Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1874-04-14

ty, like every other party, includes ex
| treme men. They are more noisy thar
numerous. They are extremists of TIVE
classes, the antipoues of each other
and the great body of the people repos'
silently between them-sympathiZin9
with neither. The one class treat:
this article as mere void and mean
ingleSs generality, and avOws a gene
raj and determined hostility to the
present federal administration. The
| other seems to construe the same arti
Gle as committing US to the unreserved
and unqualified support of the course
of that administration, and of the sup.
posed views of its executive head
generally and i'll advance. The one
would place us IN relations of pro,
nounced antagonism, hostility and de.
| fiance to that administration. while
| the other would convert US into its
blind partisans. The one would deal
! out indiscriminate censure, the other
| indiscriminate praise. of the whole
policy and conduct of the federal ad-
ministration-both its good and its bad
its right and its wrong. The policy
of the one would deprive us of all the
benefits of pacific and conciliatory re-
lations with a government which is
our government-wieldi many DOW
ers within the State either for good
or for evil-and would embroil us in
uncalled-for and mischievous discord,
collision and bitterness while the 9TH
er would be prone to deplore our action
in resisting even the errors of those
who may happen to administer the
federal government. The one would
forbid all interchange of civilities be
tween those who may happen to be
charged with the State and federal ad-
ministratiOns, would have the former
rudely and grotesquely to repel even
courtesy rendered by the latter, would
construe the acceptance of each cOur-
tesy into an unmanly surrender of
State pride and personal independence,
and would have an angry and impas-
sible gulf of separation between the
two; while the policy of the other
class of extremists would tend, how
ever otherwise designed, to beget such
an unlimited entente cordidie, such
complete identity of action, on the part
of the State administration and the
federal, as would virtually surrender
the independence of the one to the
other. The one policy promotes jar
ring and injurious discord; the other
tends to the Capitalization of power
and its absorption of State authority.
All acknowledge the patriotic mo-
tives, as well as the distinguished SER
vices, both in war and in peace. of
some of these extremists. But neither
class is right; both are wrong. The
masses Of the Conservative people of
Virginia are represented by neither
Our party adheres with inflexibEe fidel-
ity to all who are and all who shall
become our allies upon principle
We are supremacy for ideas and prin-
ciples. We are not for men, and can
never be Joined tc the personal fortunes
of any man. Without regarding the
past, we are ready to strike hands with
any.and all who meet US on the ground
of the right. Our traditions, ideas and
principles will be the sovereign power
to control our political party relations !;
we will support those who support
them, and oppose those who oppose
them; and precisely to the extent to
which they receive support or Opposi-
ton, we will give support or opposi-
ton. We will support literally and
cordially az far as we can, and we will
oppose reluctantly but decidedly,
whenever and wherever we must. But
while maintaining the integrity and
independence Of the conservative par
ty, justice, honor, interests, our DELHI
crate party pledges and avOwals, all
require us to cultivate the most har-
monious relations with the Common
Government, and with every one of
its departments, which may consist
with our principles.
These sentiments have guided me in
the past, they will guide in the future.
[ shall go forward as | have begun
The honor of Virginia shall suffer no
detriment in my keeping. The Con-
servative organization shall never be
impaired by my lands. [ shall zeal
ously and in good faith strive for the
most friendly relations, the most cor
dial cooperation, the largest recipro-
cation of benefits between ourselves
and the federal government, which
may cOmpOrt with our known stand
ard of right and duty. | shall contin-
he to accept and extend such courte-
sizes, to take such responsibilities, and
to perform such advanced acts Of duty,
as will clearly coincide with the prin-
cipleS and avOWals of our party and at
the same TINA promote the peace and
prosperity of our people. l disdain to
be trammelled by the counsels or the
criticisms of extremists of any Glass;
Guided by invincible fidelity to every
pledge of life neither short nor un-
eventful, inspired by the principles of
the party for whose success L have
born such sacrifices and labors as one
man could contribute, shall endeav-
or to advance its aims by cooperating
with its friends and antagonIzing its
enemies, and judging, by its stand
ards, the measures and acts of the
federal administration, l shall support
everything that is right-nothing that
is wrong.
The action of the largely attended
public meeting, in Washington coun-
ty, is one of numberless proofs that
my conduct of the affairs of the people
receives their unbought and unpur-
cbasable approval. Bearing arduous
possibilities in a critical period of
our history, look alone for support to
the honest, disinterested and unpre-
JUDGED judgment of the people. rest
securely on the power of the popular
will. Let passion and violence be-
ware of encountering that power. Let
no man hasten TO collide with it
''Whosoever shall fall upon that stone
shall be broken; but on whomsoever
it shall fall it will grind him to pow
der"
l remain, dear Sir,
Most truly and respect'y. yours,
~ - L n y I