The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-10-12
THE QUESTION OF ENROLMENT.


E'e are satisfied that large majority Of the
Conservative voters of Augusta county will
not enroll themselves under the Conscrip-
ton Tan adopted by the late State Conven-
ton. There is no obligation resting upon
them to do so, and there is no necessity, rea-
son or policy in doing so. It makes voter
no less or no more Conservative to be en-
rolled, but it certainly abates much Of his in
dependence of character and adds to his will
ingness to bow to the will and bear the yoke
Of one man, expressed in vain and imperi-
GUS manner, contemptibly disgusting. There
is no power, lcgitmately, to prevent any con
sentative voter from participating in the
Township meetings or serving as a delegate
to the nominating Convention if elected by
his Township, or Of running for Office, wheth-
err nominated or not. If by adhering to this
feature Of the 'plan,' and insisting that no
one who is not enrolled shall be s,recognized
or counted Conservative" no possible
good can be accomplished, but incalculable
harm will be effected, where is the common
sense, reason or policy of it.? Are men to be
driuen like cattle to do the bidding of the
peculiar patrons of the plan? Must they be
controlled and moulded like clay in the pot
ter's hands? Are they to be dragooned and
mastered by brute force, and not allowed to
exercise their own minds Are they to be
forced out Of the Conservative party, because
they do not choose to sign paper that their
whole political life is not libel?
We tell these gentlemen that they are as
Stunning fearful responsibility. They are
the princes Of disoryanizcrs, aud will as
surely bring grief upon themselves and the
Conservative party as they attempt to play
the role Of Martincts in this crisis Of the
State. They themselves will constitute
faction, and the Convention they may organ
ize-ignoring the rights Of the great mass
of the Conservative voters-will be ridden
over and utterly repudiated by the people
We warn them in time, that the people intend
to think for themselves-they intend to act
for themselves, without fear, favor or affec
ton, emancipated from the dictation and
vain assumptions of those who to say the
most are no more than the peers Of those
they attempt to prosrcibe. Are they any
wiser, have they any deeper interest in the
material affairs of the community, are they
controlled by purer motives and purposes ?
Not at all. 1t is nothing but the despotic
design to make the masses do as they wish
and direct 1t is an effort to make other
wills bend to theirs, and to carry out their
own theories regardless Of individual predi-
lections, or the interest and harmony Of the
Conservative party. There is nothing prac-
teal, nothing substantial in this feature of
the plan. IF to carry out the vain concep-
ton, its author and his followers are deter
mined to jeopardize the harmony and unity
of the Conservative party, and attempt to
place under party ban and condemnation,
the great mass Of the laboring and working
classes, who do not choose to act the part Of
subservient slaves, let the responsibility rest
where it properly belongs The masses Of
the Conservatives Of The county oW not sab
NIT to this conscription laao This is a stub
born fact. Now will these gentlemen dare
to attempt to organize convention, without
the masses represented? We will see.