Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-09-05
= Conservative Mass Meeting.

On last Thursday night, after the adjourn
ment of the Conservative Convention, there
was grand mass-meeting held at the Assem-
bly, Hall, Richmond. sf
The meeting was called to order by Gen. P.
I. Moore, on whose motion Mayor Kelley was
appointed chairman.
Speeches were made by Messrs. W. W.
Walker, Esq, Of Westmoreland; Extra Bill
ly' Smith, BILLY Gilmer, and Hon. John B.
Baldwin. The following is the Richmond
Wing $ report of Col. Baldwin s remarks.
f He said long time had elapsed since he
had undertaken to address the people of Rich
mond on any political question. He wished ii
distinctly understood that he was not politi-
clan. He had quit politics. He was one oil
that class that was not considered fit to hold
Office, State or Federal, and he didn't intend
to ask any one to relieve him Of that disabili.
ty.
Mr.. B. referred to the lamentable condition
of Virginia at the close OF the war. On every
hand despair was presented to the people,
They looked around them for sympathy, They
looked naturally to the government at Wash
iugton for some measure of relief. They knew,
of course that they had attempted the over
throw of that Government, but they also knew
that the history of all civilized nations showed
that the vauquished Invariably received the
sympathy of the victors. He then recapitu-
lated the vipdictive legislation Of Congress, and
of the manifestations of hostility and bitter
ness against the South in all parts Of the
North, Mr.. B. discussed the subject thus
presented 10 its various phases He also de-
nounced the carpet-baggers. Sheridan threat
ened in his raid down the Shenandoah Valley
that he would make the country so desoate
tbat buzzard flying across it would have to
carry carpet-bag From that day to this the
flight of such buzzards has continued. The
carpet baggers are lineal descendants of the
man who asked why the ointment and spike
nard was not sold, and the money given to the
poor That man did not care for the poor
not he, for it is recorded that he was thief
and ''held the bag" 1t was serious thing
when We reflect that great party having con-
troll of the government should have sent down
upon us such set of men.
Mr.. B. said he had been an old-line Wing.
of the straightest sect He was now Conser-
vative. a Conservative, as he understood it,
was one who was ready to take that which is
most attalnable, aud not the most imaginable -
one who accepts the situation. He was not
a chronic conspirator against the government.
He had done his best to burst it wide open,
but now he acknowledged the government as
his government, and would do what he could
to improve its administration and rid it of the
curse of Radicalism, which is bringing it into
disgrace That is what he understood to be the
opposition of the Conservatives in Virginia.
Our first duty is to rid the State of Radical
ism. Hereafter he would ally himself with
any national party that would help us. He
did not care what the name of that party might
be. He was not afraid of names, and to secure
the deliverance Of the country he would as
soon be called Democrat or Locofoco as any
thing else.
Mr.. B. closed with an earnest appeal to the
Conservatives to make good fight in the ap-
preaching contest.