New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-15
VIRGINIA CONSERVATIVES.
POSITION AND PROSPECTS OF THE ORGAN
IZATION.

POSITION AND PhOSfEClo Va
u,. .,..-,, CONVENTION AT RrCHMoSD-THE EIE-
,,v,yrs AND PERSONNEL OF THE BoDY-LARGE
,ry>n.scp or OLD CONFEDERATE LADDERS
STRENGTH OF THE TICKET
,vpo,f AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT oP THE TRibuNh'
RICHMOND, Va, Aug. 6-The CONSERVATIVE
Stale Convention, which has just completed Two u'
session IN this city, deserves attention ior so'o,A
,aosons Nearly all the counties. even those I'D inc
distant southwest represented by the iuii nuper
of deleCates and the body almost as numerous as
,b National Conventions at Philadelphia and Baltimore
last year President Bocock In his opening speech
called it a convention Of the civilization OF Virginia.
and IT is the universal testimony of delegates ana
ectators that more intelligent and truly representa-
tive body has rarely been assembled In the Common
wealth The Richmond Theater, In which the session
was held well adapted for the purpose, and the ap
pearnnce Of the mass OF delegates seen from the stage
gave clear and favorable impression Of the weight,
dignity and earnestness of the Convention Very many
of the delegates were old men, and majority must have
been actively engaged In politics before the war, while
one who had not civil military service under the
Confederacy would have been exception From the
western part OF the State there old Fayete McMun
veteran Congressman when the State seeded IN oil,
and one OF the most earnest opponents OF the Iata
movement now as active and vigorous as % years ago.
oftenest on his feet waving his palmeaf fan and calling
the persistent delegate over the way to order. "hen
McMullin during a heated and confused de-
hate ON some OF the numerous fine prelim-
mary points, and after repeatedly addressing
the Chair, announced that he proposed TO SUD
nit "a few remarks" the question: the whoie Con
vention broke out 10 hearty, spontaneous laugh lno'
knew his habits of old. and remembered them. inoA
there was Montague, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS unuer
Leteher or possibly earlier magistrate, the oo reu
fox OF Middlesex," as he was known IN those days.
changed except that the red fox has become
an iron gray one Montague made the real hit OF all inc
speeches of Convention In his humorous anu
ridcue Of the Republicans and their nomination. III
which he designated them as the Shack Nasty party,
and their leader, Hughes, as the bhacK Nasty sin'
the traitor of the whole tribe The comparison was pal
pabe and effective and the Convention accepted 1t with
round after round Of cheers and laughter Robert Oud
Of the United States who prosecuted
Dan Sckes for the murder of Key in Washington ana
during the war superntended the exchange OF prisoners
between Richmond and the Union army, was also
prominent figure in the Convention one OF the pest
dressed most fluent and selfcomposed OF the speakers
he would have accepted the nomination for Attorney
General had It been offered him. and has position and
reputation at the bar of the State which gave him
fair claim to the Office The foremost OF the veterans
OF the tented ded in the Convention, and ono OF the
most strongly marked of all OF the delegates was Gen.
Jubal Early whO though bent and whitened with age,
takes as active part and keen interest in the
lar with his old followers and they took repeated occa
sion to exhibit their admiration Gen. Fitzhugh Lee,
nephew of the Confederate COmmanderin-Chef, ana
one Of his trusted and bravest cavalry leaders, was also
an active member of the Convention and during the nr
day of the and caucusng exerted MS utmost
endeavor to the nomination OF winners, MS ou
comrade in arms. Gen. Malone, the defender OF the
the Confederaey, and who really had more at stake
than any other one man the result OF the Conven-
tiop was silent and unobserved delegate from PETERS
burg never rising TO address the Chalr ana quey
watching and working with the skill and strategy OF
the consummate politician. Confederate officers OF all
grades were plenty in all parts of the Convention MOI
county delegation without them; and had the occa-
sion been reunion of the old Army OF Northern VIZ
cnia the element would scarcely have been changed.
The absence of o few prominent men was, however,
notable. Alexander III. III. Stuart was not tnere'
neither was John b. Baldwin Of Augusta both
influential men and leaders Of public opinion In their
own sections and in the State at large. K M T. Hunter
who had been avoraby spoken Of for Governor was alb
sent and SO were old John Letcher and Gen. Goode
ofNorfolk both of whom have still friends and au-
tbority throughout the State. 1t was hardly to be
expected that Wise, who has lately been tho most
hesitatug and erratic OF Virginia politicians James
Lyons who presided over the Blanton duncan
performance at Louisville last year, or Mosby, as
much of guerrilla in politics as in war; should nave
participated in the Convention but their absence
and their present position toward the party OF their
old friends and neighbors both noted and they
we're given fair warning in resolution, which was
adopted unanimously, declaring it TO be the duty OF
every Conservative voter to show more quarter to-
ward independent candidates than to radical and to op
nose both srenuousy and to the last The independent
or Indifferent party will be an emphstically unknown
quantity the campaign which Virginia is now en-
tering.
TIE CONVENTION REVIEWED.
without question the Convention strong elements,
atuff Ire hQa
been success Two days were however wasted and dis
tributed over work which might just well and better
been done IN one order that the proprety and dignity
OF Convention of Virginia gentlemen might not be d.
mnshed by appearance OF the haste OF business or
lack OF due elaboration All the speeches were OF the
odtime Southern schoo-staely ornate and OCCASION
ally magnioduent to a degree which, tried by the plain
standard practical facts and truth reached the rdc
Ions The speeches all full OF the most intense State
feeling and the profound reverence for the proud
old mother Virginia The State colors above the stage
were more than aposrophzed in the most glowing
terms and the martial glory OF the Commonwealth, her
sacrifices and suerings in the rebellion cited In fusome
laudaton Methought they did protest too much and
that little practical and common sense talk per-
tnen to the Of the present. the demands OF the
State for local and internal improvement the develop
ment Of her agricultural, mining and manufacturing re-
1.-THE necessity for higher standard and purer
integrity in public ooe, and the recognition OF the
rights OF all men, irrespective OF Color or oonulton'
to equal and impartial Justice. before all laws,
municipal. State, and national, would have shown
higher and nobler qualities OF statesmanship. The
resolutions do indeed declare In favor OF equal rights for
the coored and citizen but that is moro than the
speeches OF the Convention which do not go on record
and are not Witnesses contained The truth
OF the matter that the face Of the Convention was
turned backward toward the old issues OF the war; and
the conflicts Of snti-savery days. and that in every
the shadoys OF the and not the lights OF
the fnture surrounded its discussions and action. Doubt
=. xri-i-ia shnud 1oYernad by Yirgtnians and by