The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1872-06-20
DUTY OF DEMOCRATS.

servant mind that the wild and thoughtless
enthusiasm which followed Immediately the
action Of the Cincinnati Convention, is subsi-
ding. and calmer aud broader views Of the
political situation are being taken. A mum
Der of gentlemen in this section, who, at FIRST
we're decided in the expression of the opinion,
that the adoption of Mr.. Greeley was the
best policy to- be pursued by the Conservative
party, have announced to us change 10
their views, and acknowledged that they were
TOO. hasty in the position they had taken. The
people have teen exceedingly quiet-cspeci-
ally those who do not intend TO support Mr..
Greeiey-and the excited interest manifested:
in his candidacy has come from the towns and
cties aud from persons who have little oppor-
tunty Of learning the real sentiment of the
country. We know this to be fact. The
people do not care to argue or dispute about
his claims. Those who are determined not
to vote for him. have no desire to discuss the
subject, for the reason that their minds are
settled on that question, at least. They do
not intend to participate in the meetings and
conventions which contemplate the possibii-
ty of Mr.. Greeley being adopted as a repre-
sentative ofthe Conservative party. They do
not recognize the legitimacy Of any such con-
tingency, and they will not have anything to
do with any gathering that, under any pres.
sure Of circumstances, can consent to transfer
the Conservative party into the keeping Of
such notorious Radical and fanatical enc
my as Horace Greeley, This class Of men is
Numerous in this portion Of the Valley We
are not writing at random. We know what
we are stating. They are much more pumer-
ur than the unredecting supporters Of Gree
icy think, and can neither be driven nor
coaxed into an abandonment ofaheir conyic-
tons. They will not vote for Greeley for
President under any conceivable circumstan.
ces. They believe even his candidacy is
hurtful to Virginia and the South, and that
his election would be caIamitous.
In view Of this stern and iofexible oppo-
sltlon to Greeley with many good and true
men, 1t behooves the State Convention which
assemblies in Richmond on the 9th, to be
extremely careful in its action Mark lift
assumes to appoint delegates to the Baltimore
Convention instructed either to nominate or
acquiesce iu the nomination of Horace Gree
u
ley, tie people will repudiate the presumption
and outrage at the polls! There exists no
authority any where to empower the poiiti-
clans who may assemble in Baltimore, to break
up the Conservative organization of Virginia
and transfer the constituent elements to the
support Of a ranting Radical nominated by an
undelegated mass meeting of ofice-seeking
sore-headed, selfish Radicals. Greeley's name
eannot, legitimately, be presented or consid-
cred In the Baltimore Convention, until he
has recanted his past record, and entered un-
rescrvedly into the Conservative ranks. There
would be as much propriety, and great deal
more policy, in endorsing the nominee of the
Philadelphia Convention. as there would
be in taking up the nominee of the Cincin-
natl Convention, being the man that he is
We honestly believe the South would have
more to lose by Greeley's candidacy than by
Grants. There is no possibility of electing
theforner, and his adoption by the Conserva-
tives of Virginia and the South, merely be-
cause he is personal enemy Of Grant, would
demonstrate a malignant purpose on our part.
that would certainly be resented BY the DOM
ihant and successful party
Letthe Baltimore Convention put forth
a strong Conservative ticket-men whose
craftsmanship; whose broad, catholic views
of public policy, will attract aud hold the
confidence of the people, and wes believe it
can be elected. IF it does not, we will have
lost this golden opportunity to effect nation
al reform, and will jeopardize the supremacy
of the Conservative party in the State Of Vir-
GINA. The responsibility of such result
will lie at the feet of the Greeleyites, who in
their excessive zeal to grasp receding phan--
tom, will have plunged the Conservative par
ty into irretrievabIe anarchy aud revolution.