Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1874-10-10
To the Democratic Conservative Vo-
tiers OF Jefferson County.

The omission, since the selection Of your can
dilates, OF the usual discussions from the hust-
Jugs. the gravity Of the interests which are to
be decided 10 the contest, and the distractions
attempted % be thrown into your ranks by
candidates acting independently Of your or
eauization, not only Justify but demand the
utterauce Of the views they now present -
Although there has been but little if any, Of
either the earncstneSs or excitement generally
existing in political canvass where questions
of public policy Of any moment are 20 be de-
termiued, the Committee believe il will require
not much reflection 10 convince all that at no
time in the history Of this State has there been
a greater necessity for . Democratic and Con-
servativo triumph than at the present.
You have lately established a new Constitu-
ton tor the government Of the State The
benefits it has already conferred You have eX-
pcricnccd Ia a large reduction If taxes, 10 the
healthy tone given to the. State finances 10 a
beucG ct and improved system of public edu
cation, in the abolition Of the oppressive disa-
biftes which it has removed, aud whose rssto-
ration 10 renders impossible SO long as It exists
in the reference of local questions 20 local tn
buuals; In better and more elevated judicial
system, aud in the possibility of still further
notifications Of it by the direct action Of the
reople where found desirable, and In stricter
accountability of your agents who handle the
public moneys.
Much, therefore, has been accomplished by
il. bpt much vet remains % be achieved under
it. The work Of reform which has iuausu-
rated has only been partially performed. 1t
requires friendly legislation TO make many of
lis leading provisions effective. But the threat
has been made, should opportunity be afforded.
not only % arrest your purposes In this direc-
ton, but even to restore the proscriptiye IN
strumeut. whose expressions, 1t is believed,
YOU have not forgotten. Candidates are a.
ready in the field claiming your sufrages whose
uames are inseplrably and prominently con-
ueCted with the most odious features OF your
ra,t organic law and legislative enactmcnts.
Your diSfrauchisement, your exclusion from
courts OF Justice, whose machinery was denied
~ In the enforcement of honest claims the
refusal to you Of the right to pursue the occu-
patious upon whose exercise your means Of
support depended, are parts Of the history OF
your State. Do You desire that that history,
or any part of IT, should be repeated
Aud yet what guaranty have you, should
you place again IN power not only the party
who inflicted these degrading measures upon
YOU, but It's very representatives, who were
foremost 10 their advocacy in the halls Of the
Legislature Of the State, that these same mea-
sures with which you grapp'ed in life and
death struggle. will not be re-enacted BE as
sured that '' the leopard changes not his spots,
nor the Ethiopian his skin
The above considerations refer wholly 20
your internal State affairs and purely domestic
concerns. But this contest has a wider range.
Your interests. as connected with national mat
ttrs. are 70 be affected by it. The members Of
tue Legislature you are about to choose will be
required to elect United States Senator, for
six years from the 4th OF March 1875, and
rDon the vote Of your county alone will, iu all
probability, depend the selection cf a candidate
In the lower House of Congress from the 2nd
Congressional district. OF the importance OF
the choice o. be made it is needless % spen K.
That the Democratic and Conservative party
is entitled 10 both and, If harmony and
unity Of action prevail, will elect both, no one,
VINO has any knowledge Of It's strength in the
State and dis rict can, for an instant, doubt
But b. attain such result, party organization
and combined effort are absolutely necessary.
IL cannot divide its forces between regular and
independent candidates without great danger
of failure And the loss at this time, Of
State known 70 be largely Democratic, by di-
visions among the members of the Democratic
party, would be peculiarly unfortunate, and O.:
most peraicious example Whilst doubtful
States have taken their position in the line Of
battle forming for the great National Conflict
In 1876, will West Virginia chill the hopes ex-
isting throughout the country, for victory
then that viii sweep from power party whose
accumulated corrupt.ons and usurpaticns, for
fifteen years have brought the nation to the
pcu.ous edge of rain?
These are questions, Democrats and CouSer-
vat.ves of jefferson County, with which You
will have much TO do on Tuesday next, The
responsibility is no ordinary one; the mint
tee hope that YOU are fully prepared TO meet
It, But they respectfully and earnestly urge
Hci y0u cannot reasonably c'pec success Ua9er
am other co1d,joA than Hdtof support Of y0,r
DlIty nominees Should YOU divide your Sui-
irages between them and those independent
candidates who have heretofore acted with You,
there are other candidates, upon whom You
can have no claim to carry ont single princ;-
pie TO which You are attached, who, under the
rigid discipline of the party with which they
are identified, aud with whom You have not
aud cannot have, single political sentiment
IN common, will, by q minority rOie glide into
places which you are lestimately entitled to
ill.,
Remember then, and this we seek 20 impress
upon You, that every vote which you cast,
from personal considerations, or otherwise, for
any Independent candidate, even Of Democrat
ic or Conservative antecelents, enhances the
chances Of those other candidates who are now
ia open communion with aud Will, If elected.
officially represent, an organization with which
your committee believe you wo1'i not be iound
DO any other than an dcc;deR0' a.h.ation. In
every aspect of the case your only safety is in
y0ur organization Abandon that aud the
work Of destruction has commenced which
must end in the wreck Of your hopes for the
future The party candidates, now before
You, are every way worthy Of your support;
but suppose IL were otherwise what are mere
personal objections 70 the higher and para
mount considerations, by which you should be
governed, Of triumph of the principles by
whichyou have all your lives been guided
Are these nothing that you now are willing
heed'ess'y 20 impeIa item?
The process OF diSintesration in nl great
and powerful associations begins in the indie
pendent action Of their members This leads
% wide aad iriecoutiabe differences which
terminate 10 open, bitter opposition and often
in applicable hostility. The men who enter
upon such q course are, from their first depart