Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-08-06
To the People of Virginia..

ZatlOQ or the CONSERVATIVE party,
during the last gubernatorial canvass, be re-
yiyed and perfected for action in the approach
inc fail eleciops, aud to that end have eonst-
tuted The Central Executive Committee Of
the State of Virginia" to continue iI Office uu
til superseded by regular convention OF the
people In assuming its responsible duties,
the committee deems the occasion suitable Tor
some trlet reflections on the condition and
iuture prospects Of the Conservative party.
In the chart laid down Tor the committee it
will be seen that no new political combinations
are conceived. nor is any new political policy
avowcd. We only resume the work OF the
Conservative organization as 1t was IN 1869,
and seek to perfect il. We aim to perpetuate
the triumphs of that year 10 consolidate the
strength then acquired to secure IN the hands
which then Won, and now hold 1t. the political
power of the State
In coDj juncture like this it may be Of uss
to review the past aud draw from it, as We
may, encouragement and hope ior the future.
The opening days OF the past year were heavy
indeed tor our beloved State. Thick gloom
covered her like the pail thrown over the dead.
Turn where the eye would, darkness was on
the face Of the deep" Military power was
supreme Her Government had been stricken
from existence, ard ty the blow, as by the
shock Of paralysis, her very animation seemed
suspended Her sovereignty, which Tor CEN
turieS bad bound up in ausplclous union the
blessings of freedom, law, and order, had been
-uff red to pass into new body politic-her
former slaves, allied with set OF wrelched ad-
yeulurers, seeking profit from their ignorance
snl su4 ges,ed crimes A convention, sprung
from THIS source, aud fifty representing it, had
dtcrctd the political slavery OF the mass IT her
white population. Taxation secured 10 such
hsEds wou have been organized robbery, and
Government itself standing conspiracy against
the public peace Civil law, which lor tim.
had been permitted to speak with bated breath,
was now wholly senced. AL the officers OF
the State, G. ectcd or appointed by the Will OF
the people, went out OF their othces at liked
Jay, and the people we're thus lett without
sw, because without officers to execute the
aw. Power seemed TO have passed beyond
recall into the Dcw dispansaton, which, de-
tant ard secure u organized strength, stood
ready 10 il tlci on its cid possessors, divided IN
touncii AID almost apathetlc from despair, the
ac, Ct all the must intoIerabie, to live in
slavery to their former slaves. Anarchy or the
ayonet seemed the only alternatives to the
threatened iniquty.
But with the incoming OF new Admins
tration a new policy towards the States, then
excluded from the Union and lying under mill
tary restraint, was shadowed forth. General
Grant had already declared the opinion that
these States we're entitled TO be restored to cl-
vil government and to readmission into the
Union. His special and first message to Con
gress held out the first sign o! concl latlon-the
first olive branch. over the yet unsubsided wa
ters OF civil strife. 1t recognized the political
tnfrauchisement of the negro (now an accom-
pished fact in all the States), but to the
whites was yielded .the opportunity to secure
Tor themselves the control OF the State forever
the power to levy and eXpend its revenues,
TO provide for it wholesome laws, to develope
lis resources. to change, II so advised, Its or
ganic law, and 10 all respects to shape Its III
ture added to which would be readmlssion
into the Union and escape from the bayonet,
the carpet bag, the League
\ Convention OF the members OF the Con
servative organization assembled in April,
1869, under those novel circumstances, greatly
changed from those which attended he orlgi'
nal delegation of its power. The notable chsr
acteristic OF its action was its total abnegatlon
of authority to decide upon the new and mo-
mentous questions which confronted 1t. The
Convention elt that it no longer represented
the sentiment oil unconditional opposition 10
/ the Constitution, for it could not be blind to
the growing irctination Of the popular mind to
a accert it in its proposed tered form. 1t was
Z ackuowlt dsed that a new political departure
Y must be taken; that the Deope in their original
q capacity must te consult, d on the issues now
Sa for The first time pr, sentcd. Never was there
.@ popular appeal, with which cd parties and
RI party questions and names had so little to do.
.sg 1t was the uprising of a race tor its own re
Vs. demption. OF this movement the ruling con
servatsm of to day was born. Sprung from
that race, its exists BY lis Hdt aud embodies It's
EXPRESSED will.
# 1t is iuseparable perhaps, from the human
ss disposition 10 overrate the evils OF the present,
@ which arc sensible and felt, compared with those
zss which are past, and of which the memory has
& become o.scured. No revolution, however sue
= cesstul. ever brought with it the unmlSed good,
s& which in the ardor of hope it was expected TO
8 achieve The triumph of Conservatism in
SS Virginia is no exception to The general law. 1t
"a has nor, in some unex plained way, relieved the
AZ people from the pressure of debt, nor repaired
i as by miracle the desc ations of war. 1t has
u not, unaided Luilt up our railroads and canals,
& nor developed the hidden wealth OF tic tie d,
the i9res,, and the mine. Hercules, as OF yoIe,
y will aid only those who put the shoulder to the
q wheel But VIE we're strangely lnsenslble not
IS to acknowledge such blessings as the restoration
81 OF civil law lu he place o oirresponslble military
3ss power the pure and equal administration OF
81 Justice by judges OF our choosing; the reign
SS OF general quiet and order; the enactment of
gS laws and their enforcement by LEGISLATURE
81 aud al Extcu,Iv freely elected in word, the
s8 autonomy I, f a Self gov rnug people Were iu-
aS crntivcs wanting to, value such advantages at
s& their proper worth, we need only survey the
ls9 cOu1ilion Of those unhappy States which, in
ssgs their struggles with Radicssm, have been less
s Fortunate in throwing of the incubus Of that
sSs gross and tlucuient domination: The story OF
A ore ut these is the story OF all. Vice, ignorance
8 s and corruption usurp the State. Adventures,
S@ sorlid aud shameless, whom, in great part,
3sss 2s their crimes have expelled from other com.
A lhuu!,irs' win The aid OF an Interior race Sc
SSa3 uucet aud dcbauched by their teachings and
a8 example, cxelcSe authority which is without
8 STOW OF coMmon interest with the Common
1 "eaths they assume to rule. Public Gre dit
@ gore; Iubhc debt heared mountain high :;
N@ taxation lGOEd!nate and insunnnrtahle nrofi