The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-10-05
A FEW PLAIN WORDS.

and We are equally firm in our resolve not to
allow feeling of morbid stolidity, or sense
Of wilful blindness to overcome us. We
have said nothing about what might have
been regarded as an amusing farce, did it
not partake of the character of dangerous
experiment, enacted at Richmond, commenc-
ing on the Both of August and closing on the
3lst of that month, aud which will be known
in the current history of the Stale as the
Conservative Convention of 1871. It's sins
of omission were as glaring as its blunders
of commission It left undone the things
it should have done, and did the things it
should not have done. 1t failed to declare
it was inexpedient and dangerous for persons
disqualified under the 18th amendment to
the Federal Constitution to run as candidates
for the Legislature but passed plan of or
ganization-a political CONSUMPTION zap-so
violently in conflict with personal indepea-
dence-so insulting to selfrespect-th it
must fall by the weight Of its own stupidity,
and in falling threaten the unity of the Con.
servatlve party of the State.
So much infatuated are the friends of this
plan with the beauty of its military features
SO charmed are they with its similltude to
the code of the Thirty Tyrants Of Athens
SO attracted by the Pecksnifian virtues to be
distilled from it-that it has been boldly an
| ~, i
roll himself as directed, and sign his name
, as voucher for his individual integrity, to
the form Prescribed in black and
white, what his whole political life has
: avouched, and his present convictions and
declarations confirm, that he is Conserva-
tive-he must be read out Of the party, and
one Of the tens or 'fifties'-have his collar
on his neck, and be led or driven to the polls
= and compelled to vote just as his chief may
dictate In other words, he must surrender
. his individuality, his self respect, his man.
hood, his honest convictions, and subordinate
, everything that goes to make up a man to
political Dyonisus whose dctum is to be law
h We very much mistake the temper and
. character of the Conservative voters of Au-
gusta county and the Valley of Virginia, +
they will tamely submit to any such petty
= tyranny, or allow themselves to be denomna
q ted Radicals by shaIlow-patad aud inteectu-
In. L.
their refusal to recognize the necessity, the
a expediency or the policy of any such arbtra-
ry and Insulting ''plan' as that proposed by
r. the late Conservative State Convention -
We will confess to the absence of the least
appreciation or understanding Of the people
of Augusta, if even onc-sixth Of the conser-
vatve voters of the county deem it essential
to establish the verify of their word, that
they should formally subscribe to paper set
ting forth that fact IF consistent political
record must be avouched by what is equiva-
lent to notarial attestation, they might as
! we'll be required to take an oath that they
| are not liars.
s9hen the proposition comes up to read
! men out of the conservative party and assign
them to political fellowship with the Radicals,
there will be two to play at that game. The
q question will have to be determined, whether
the Mountain will have to come trembling
and obedient to the feet of Mohammed, or
that grand old Musselman take up his kit
tbo hail bo
turbulent and rushing Euphrates will con-
crete and solidify its waters to be chained by
o he iron links Of Xerxes, or move on in their
accustomed channels with lofty disdain for
the impotent presumption of an infatuated
tyranny. Five-sxths of the conservative
party Of Augusta county can never be driv-
o en- from their political afiliation and identi.
q ty by one-sixth. The lesser will have to
give way to the greater, and the masses of the
party maintain their political consistency, let
the consequences be what they may.
This new tangled political conscriptive law,
j has nothing in it that touches sympathetic
h cord with the people It was conceived in
tuo lOCd VI PaieJ ~ 6AN VII o'SN oS "l'
, tyranny has sunk, beneath the majestic tread
of free and unclaimed people. There could
= not have been conceived or incorporated into
). any political machinery more glazing mis-
y conception of the character of an intelligent
people, Or more transparent insult to their
independence, than is conveyed in this plan,
e and there could not have been more shall
e low and contcmptibly ridiculous punishment
n suggested, than that which has been pro-
;. claimed on our streets, that those who refuse
c to sign their names as politica. nonenitcs,
?, the abject and supple substances of the chiefs
Of items" and sifties" shall be thrown body
and breeches into the Radical party. We
e should like to see the man or the set of men,
a who have the power, or who would dare to
e assume to exercise the power, Of classii yine
is the Conservatives who decline to obey this
e CONSUMPTION law, as Radicals. When that
$ attempt is made, there will be Roland for
e an Oliver-there will be Greek graphing