Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1872-10-12

lied, trained, aud led by the earpet-basgers
who came Ike iackas in the trail Of the invad-
ing armies, few native citizens VINO were fa'se
to :heir native State in the hour of her trials,
and some renegade Confederates who once
wore the gray but have sold their bir,h-right
for a mess of pottage. None Others constitute
the Radical party in this State, and must say
that regard the renegade COnfederates as the
worst Of the whole lot 1t is this party which
is struggling for the ascendency in the State,
and hopes to attain it by our divisions aud the
patronage of the Federal government. Can
any honest Nirginian ally himself with any
such party, for any purpose? Yet if we do
not work together, aud if we allow ourselves
to be divided, this party will inevitably obtain
possession of the State If the vote o. the
State should be cast for Grant at the coming
election, there will be imminent danger that
his supporters will obtain possession OF tue
State government at the net genera elections;
and that means conSignns the people Of Nr
giuia to a government like that Of South Caro-
Ina. The Nirsuian who contributes to this
result by voting with the Grant party in No
vember, in my estimation, will commit
wrong upon his people which cannot be palli-
ated by any services be may have rendered in
the past. | should regret exceedingly to see
any one for whom | have the slightest respect
pursue any such course, and do not think 1t
can be excused by any expression Of devotion
to Conservative or Democratic principles, how
ever sincere. 4 man may stand aloo. aad ab-
stain from voting in a pending contest, and
maintain his own principles intact; but, in
my view, any alliance, concert, or cooperation
with the Radical party in this State will bring
contamination inevitably, and would IS soon
expect to see a woman, VINO had once gone
down into the sinks Of pollution and there
sought her associates, restored to virgin purity,
as to see a NirginiaH return undefled from a.
lance with such party as the Radical party
Of this State Such an alliance once made l.
the fist step, and then, ".tCcEiS desceHSBS
ArerRi." No in my judgment. no Nirgiaian,
who has not already forfeited bis claim to the
name, can pursue any such course without
committing a grievous wrong upon his people,
himself, and his poste.ity.
The next question is,-can We with propre-
ty stand aloof and allow the Radical party to
carry the election by default? | must say
that if | was certain that the Radicals would
not carry the State, my own tastes woald Va
cline me to let those who made the issue fight
it out. But this am not certain of by any
means, if all those Conservatives to whom the
Cincinnati platform and nominees are dietasie-
full shall abstain from voting and | verify be-
lieye that if tie State should vote for Grant in
November, the danger Of the State Govern
meuts going into the hands Of The Radicals
net year, would be very great, by reason Of
distraction and division in the Conservative
party, if such a result would not be a certain
consequence. Itisofindnitely more importance
to Us that the real people Of Virginia, that IS,
the white people, should retain possession OF
the State Government, than that there should
be change in the Federal administration, as
important as that is To those who entertain
similar sentiments TO mine in regard to the
character of the nominees | will say that we
are not responsible for the present state of
things and with us the question does not pre-
sent itself as choice Of evils, for that has al
ready been made without our agency but the
question is whether, by reason Of our disSaliS-
faction with what has already been done, we
shall permit evils ten-lOld greater thaa those
we now labor under to be inflicted on Us. As
to the Federal administration, it is not possible
for it to be any worse for us; aud however OBJ
jectionable 10 Us the record, the past conduct,
and the utterances of Mr.. Greeley may be, he
can do us no wrong that has not already been
inflicted on Us, or that may not be intensified
by those who will control the administration Of
his opponent. Take Greeley at the worst and
we have no i'll to dread from him that we DO
not now endure but his recent utterauces have
been very fair, aud if he is elected the probd-
bity is that we will get rid Of the present
swarm Of cormorantS who a-e preying on Us,
and marShalliug the black bordes against us
1t is not possible for him TO select as bad "A set,
for they are not to be ,ound in the country
neither need we dread having pat upon Us
more hungry swarm, for the appetitcs of the
swarm we already have Increase in proportion
TO the amount consumed.
In addition to all this, if the Cincinnati
nominees are elected, as necessary couse-
Guelce, there viii be elected House of Rep
resentatves much more favorable 10 good gov
e'nnt ut than the present one, which will be a
check upon the otner branches Of the govern
ment, and afford Us more protection against
abuses aud misruie. would have much pre-
feued dac.eut platform and other caudi-
dates, and deplore this whole policy Of Great
lag evils for Us to Se'ec, between and | viii
add that think it would have been much bet
ter if the party in the State had adopted the
name Of Democrat instead of Conservative.
for the two are now synonymous. whatever d.
verSities of opinion we may have had in the
past, and the adoption of the name Of Demo-
crat would itself have obl,te-ated all pas. DIS
CuctioHs. But because | cannot have my own
way, | am no; going TO part company With the
only friends | know and recognize, though
some OF them DO Gail me Bourbon, a fossil,
togy aud an impract;cable We must keep
united for tue good Of the State, which trust
we all love- and if the majority DO sometimes
so wrong, we Of the minority must overlook
their shortcomings, and come to their rescue
when they get into trouble, hoping that they
may learn wisdom after awhile.
If my opinion is Of any weight with my old
comrades aud friends of the lower Valley. my
advice to them is to vote with their party aud
their friends, aud thus Eaer the State ont of
the hands Of the vile he d that is anxious to
prey on her vitals and his advice | would
give to all my old comrades and aeuds In the
State. If there are any Of them who have
sworn in their wrath that they will never vote
for Greeley aud Brown, let them tear their
names from the ticket, and vote for the ticket
Of native NrginianS, headed by those true and
noble sons Of the State, my very good friends.
Colonel Robert Z. Withers aud General James
L. kemper. There can be no di>hoaoy IN that.
and we can trust those gentlemen to cas-, the
vote Of the State as they think her best inter-
ests require.
If any one to whom l have written or ev-
pressed my views heretofore shal. think that