Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-08-12
IA CONSERVATIVE CON-.
VENTION.
VIRGINIA


The Virginia Conservative Convention met
in Richmond on Wednesday, last, and on
Thursday nomiuated the foliowing ticket:
For Governor, Gen. james L. Kemper, of
Madison, county for Lieut. Governor, Col.
Robt. ID. Withers. of Wythe; for Attorney.
General, Hon. r.. T. Daniel, of Richmond
city. The Baltimore Gazette, speaking ed
itorially of the nomination Of General KEN
per, says:
The nomination of General Kemper by the
Conservatives of Virginia as their candidate
for the Governorship of that State is not only
strong one, but is, perhaps, the very best
that could have been made. We say this,
meaning no disparagementt to Colonel Withers,
who needs no better sponsors to his merits,
both as soldier and civilian, than Fitzhugh
Lee and Jubal Early, nor any better endorse
ment than the large vote he got in Conven-
ton in honorable rivalry with. SO popular a
map as General Kemper. 1t showed, more-
over, the fine temper of the Convention that,
after the relative strength of the two candi-
dates was made apparent, one of the firmest
friends of Colonel Withers moved and carried
the nomination of General Kemper unani>
mously.
Of the delegates to the Convention, the
Virginia.papers speak in the highest praise.
1t was a thoroughly representative body. SIN
numbers, intelligence, and moral and social
characteristics" says the Richmond Wing, sit
was worthy of Virginia in her palmiest days.
Every age, class, and calling, among the real
people of the State, was represented, and the
earnest interest manifested by all, even when
showing itself in over>zealous efforts in be-
half Of favorite candidates, and references to
topics that should have been tabooed, was an
evidence of the universal sense of the inn
portance of the OCCASION" It represented
"the solid, substantial citizens" of the grand
old Commonwealth, animated only by single
purpose-that purpose being to assist in keep
ing Virginia out of the grasp of Radicalsm.
And possessed of such spite, thrusting reso,
lntely aside all local differences, they will do
it. If all the votes in the State were polled,
the utmost the white Radicals could cast would
be twenty thousand, and the negroes hun.
dred thousand. Against this hundred and
twenty thousand votes the Conservatives can
poll hundred and thirty thousand-thus
giving them clear majority in the State of
ten thousand. But, even when their leagues
were in full strength, and all the power and
influence of the Federal Governments and all
sorts of local devices were used to operate
upon their hopes, their fears, OF their cred
ulity, the negroes never polled more than
ninety thousand votes. and it is confdentally
believed that now that they have become lees
tractable to Radical dictation and more kindly
disposed toward their former masters their
vote, even under pressure, will not exceed
eighty thousand, leaving the Conservatives a
margin of thirty thousand from which to
draw their majority at the next election But
putting all questions of of majority aside, the
most significant feature of the Convention, az
we'll as the most hopeful sign of success on the
day Of election, was the earnest and serious
way in which the proceedings were conducted
and the profound appreciation which its mem>
bers manifested of the importance of the du>
ties that were devolved upon them If the
same feeling pervades the Conservative party
throughout the State-and there is every
reason to believe that it does-not all the
sympathy which General Grant has expressed
for the success of the Radicals nor all the
help he eau give them, short of military in>
reference, can save them from disastrous
defeat.