Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1870-08-11
Address Of the Conservative s
Central Committee.

lSlature nave III COuieieHOc icoOiFeo tH1s
the organization of the Conservative par
ty, maintained during the last gaberna-
torial canvass. be revived and perfected
for action in the approaching fall elections,
and to that end have constituted .'The
Central Executive Committee of the State
of Virginia. ato continue in Office until su-
perseded by regular convention of the
people. In assuming its responsible dn-
ties, the committee deems tho occasion
suitable for some brief reflections on the
condition and future prospects of the Con-
servatigo party.
In the chart laid down for the commit
tee it will be.secn that no new political
combinations are conceived, nor is any
new political policy avowed, We only re-
sumo the work of the Conservative or
ganization as it was in 1869, aud SEEK to
perfect it, We aim to perpetuate the tri-
umphs OF that year ; to consolidate
the strength then acquired to secure in
the hands which then won, and now hold
it, the political power of the State. so
In conjuneture like this it may be of
use to review the past and draw from it,,
as we may, encouragement and hope for
the future The opening days Of the past
year were heavy indeed for our beloved
State. Thick gloom covered her like the
pail thrown over the dead Turn where
fhc eye would, darkness was on the face
of the decp" Military power was SUI
prcme. Her government had been strick-
en- from existence, and by the blow, as by
the shock of paralysis, her very an imation
seemed suspended. Her sovereignty.
which for centuries had bound up in aus
picious union the blessings of freedom,
law, and order, had been suffered to pass
into new body poltic-hcr former slaves,
allied with q set of wretehed adycntufers,
seeking profit from their ignorance and
suggested crimes. A convention, sprung
from This source, and fifty representing it.,
had dccrecd the political slavery of the
mass OF her white population. Taxation
secured in such hands would have been
organized robbery, and government itself
standing conspiracy against the public
peace. Civil law, which for time had
been permitted to speak with batod breath +,
was now wholly silonced. All the Off
cors of the State, elected Or appointed BY
the will of the people, went out of their
Offices at fixed day, and the people. were
thus left without law, because without
officers to execute the law. Power seem
cd to have passed beyond recall into the
new dispensation, which, defiant and
secure in organized strength, stood ready
to infict on its old possessors, divided in
council and almost apathetic from dasnIair.
the fate, Of all the most intolorable, to
live in slavery to their former slaves. An
arcby or the bayonet seemed the only
alternatives to the threatened iniquity.
But with the incoming of new admin
istration new policy towards the States
then excluded from the Union and lying
under military restraint, was Swallowed
forth. Gen Grant had already declared
the opinion that these States were entitled
to be restored to civil government and to
readmisaion into the Union. His special
and FIRST message to Congress held gu:
the first sign Of concliation-tho first olive
branch, over the get unsubsidcd waters
Of civil strife. It recognized the political
! enfranchisement of the negro (now an
accom- plished fact in all the States), bu;
to the whites was yielded the opportuni-
ty to secure for themselves the control Of
| the State forovcr-the power to levy and
expcni its revenues. to provide FOR ii
wholesome laws, to devclopo its resources
to change, if SO advised, its organic law,
and in all respects to shape It's future
added to which would be readmission into
the Union and escape from the bayonet
the carpet bag, the League!
a convention of the members of the
Conservative organization assembled il
April. 1869, under these novel circum.
stances, greatly changed from those which
attended the original delegation of it:
power. The notable characteristic of it,
action was its total abnegation of authori.
ty to decide upon the new and momentou:
question which confronted it, The con
sention felt that it 10 longer represented
the sentiment Of unconditional opposition
to the Constitution, for it could not b,
blind to the growing inclination of tn.
popular mind to accept it in its proposed
altered form. It was acknowledged tia
u new political departure must be taken
that the people in their original capacity
must be consulted on the issue now. fol
the first tilne presented. Never wa
there apopular appeal with which OLE
parties and party questions and names
had so little to 90. It was the uprising Of
a race for its own redemption. Of thi
movement the ruling conservatism of to-
day was born. Sprung from that race, i
exists by its fiat, and embodies its ex
pressed will.
1t is inseparable, perhaps, from the hui
man disposition to overrate the evils O.
the present, which are sensible and felt,
compared with those which are past, anc
of which the memory has become obscur.
cd. No revolution however successful
ever brought with it the unmizcd good
which in the ardor Of hope it was expect
ed to achieve. Tho triumph of Consersa
tiFm in Virginia is 40 exception to th,
! general law. 1t has not, in some unex
planned way, relieved the people from til,
pressure of debt, nor repaired as by mira
Gle the desolations Of war. 1t has not
unaided, built up our railroads and canals
nor developed the hidden wealth of tn,
field, the forest, and the mine. Hercue.
as of yore, will aid only those who put th,
shoulder to the wheel. But we wer.
strangely inscnsible not to acknowledge
such blessings as the restoration of civi
law in the place of irresponsible military
power the pare and equal administration
of justice by judges of our own choosing
the reign of general quiet and order the
enactment of laws and their enforcement