Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1871-10-05
A ddress 10 The Conservative Voters OF
Virginia.

Your State Convention has met, delib
GRATED and adjourned in spirit of har-
monv, and with community and earnest
ness of purpose which promise the most
ansp icions results for the contest in
which you are about to engage. In few
words they have given you its sign and
counter sign-opposition and defeat to
Radicalis.n, whenever and wherever it
may be found In virtue of the trust
with which they are clothed, tie Conserva-
tive State Committee would offer you some
reflections which they hope will seem
appropriate the occasion. They will
bs as brief as a subject so extensive will
perfoit.
It's with Radicalism, as it bears on
the internal affairs of our State, that we
are now most concel ned but glance at
it as it Displays itself on the theatre Of
The nation cannot be we'll omitted from
a proper survey of cur political condition.
At the close of TIE war, and among its
most disastrous results, Ise Radical party
found itself without an opposition. and "a
thing scarcely possible in the Conception
of its framers) in unchecked contro.. OF the
Constitution From chat moment it has
set no limits to its corrupt ambition. L<y
a continuous train of usurpations, the
checks and balances Of the Government
have been destroyed, and the powers con-
faed to it for the defence and support of
freedoi,l have been perverted to its des-
truction. Here in these Southern States,
where the love OF constitutional liberty
has struck its roofs deepest, and its forms
have ever been most re, -erentially practic-
ed, its determined purpose has been to
subdue the people to It's will, AID reign
over them by force. It has submit, ed to
their choice change in the Constituted
designed for their punishment and de-
graduation, in proposing which they were
denied voice, and for rejecting which it
struck their government from existence.
Martlal-law was proclaimed against them,
and military satraps, in the pride and
insolence of unbridled power, strobe over
the land trampling on the rights, the
feelings and sensibilities of their people
BY the wholesale prescription of their
wealth, intelligence and refinement, T.
transferred the sovereign authority to
horde of newly freed negroes. and worse
than these native parasites of absolute
power, and foreign adventures devoid of
character nay destitute even of the in
stincts of decent shame. These we're the
reformers it set to frame Republican con-
stitutions for the Sothern States, whose
labors have issued in putting under the
ban every one who bore 'evidcnce of
permanent common interest with, and |
attachment to tie community and in /
driving the ploughshare of ruin through |
all that was venerable and venerated in the |
institutions, forms and usages of the real |
people. In fine, it has wagcd war against
the Anglo-Saxon civilization which has
existed in these States from their founda-
lion. and its final defeat and overthrow.
But the last experiments in statesman
ship by this party have taken a wider
range than those which preceded them.
)ne design, doubtless, to control these
Southern 'disloyap States, bat their scope
mbraccs all the States of the Union. The
of unlimited personal gov
rnment at the centre, upon the ruin of
he States, is plainly their object. But
70 tyranny is safe where suffrage is free
10 State is thoroughly subdued which
etains the right and power to protect
be rightc Of persons of its citizens. A!
tate unequal to til is is but a mockery anG
shame. Conscious Of these primary
Fuths. the Radical Congress has, in its
no election acts, assumed control of al
tate elections where members of Congress-
% to be elected. aud by the existing
onstito ton Of Virginia most Of the State
ectious concur with those elections as to !