Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1872-08-20
Address Of the Conservative State Commit

| been prepared with much care, after consulta-
ton with such of our consulting members as re-
Gently assembled with us in council, and on such
information as could be procured from the dis
tricts not represented on that occasion. The
list of county canvassers will b., published as
| soon as it is completed.
Another office was assigned to the committee
| of still more delicate and respo nsible charac-
ter-that of redressing the inequalities which
existed In our plan OF organization in regard to
voting in nominating conventions
The original plan by which repl esentation in
nominating conventions was regulated by town
ships and precincts had been condemned as I'M
liked and uncertain, because liable to constant
change In their number and bounds; as arbi-
| trary and unequal, because of the difference in
the number OF their Conservative population
respectively, and as affording no test of their
relative Conservative voting strength.
| Two other bases OF arrangement suggested
neutrality-suspicious. without regard to color,
| and the numerical Conservative voting strength.
The first presented this incongrttity that those
would have practical weight in the selection of
our candidates who, SO far from having any
weight in electing them make it their prime
| object, as party, to defeat them and it was
| felt that until the blacks shall become citizens
| In fact as we'll as in name, and act upon some
| more rational ground OF public conduct than
| blind and fanatical opposition to all that tbs
WultCS pEOpOcC, tLSy eau never DS counted DrO-
| perly as part OF the Conservative body. any
more In the selection than in the appointment
OF those deputed to represent it. That plan be-
Ing discarded tor these obvious reasons, nothing
remained bat the method adopted by the com
| mlttee-a nominating vote In conventions by
each township and precinct scaled by its Con-
sentative vote in the next preceding State cleo
ton OR election Tor the Legislature, as the con-
ventions may determine. Counties having
lnr ,I0EI.~
| representative strength by the operation of this
rule, as compared with the strong Conservative
counties, and prefer the population basis; but
surely the latter might complain with more JUS
tlce OF system by which their lust influence
would be dwarfed and weakened by the acci-
dental presence in the former OF that s.ntagoniz-
ing and inimlca element.
| 1t IS gratifying to perceive the ready approval
and adoption in all the conventions which have
since been held OF the rule adopted by the COM
mlttee. and 1t IS believed that the more It'll ex-
amined and tested the more it will grow in pub
lie estimation.
.Ihe campaign on which we now enter op ems
With brilliant auspices everywhere. Nothing Is
wanting to complete triumph in our own st ate
but diligence and energy in the acork of org. an
lzatlon, and tor this We earnestly appeal to our
whole party-our electors, our county super
lntendents and assistants. our rank and file--in
House of Bondage.
There are some considerations which, so far
as the future can be safely reasoned about
would seem to make the success of the Cincin-
natl movement secure.
It is the first real honest prefer 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
cordiality. It is not too much to say that the
whole South will so respond to it. except where
oppression, military and civil, has stihed the
public voice beyond the power of expression.-
Indeed, the desire for peace, real peace. is
groWing-nay, has ggown--lnt0 national senti-
ment. This feeling, which, with other causes,
originated the movement, will guide it's progress
and govern its issues.
1t is the first instance In our political annals
when nearly all the wise and good of a great
party IN power, cutting loose from party tram
mels, have come out from theirrecent associates.
abjured their policy and practices, proclaiming
broad, liberal, and rational statement Of
principles embracing all the important needs
and wants OF the country, and without concert,
rather by spontaneous impulse, have been ioin-
ed IL their action by another great and power
ful party IN common war against abuses and
evil practices which awaken the indignation and
censure of both. The cause of this anomaly lies
| NOOpO1 eLdu liz VIZ pIdCllCoS OF DOIltiCfaNS and
party leaders. 1t is popular movement, the
impulse of the popular heart, and finds it's fit
expression IN that declaration of principles
which make up the union policy of the great
Liberal Republican and Democratic parties.
1t Is therein declared that the changes Ia the
Constitution which came in place of a treaty of
peace between the warning sections are transact
ed thlngs-belong to the irrevocable past--and
can never be disturbed; and that amnesty, for
gedulness, forgiveness. on both sides, without
any sting OF reservation to mar It's generosity
and grace is alike the right and the duty of
| ALL
That the rights Of the States to their proper
autonomy shall be sacredIy preserved, and the
rights OF the citizen, particularly as guarded by
the great writ of hdbeas corpus, shall be equal
ly respected. 1t demands ''for the individual
the largest liberty consistent with public order,
for the States seh- government, and for the ma
ton return TO the methods Of peace and the
constitutional Limitation OF power" Here is
a, wholesale rebuke and condemnation Of those
abuses which have literally trampled our south
ern people into the dust, of that centry,lisn,
which, by absorbing the rights Of the States in
to the General Government and the CO. ordinate
powers or the other departments Of that Gov
eminent into one, and by arrogating for Con-
gress control over matters ofminutest local con-
Germ, threatens the character of that Govern
menC with permanent and disastrous change.
It VIII become, If resistance be unsuccessful, a
merely personal Government, and even the re-
preventative principle itself, Instituted by its
trainers, will be lost
| 1t demands reform in the civil service, from
the President down depounces It's disgraceful
venality, its nepotism, gijt-taking, and the be-
stowal OF patronage on the givers-practices
aDhorFent, with the people of Virginia, to the
NICE and fastldlous sense Of honor In official
| character, which mas descended to them, by ira
dltlon, from the first great and pure Presidents
through all to the lasG whom she contributed to
| the service ct the country
1t demands just and equal system of Fed
| eral taxation, which shall not unnecessarily in
terfere with the industry of the people, This
may be construed to mean, and we hope does
mean, the renting ofthe Federal Government
back Tor support to its exclusive subject of taxa
fionDtazes on imports, yielding fund ample
Tor all Its economical wants-and restoring to
the States, what they have enjoyed almost with
out lntermlsslon from the foundation, the whole
nefo OF internal taxation, now so necessary to
support the credit of the southern States Why
should tobacco, confined in production to a
limited belt of country, be crushed with specific
taxation any more than wheat and corn and
other cereals? or why should the Federal Gov
eminent tax it at all f?