Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-07-28
VIRGINIA POLITICS.
Address Of the State Conservative Com.
mittee.

The following address to the Con
sentative voters OF Virginia has JUS
been issued by the State Committee.
" it will be seen by the published
proceedings of the State Conservative
Committee that a thorough reOrgan-
izatiOn Of the party, under popular
sanction and approval, is deemed e5.
sential TO its interests. There has been
no convention of the party since 1857.
The organization then instituted
springing directly from the people
| did its work successfully in the men,
| Orable contest of 1869. Subsequently,
it was superseded by a fresh delega-
ton of authority from the COnserva-
tive members OF the Legislature. It
is sufficient to say that, under the new
plan thus inaugurated, whether from
inherent defects, or causes which have
superVened, the influence Of the cen
trail authority has been measurably
impaired. 1t is felt that a reCur-
renee to the original source Of
authority is necessary, harmon
iZing with Republican usage and,
il is believed, with the popular
wish. A closer and more thorough
discipline than now prevails is re-
Quired to save the party from some
evils which distract and weaken it,
and which, If unchecked, threaten Ii
with serious disaster. Chief among
these Is the growing prevalence OF
what are termed independent" can
didates-men who, protesting to be-
long to the Conservative party, throw
themselves, whenever a chance for
Office offers, in opposition TO its NOM
nations, divide its ranks, coalesce
with the adversary, and often effect
uaIly destroy its organization. Meas.
ures Of thorough reform in this respect
viii doubtless proceed from the Con-
veniIOn which will assemble in Au-
gust. They will 60 out with the stamp
of its approval, and meet everywhere,
it is believed, with cheerful accept
ance and ready obedience.
The Legislature which will be elect
ed under the auspices Of this COnVen.
ton may meet a crisis in the fortunes
of our people, which will demand all
its sagacity, courage, and resources.
We are not left to doubt by the legis-
latiCn OF Congress, and the recent
cOnCuct of the President, that the
party in power does not mean to re-
sign it, II il can be retained by fraud
or force, still less If il can be kept by
trampling on the Southern people.
The slight CLEAN Of Presidential favor
which enabled US to vote down the
DISTINGUISHING clauses in the State
Constitution WIS speedily withdrawn.
Ever since, we have lain under the
sullen frown Of power. Never since
have we received from Congress or
from the President one sign of con-
ciliatiOn, encouragement, or cheer.
But measures of ~repressiOn, test-Oaths,
and political exclusion have pursued
us, in the dreary, vulgar routine
tyranny, inventing nothing new,
repeets itself the world over. The
laws which clothe the President with
for political Ofienses too
vaguely defined 10 be ineligible, TO
the Southern States, 10 sus-
pend the h0beds corpus, and employ
the army and navy against their IN
people, were passed at his per-
5onal solicitation, after Congress had
expressed its sense that no more poll
teal legislation was required by the
state OF the country, and was about to
adjourn. he declares now, in
formal proclamation, that these laws
are of ''extraOreinary importance;D
that although they are of general an
pIieaaion in their terms, s'the necessity
therefor is well known TO have been /
caused chiefly by persistent violations
81 the rights OF citizens Of the United
states by combinations OF lawless and
iisafiected persons In certain locall-
lies, lately the theater OF Instruction
md military conflict !" and not halt
no a. their extraordinary" or doubt
MI character, he declares "that he
will not hesitate to exhaust the powers
.hus vested In the Executive when