Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-08-15
Address Of the Conservative State
Committee.


In discharge of the duty devolved on the
State Committee by the late Conservative Con
vcntlnn, We present list Of assistant aud sena
toral electors for the presidential campaign
1t has been prepared with much care, after
consultation with such of our consulting mem
hers as recently assembled with Us in council
and on such information as could be procured
from the districts not represented on that Occa-
sion. The list OF county canvassers will be pub
llshed as soon as 1t is completed.
Another office was ass gued to the committee
Of Il still more delicate and responsible charac-
tcr-that OF rcdressing the inequalities which
existed in our plan Of organization 10 regard to
voting in nominating conventions.
The original plan by which representation in
nominating conventions was regulated by town
ships and precincts had been Condemned as un.
fixed aud uncertain, because liable to constant
change in their number aud bounds; as arbi-
trary and unequal, because Of the difference in
the plumber Of their Conservative population
respectively, and as attording no test of their
relative Conservative voting strength.
Two other bases of arrangement suggested
themselves population without regard to
color, and the numerical Conservative voting
strength. The first presented this incOngruity,
that those would have practically weight in the
selection OF our candidates who, SO far from
having any weight in electng them, make it
their prime object, as q party, to defeat them
and it was felt that until the blacks shall be-
come citizens in fact as we'll as in name, and
act upon some more rational ground OF public
conduct than blind aud tanatical opposition to
all that the whites propose, they can never be
counted properly as part OF the Conservative
body, any more in the selection than in the ap-
pontmcnt of those dcputcd to represent it.
That plan being discarded for these obvious
reasons, nothing remained but the method
adopted by the c0mmlttee-a nominating vote
10 conventions by each township and precinct
scaled by its Conservative vote in the next pre-
ceding State election, or election for the Legls
ature, as the conventions may determine
Counties having large negro population may
regret the loss of representative strength by
the operation of this rule, as compared with
the strong Conservative couutles and prefer
the population basis but surely the latter
might complain with more justice of a system
by which their just influence would be dwarfed
and weakened by the accidental presence 10
the former Of that antagODlzug and lnimlcal
element.
1t is gratifying to preceivc the ready appro-
val and adoption in oil the conventions which
have since been held of the rule adopted
by the committee, and it is believed that the
more it is examined and tested the more it will
grow in public estimation.
The campaign on which we now enter opens
with brilliant auspices. Nothing is wanting to
complete triumph in our State but diligence
and energy in the acork of organization, and
for this We earnestly appeal to our whole par
ty-our electors, our county superintendent
and assistants, our rank aud fle-in word, to
all who sigh for deliverance from the House of
Bondage.
There are some considerations which so far
as the future can be safely reasoned about,
wonld seem to make the success OF the Clncln-
natl movement secure.
1t is the first real honest proffer of peace to
the Southern States which has been made since
the war, and we, instead of meeting the offer
ed grasp of friendship With the shut hand rails
ed to strike, receive the offer with heartfelt
cordially. 1t is not too much to say that the
whole South will so respond to it, except where
oppression, military and civil, has stiaed the
public voice beyond the power of expression.
Indeed the desire for peace, real peace,
is growiDg-nay, has grown-into a national
sentiment, This feeling, which, with other
causes, originated the movement, will guide it
progress and govern its issues.
1t is the first instance in our political annals
when nearly all the wise and good of great
party in power, cutting loose from party tram
mes, have come out from their recent asso-
ciates, abjured their policy and practices, pro-
claiming broad. liberal, and national state
ment of principles embracing all the important
needs and wants of the country, and without
concert, rather by Spontaneous impulse, have
been joined in their action by another great
and powerful party in common war against
abuses and evil practices which ava ken the
indignation and censure Of both. The cause of
this anomaly lies deeper than in the practices
of politicians and party leaders. 1t is popu-
lar movement, the impulse of the popular
heart, and finds its fit expression in that decla-
ration of priuciples which ma Ike up the union,
policy of the great Liberal Republican and
Democratic parties
1t is therein declared that the changes in the
Constitution which came in place of treaty OF
peace between the warning sections are trans
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