Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1872-07-02
Conservative State Convention.

The Conservative State Convention of Vir-
glnla, pursuant to the call of the State Central
Committee Of the party, met, on Thursday, the
9th of June, in the Theatre building in Rich
mond, and was called to order by r. Z. Daniel,
Chairman ofthe State Central Committee, and,
on his motion, Ex-Governor VIM Smith was
| chosen. temporary Chairman. Governor Smith
briefly addressed the Convention on the bust
! ness before them.
He said: This body is met for high and
| holy purpose. 1t is to rescue our liberty and
constitutional rights from vile and INSCRIPTIONS
misrule. How is this to be accomplished P
Hitherto the great Democratic party has enter
| ed the field with acknowledgements of their own
and fought bravey for victory, but without
success. Now another policy seems expedient.
| The Radical party has been divided-the good
men, standing aghast at the doings of the
extremists, have gone one way, and the bad
another. By union with the former the VIC
| tory of honesty and patriotism over robbery and
oppression is at hand. We must go heart and
hand with those at the head of this new move
ment. There must be no division among u.s.
The stragglers must be brought in. Who of us
can hesitate to use Jew, Gentle, or the Devil
to beat Grant and his ofice-holding myrmidons
| A distinguished man, who writes good deal
about, "What he knows about farming" has
said that we must expect squash" in Novem-
Der, and squash there will be when we put Grant
under the foot of Greeley, as we will do in the
doubt of the result if we stand together. Grant
will be beaten, and if beaten, he for one cared
not whether the blow is struck with black oak,
| dog-wood, gum, or genuine history.
| The Secretary of the State Committee (Mr.
James r. Fisher then called the roll of dele
gates.
1.-THE following delegates from this coun-
ty were present: John B. Baldwin, Marshall
Hanger, Aug Blauth, Alexander Lghcner,
William nj. Caldwell, John J. Cupp.l
A Committee on Permanent Organization was
appointed
During the absence of the Committee on Or
| ganization, Colonel Thomas s. Flournoy being
| loudly called for took the stand and addressed
the Convention. He was outspoken In behalf
of the Cincinnati platform and nominees, not
as a choice of evils but because the election of
Greeley was the very thing to save the country
He knew Greeley well; had known him long );
he was an honest lover of his country, and the
reins of government could not be in better
hands. A few weeks ago, while in N. York, he
| called On his old friend Greeley, but found that
he was at Chappaqua trimming trees. He could
not see him, but sent him word that he had. In
his candid judgment, written the best letter of
acceptance that had ever proceeded from the
hand of candidate for the Presidency, and ad-
vised him now to break his pen and throw away
his inkstand and trim trees until election dav.
And now, What shall the Democrats do at
Baltimore? In his opinion the course of that
Convention was plain. They should pass two
simple resolutions first, declaring it inexpe-
dent to make any Democratic nomination and
second, recommending the nominees of the Re.
publican party to the united and hearty sup
port of the whole Conservative people of the
country. lGreat applause. The question at
| issue is not one OF banks Or of tariffs, but one
| OF honesty and emancipation. Greeley succeed
ed in lemancipating the negroes, and now we
want him to emancipate the white people.
Col. Flournoy was frequently interrupted by
| applause.
General James L. Kemper was next called
| for but was physically unable to speak, owing
| to recent accident.
Judge John Critcher, member of Congress-
from the first district, was almost forced on the
stage, and addressed the Convention briefly
He thought the judgment Of the country had
| already been spoken in favor of Greeley and
Brown, and it remained for the Baltimore Con
vention only to record that Judgment
Judge Crltcher, in conclusion, introduced
Major Lacy, OF Sp0tsylvania, who said he had
not been Greeley man from the start but he
regarded the movement in his favor as great
popular uprising which cannot be resisted and
which must be successful. For the first time
In seven years the bottom dog In the fight has
received cheer. For the first time the right
hand OF fellowship has been extended to us by
our northern brethren. We must grasp that
hand; an era of peace will commence in this our
year of jubilee.
The Committee on Organization reported
lion. John Goode, Jr, of Norfolk, for per,na-
no orf H.. 4.
congressional district
The report was adopted.
On taking the chair the President was out
spoken In declaring for Greeley and Brown and
the Cincinnati platform. He advocated a
grand consolidation of all the elements of op-
position to radicalism and despotism, and ar
raigned Grant as an oppressor and despoier.
lie opposed the idea of a new nomination, and
hoped Virginia would take the lead in the
Liberal movement.
AT THE NIGHT SESSION
General Kemper offered the following reso-
lutions
''ResolUed By the Conservatives of Virqsnsa an
Convention assembled, That we greet with live
ly satisfaction the movement Of the Liberal Re-
publlcans at Cincinnati, and desire to express
our sincere admiration Of the moral heroism
displayed by them in subordinating party to
patriotism, pledging ourselves to meet their
courageous and patriotic profer Of co-ope-
Tor the public deliVerance in the saD,> Ii:a
and magnanimous spirit in which g oa.n San
ed. AT Was tehoer-
''Resozved, That the D. :,
this Convention to th n,e.egales appolu.ea w
and nn;taS e1 nn' I'd give vigorous, persistent,
ticket nom; yport to the Greeley and Brown
tbo A. mated at Cincinnati as holding forth
the e 80 est promise for allaying the passions of
~ var, reviViDg real peace within our borders,
-estoring integrity to the public service, re-esta-
blishing the States 10 their legitimate functions
in the Federal system, preserving intact the
great writ Of liberty, and rescuing the republic
from the despotism of the sword.
After several substitutes and amendments
had been offered, and. after discussion, defeat
ed, the above resolutions as originally offered
by General Kemper were adopted with very
few dissenting votes
The Convention then adjourned until 10
o'clock Friday morning.
Second Day.
The Convention assembled at II o'clock,
Hon. John Goode, Jr., in the chair.
DELEGATES TO BALTIMORE.
The resolution providing for the election of
district delegates to Baltimore, was taken up,
and the following gentlemen, recommended by
their several districts, were elected:
DISTRICT DELEGATES.
First DiStrict-General Fitz Lee, Stafford !;
John Neeley, Accomac. Alternates General
| W B Taliaferro, Gloucester j W Packer, Ac-
comac.