-
changes as very rich in disorder and other
features. Tt seems to have
been called with the view Of perfeetlng their
organization and agreeing upon platform
Of principles. In this connection they
adopted and put forward a platform, IN
which they re- affirm their old principles"
assert their support of President Grant;
claim the present Administration as he
nublican success; declare for rigid enforce
ment of the Free School system, and assert
that the present General Assembly are not
10 he expected to carry out the constitution
in this particular, nor is it to be hoped tha'
this body will secure to the masses the
..frn;ts" of the now Constitution; denounce
tbe uConservatives" as q contrivance to evade
the issues between the Republican and
Democratic parties, and that their Ultimate
tendency is to side with the latter; give the
True Republicans a rub for their faith
lcsgness to their promises made to Grant and
Csueress and recommend the nomination OF
Renublicau candidates for county Offices
Ali Of this will be readily seen as the merest
claptrap, which when squeezed contains not
a germ of q political principle, unless 1t be
that one general principle--tbe desire Tor
the leaves and fishes Of Office.
The great card which they play Is their
roouest of Congress to enact laws to secure
to the people of the State the ''fnll beneh'
If the Homestead clause Of the Constitution,
and compensation to loyal men in the
South for property taken for the use OF the
Government during the war, and the pay
,nent Of all claims due citizens Of the South
for services rendered prior to the war, under
such guards and restrictions as may be ne
oessary to protect the Government from
imposition"
They expect much from this plank
Thew declare they will make great lnroads
IN the Conservatives, and this is the "prln-
cipls" they put put forth to accomplish the
nurnose The enactment Of the law by
Congress to compensate "Loyal' men IN the
South, they think, and hope, will bring into
their ranks many who have lost property
in some cases their all-at the hands OF the
Government. They quietly assert, 'who
wouldn't be loyal when they are to be paid
their losses" They will fail in their object
we think. They know that when a Demo-
cratic Administration comes in, such step
is sure to be taken. They axe only stealing
Democratic Thunder, and, what is more,
Do,noorass and Conservative understand IL
and will hold aloof from Republican ALI
anoes It was strong card, boldly played
but only exposes the weakness OF the "hana
from which it was played.
marked feature Of this Convention was
the selection Of Maj. Jno. A. harHan,
ssStonewall Jackson's Quartermaster," as
the presiding officer. To see this man. who
aided in the swift marches of stonewall
Jackson's troops, and, to some extent, III
keeping up the efficiency of those troops, by
which they struck the deadly blows against
the enemy which made the name Of "Stone-
wall Jackson famous, and an old Democrat
vitbal, in the mixed and disorderly crowd
that composed that Convention-a sort OF
ruling spirit among them-may be a cause
Of wonder 10 many, and we even now ind
ourselves wondering at this great change OF
front. At all events it is so. "Ssonewall
Jackson's Quartermaster' not only presided
over the Republican State Convention, but,
Judging from the proceedings ofthat body, Is
to-day the leading man in that party. 1t
is this very fact we desire to call attention
to, for another purpose. A bait has been
thrown to Conservatives and Democrats, rs
we have mentioned above, and the fact Of
an old Confederate now occupying the most
prominent position ia the Republican party
NAV have its effect We warn all against
this. Be- not deceived by it. The Demo
Gratis, and Conservatives are gaining ground
every day, and it will not be long before
they are again the ruling power IL this
country. The Republicans know this and
are, on ali sides, by moderating their pro-
scriptions, endeavoring to secure perma-
nent hold of power. Every argument and
device will be used to secure this. Look to
it then and be not deceived by tempting
bats Or rallying cries, but rest assured that
the opponents of Republicanism, will, in a
few brief years, control this country and
make the government, Gin strict subsection
to the Conssitution) really the "best gov
ernment the world ever saw"
The County Convention, held on Mon
day last, was composed Of delegates from
large majority Of the Precincts. How these
j