Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-08-26
Col. Geo. E Deneale's Letter.


The letter of Col. Deneale, of Rockingham,
addressed to Hon. Henry A. Wise, which was
referred to in our last issue, was published in
the last issue of the Rockingham Register, from
which we make the following extracts:-
THE Republican party, which had commit
ed the fatal error of relying upon the negro vote
as its chief element Of strength, has shown it.
self incapable of proiiing by the egregious blum
der it com mitted In 1869, while the Couserva-
tive party again readily accepts the issue
as presented-of antagoniziug race against race
in square contest before the people. 1t was
to avoid this malign and pernicious autsgonism
that | was induced, at the instance of several
prominent Republicans in the State, to address
the letter did to the Richmond State Journal,
on the 2Sth day of Juue last, indicating will
ingness, under certain circumstances and upon
certain conditions, to accept a nomination at
the hands of the party. But did not do this
until became satisfied that the programme you
had so admirably indicated would be rejected
by the Lynchburg Convention 10 advance of any
nomination then likely to be made by that body
But | did not antici pate at the time of making
my communication TO he State Journal, that
the extraordinary spectacle would be presented
of the Federal office holders and itinerating
Congressman OF the State taking possession of
that Con Vention aud running it as close Rad
ical corporation, by still adhering to the wretch
ed policy land more wretched for the negro
than any one else) OF consolidating the colored
vote against the native worth, intelligence and
tax-paying population Of the State"
X X
Il see the party assuming substantially the
same attitude, and inspired by the same narrow
purposes, which characterized its action four
years ago, and | have no alternative but to op
pose it strenuously as then did. | shall, con-
sequently, throw my influence, however humble
it may be-, into the scale of the Conservative
party, should no circumstances intervene by
which a more healthful course may be pursued.
And this, take it, will be the action of all those
who labored with me 10 bringing about larger
measure of reconc liation and prosperity, in
harmonizing, or seeking at least to do so, the
relations Of the State and Federal administra-
tons.
1t is the opinion of COL Deneale that the
action OF the Republican party of this State
was sucn, at its Convention in Lynchburg, to-
wards the white population Of the State in be-
ing led by Federal Office holders and itenera-
ting Congressman who ran it as a close Radical
Corporation by still adhering to the wretched
policy land more wfetched for the negro than
any one else) of consolidating the colored race
against the native worth, intelligence and tax
paying population Of the State" that he and
others who, like him, voted for Grant, should
'strenuously oppose it, and throw their in
fuence into the scale of The Conservative party. :"
joined the Republic IN party, was delegate to
the Lynchburg Convention, and was voted for,
for the nomination for Lieut. Governor.
Speaking Of the salary grab, for which the
President is as culpable as anybody else, the
N. Y. Tribune remarks:
st was shameful transaction from begin
ming to eb1. 1t was gross brea Oh OF conf
dence, breach of Cecorum, and breach Of
parliamentary law. The national stronghold
was frs: opened little way, just to let the
President get his hand 10, and the honorable
members tfCongress sat on the lid and said Oh.
no, that is wrong-uDless We go shares with
you Then it was opened little more for
their benz fit and at once the members who
were going home for good. and had not been re-
elected, put In their protest, and clamored for
backpay as the price of voting for the prospec-
tive increa<e That is the way the salary grab
was managed.
J. MARSHALL HANGER.-The Enquirer is not
in the habit Of offering its counsel to the party
as to the selection of candidates for the Legis-
lature bur- in one Instance, it now proposes
to do so. Major j. Marshall Hanger, of Angus
ia, who was the Speaker of the last House OF
Delegates deserves to be sent back, that he
may act again in that capacity, for which he is
so we'll fitted. He has brains, education, and
- oP i ,k,,nn
and to bis State. AS presiding officer, he
we venture to suggest to the good people OF
Augusta to return him to his seat in the
House, that the House may return him to the
Speaker chair. Rich Enquirer.
The ILLINOIS RAILROAD HoRRoR.-It seems,
says the Bit. San, that we are not permitted
to speed along the course Of time even for the
space Of week without prodigious horror of
some kind. The latest is the collision Of a
freight with passenger train on the Chicago
and Alton railroad, ia which eleven persons
were killed almost outright, and thirty five were
wounded, several of W aom have since died. In
this case it is admitted by officers of the road
that there is no excuse for disaster, and it is
charged to the criminal carelessness OF the con-
ductor and engineer Of the freight train, who
disobeyed orders In leaving station before the
passage of the passenger train. The question
now to be solved, it would naturally appear,
since the proof is direct, is whether the guilty
employees will be punished, and the company
guilty of employing reckless men made to sui
fer also for its criminal carelessness.'
As the r; richmond Enquirer says the policy of
the Conservative party of Virginia is now just
what it was when it accepted the situation, !"
endorsed the amendments, supported the new
constitution, and invited Virginians. all native
and adopted Virginians, who wanted good gov
ernment 10 this Commonwealth, to rally around
its standard and beat back the selfish, sectional,
proscriptive party then threatening to destroy
her. Let the Radicals rush upon tho ranks of
the Conservatives as they may, they will be
hurled aside and jeered as they go. But on our
part it must not be forgotten that the issue Is,
whether the white man or the black man is to
control 10 tie councils of this Commonwealth !;
to guide thu government of this State to d.
rect the destiny of Virginia That is the great
question and there must be no lodging upon 1T.
The Radicals must have their noses held to the
grind-stone they have been turning for our par
ty.
CONVICTED OF MURDER. christopher Craft
has been convicted at Dan9ille, of the murder
of DR.. Jeffries, and sentenced to be hanged on
the Goth ofNovember next. The circumstance s
leading to the tragedy were, as is frequently the
,ozo ~o,r ,ba,,rd Tho uifo IF tho dnoaaca6