The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-08-31
UNION, VIRGINIA.
PARTY ORGANIZATION.

comp!lshment OF whatever good is contem.
plated in the organization. 1t, however, to
be effective, uust be free from the suspicion
of selishness, and rise to the high ground of
patriotic devotion to the welfare of the whole
State. Whenever this object is clearly fore
Swallowed, we are for conventions in every
contest. But we cannot give our consent t.
the use of party organization for the purpose
of gratifying personal ends. And while VIC
are not willing to charge wilful disposition
to jeopardize the success of the Conservative
party to any one who processes to adhere to
the organization, we must record our dissent
from what we regard the impolitic course Of
the Ttndicotor in connection with the rep
rcsentation from Augusta county in the next
Legislature. That journal, for several weeks
has been hedging, evidently with the purpose
of pushing forward the claims OF some par
In the last issue of that paper, the secret Of
its course is made plain. La few words, it is
opposition to Judye Cochran 1t is well
known that circular, gotten up by some Of
the friends of that gentleman, has been pre-
scented to and signed by gentlemen in some
portions of the county, calling upon him to
permit his name to be used as candidate for
the State Senate. It is generally understood
that Mr.. Waddell will not be a candidate for
reelection. Although there has been no
public announcement Of that fact, yet we are
satisfied that he has no desire to continue in
legislative life When he consented to serve
before, it was with reluctance, but he did not
feel at liberty to decline the fattering call.
and the highly complimentary manner in
which the confidence of his constituency was
extended to him. He made conscientious
faithful and efficient representative, and dis
charged the duties of his Office to the best of
his ability, and with general acceptabilty-
Having yielded in that instance we have un-
derstood he sometime ago stated that his pri-
tire time.
The call upon Judge Cochran, under these
circumstances, was perfectly legitimate. 1t
contemplated no forestalling of Convention
action. Yet the Viadicator says--'5e acarn-
ed IN time .4roid calling on inezivtduals'
That is, the people must be gagged They are
not to say their souls are their own, but their
identity and individuality must be merged
into the set schemes and plans Of parties who
tain gentlemen and to nominate others We
have never been anything else but party
man in party contests. But we have never
seen the time, when the people could be driy-
Ell from their liberty to indicate their pref
erence for an Individual who is recognized as
a member Of the party. Party machinery
is regarded as very proper thing, when ii
can be used to accomplish individual ends,
and be made subordinate to personal preju.
dice But circumstances sometimes alter
cases." Party machinery was not sufficiently
potent to bind our neighbor in the last Con-
gressional contest.
We repeat here what we have said before
through these columns, that the people have
become tired and disguised with the manner
in which conventions are managed. We have
only to note, as a very significant evidence OF
their total Indifference on this subject, the at
tendance on the Township and ward meetings
in Beverly Manor and Staunton. While we
have not word to say except in commenda-
tion, as to the result Of their action and the
highly respected gentlemen who were chosen
as delegates and alternates to the Richmond
Convention, yet it is a pertinent fact, that not
more than 20 voters of the Township attend
ed the meeting on Saturday at 3 o'clock, and
not dozen attended either of the ward meet
ings on Saturday night.
Suppose the delegates to county nomina-
ting convention, should receive their APP
pointments by similar meetings, so SHINY at
tended Could any one assume that such
action would reflect the sentiments and indi-
vidual preference, of the entire voting strength
of the Conservative party of the county
We should think not.
IF county convention is held, let it be
reflection and fair representation of the Con-
servativo party Of the county. Let the dele
gates be appointed in such manner that there
will be no excuse for boiling. We do not in
tend that the party lash shall be cracked over
US by a few self-const1tutcd leaders, who can
present no recorded evidence of popular con-
fdence in their infallability.
We are as much opposed to party tyranny
as we are to party disintregation. We can
not see the occasion or the necessity for either
But let it be borne in mind, that the people
are not slaves, to do the bidding of self-ap-
pointed masters, and to obey the dicta of a
few who are moved and animated by personal
feelings and individual dis'ikcs
As to this particular fling at Judge Coch-
yaa ia the ,'sll9icatul', we care net to make
further cd:i,asanh- But II = rather an anom-
alous sac Of ii,iugs. Chen il representative
his served lis CONSTITUENCY and ihe State.