Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1871-09-08
Mass Meeting i'm Richmond.
ADDRESSES OF
Col. JNO. B. BALDWIN
Ex.GOV. VIM. SMITH.

mond on the 31st, and was addressed by q
number of distinguished speakers We have
only room for an abstract of the remarks Of
Col. Baldwin and Ex.Gov. Smith.
Col. Jno. B. Baldwin, of Augusta, made
a brief and stirring speech. He was no
politician he had left politics at the back
door. On the 18th Of April, 1861, he had
thought for the last time of himself as a
partisan. Since that day he had looked
upon all good citizens of Virginia as mem
bers of the same great party. united for the
salvation and glory of the Commonwealth.
He pictured the utterly depressed people of
Virginia at the close of the war. They
looked abroad for aid, and with what re-
suit We looked natural, to the Govern
ment, knowing that war did not necessarily
cut off the vanquished from the aid of the
victor Or from The sympathy good will
of the outside world. Having surrendered,
it was the duty OF the Government to show
in some degree at least II common humani-
ty. The temper Of the man then in the
chair of the Chief Magistrate was doubtless
good, but in an evil hour he was foully
murdered, and at once there arose howl Of
rage which has hardly yet cea ed to echo.
We of the South were charged with the
wickcdness aAd folly of that aimless crime,
and we have ever sin -e been made to sui.
fer for it. The policy Of the North has been
a war policy we have been prosecuted ard
oppressed !; and from these mean oppres-
sions has arisen our opposition to Radicalism
He then reviewed in detail the course OF
the Radical party towards the South-to-
wards the whites and towards the blacks,
and its evil effects. He likened the incen-
diarism of the Republican emissaries in the
South to that Of the Communists of Paris,
and said that one was not whit worse than
the other. They come here full of the hate
that rascal has for an honest mana loafer
for gentleman, and having been elevated
to positions of trust by their ignorant dupes,
lived and ruled but that their pockets mi ght
be filed. Applause
When Sheridan stated on his raid
through the Valley of the Shenandoah, he
said that he would make it so barren that
neither buzzard nor crow could fly over
it without carrying his carpet bag. His
word had been fulfilled, for since the war
hardly buzzard had appeared in Virginia
without a earpet-bag. Laughter and ap-
plause. The speaker had been at some
pains to trace the genealogy of the carpet
Dagger, and he had found an item about
him in Holy Writ. When the woman an
noil ted the feet Of the Saviour with pre-
cious ointment, there was one stanIing by
who said what waste! it might have been
sold for much and the money given to the
poorw The selfish knave He was not
thinking Of the poor for the Evangelist
adds that he really wanted the money. It
was Judas Iscariot, and he carried the bag.
Great laughter. The lineal descendants
Of that carpet-bagger are in our midst to-
day. Laughter and applause.
Col. Baldwin continued his arraipnment
of Radicalism at considera BILE length, ma
king many telling hits. In view of their
course during these five years he felt that
we we're justified in confning our platform
to the one plank-opposition to the Radical
party. When, therefore, Radical asks a
Conservative to 60 with him on any pre-
text, let the Conservative give the answer
Of the widow at the funeral when bachelor
trod on her toe: "You're too late, I'm en-
gagged" Laughter. He then avowed him.
self thorough going Conservative. By
that term he meant man who don't bite
off his nose to spite his face, but makes the
best of the worst situation man who
strikes for the best attainable. without
wasting time in repining after the best i'm
aginable; man who, in fact, honestly and
fairly accepts the situation 1t is the duty
of the Conservative to let it be known that
he is not conspirator against the Govern
ment under which he lives, but. having ac-
cepted it, strives to improve it, and always
claims bis rights under it. At present, how
ever, our operations are confined to home
department. We want to rid the State of
carpet-baggers and scalawags, and to put
the government of Virginia in the hands Of
Virginians. This done, what then The
speaker would then turn to that party which
promised to do the most for U.S. Applause. I
He cared not what was its name. [s'Good, VI
If in looking for friends in national con.
Aict he, an old line Wing, found himselfin
the ranks to which he was once stranger,
and they called him Democrat" or q
Locofoeo, all right; 60 on he was not to
be scared off by hard names. Laughter
and applause. He concluded with an en-.
couraging estimate of the prospects of the
party and an appeal to sll good citizens to
stand together on the good strong platform
of the Convention; Opposition to Radical
ism.
REMARKS OF EX-GOVERNOR SMITH.
Governor William Smith, being loudly
called for, was next introduced. He spoke
in his usual earnest, characteristic. and ef-
fective style. He proclaimed himself a
conquered but unsubdued rebel ; but he had
sworn to abide the Constitution as whole,
and he intended to do it, as we all ought to
do, hoping to improve it when We get a
chance. Vigilance and cooperation are
necessary for the war in which we are about
to engage. and if we discharge our bounden
duty before God and man, victory, glorious
victory, over the thieving horde which in.
tests our borders will be ours. We will
have 10000 majority in November. As
for himself, though frosted with age he had
the spirit Of five and twenty, and though q
man Of past generation be was in full
sympathy with the present. Thank God, he
had never been cold to country or to woman.
There was twenty years good service in him
yet, and he intended to fight this battle out
on his old plan Of making no provision for a
retreat.
Tho Goyarpa. woo 1oudlv ond froNuon tly