The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-09-03
The Reasons for the Faith Of the Con-
servativeS.

than the Virginia Conservatives in The can.
yass for State and county officers III the 'a''
Of 1873.
In this canvass the issue to be decided ny
the election Is simply this: Shall the s1ate
he governed by It's own people, and for their
host interests, Or shall it be turned over 10
the Republican party, to be subjected TO as
y,o,;cv-.o be subordinatcd to ats Interests
10 be governed by the nod of those at mead
Quarters in Washington or Boston-to DC
ruled as other southern States are ruieo oy
tina. party, and to be reduced 10 the same
condition with those unfortunate states
At the election in November next the
voters of Virginia will have the power to
choose, and are 10 make the choice, whether
the State, her dignity and honor. her rank
and influence, her destiny and history, the
liberties, rights, and happiness of her peo-
pie. shall remain in the keeping Of her own
children; who have defended, guided, and
guarded them hitherto. save when oyerriden
by foreign authority and by military rule
or shall they pass under the control,
be handed voluntarily over to the ter
der care, of the Republican party Of
the United States--a party alien TO our
soil. unknown in our history, indifferent
If not hostile to our interests, without tie
of blood or sympathy with us-a purity whic2
has been the source Of i'll to MS, by whose
especial policy and direct command Virginia
was subjected TO the arbitrary rule, the mill
tary domination, which so long Shroudrd
our liberties, trampIcd on our independence,
orcrlaid our Constitution, dictated our laws
in general orders, invaded the sanctuary Of
our highest courts, deSccrated our homes
and oppressed our citizens-a party which
now has the etlrOntcry to ask us, by Our
votes, to come again under its rule, since it
can no longer by force compel us TO submit
to it-a party 10 whom it Is Il matter OF
pride TO control every southern state, and
who arc seeking TO accomplish by the arts
of persuasion and election the same object
which they so nearly Effected by VIOLENCE
to wit. the absolute S,!licction of Virginia
to The will and the welfare of the northern
Republicans and their negro element, whose
association they rcpcl at hoMc.
We arc invited into The Republican en-
brace in terms as gentle and persuasive rs
il couchcd in the words ''Will you walk
Into my parlor:" used by the spider 10 the
fly.
If We 90. il will be our OWE gratuitous
act-that j., the act of the Conservatives
themselves; there can be no compulSi0n-
there is no necessity for it. Il is wholly
optional with Us whether we, her sons, shall
manage The affairs Of Virginia as best we
can; or whether we shall, by our votes or
our negligence, stultify oursciyes-.hal say
that we are unequal to The task, and shall
commit Our mother TO the bands OF tie
stranger or the cnc!ny--to the dominant
northern party the Radical itcpublicans-to
be ruled not with reference 10 her Interests.
but solely with regard 10 the power Of the
party, the personal prosperity Of its white
lninions, the Republican State otce-hoders.
and of the swarm Of foreign adventures
who would light upon the PROSTATE State,
not to become Fir%inians, not TO be identi-
lied with her and TO promote her welfare,
but only to suck the sap out Of her, and
then to return, gorgcd, to the place whence
they came, whilst we, the people OF Virginia,
must look on Observation-Disclosures to recall
what we have surrendcrcd; powerlcss to
stay the ruin We have caused or 10 save the
lanCbwe love but have betrayed.
Unless we become bascly su5servient we
shall hold all that is dear to us by Suferance
only, subject to the control, regulated by the
will, of the leaders of the party at Il distance,
whose behests will be sustained by Federal
bayonets, making a mockery and scorn of
the Federal Constitution. Then we can only
mourn, too late, the folly which betrayed the
sacred trust committed to our keeping.
Why should we do it? Why should we
make the change: Why voluntarily return
to the bondage from which we have Just de-
livered ourselves with so great difficulty?
Can any intelligent man here or elsewhere
give any respectable reason for Eirginians
doing this!
Let every man who is actuated by an
honest desire for the welfare of the State
put tue question to himself, and give to his
conscience an answer which will satisfy that,
before he votes the Republican ticket in No
yember, 1873.
Let us examine the Republican party,-its
character and its record-and see for our
selres whether or not there be anything in
its history. its constituent elements, its acts,
its policy, its controlling motives and OBJ
jects. which can recommend it to us-can
command our confidence-whichc can prove
10 us that it Gun rule us better than we can
rule ourselyes-which can show us beyond
doubt that we can safely commit ourselves
and all that we have and are to its keeping
that we can secure either honor, or profit, |
or safety thereby.
We must remember and never lose sight
Of the fact that this is not contest be-
tween Nirginians on 10th sides-between
two State parties divided only OH questions
Of State policy and internal economy; OH
the management of State affairs most con-
ducive to her good neither of them looking
beyond her welfare or her limits neither of
which will he controlled or guided by en-
tcrnai Influence, or with reference TO interests
foreign to the State. The Conservative can
didates-KEMrER, WITnEEs, and DANIEL
are Virginians. They do represent yiryiniuns
and State party. whose standard is their
duty to their State in her own affairs. who
will govern her i'll her own best interest.
not for the benefit of an outside party, nor