Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-04-15

Dement'S to all mer, irrespective of co or; tn;
their aim was to break down and dispense the
adversary color line party and their final sue
cess would be the signal for the dispersion and
extinction OF all race-lne combinations would
luauSura'e new era when colored men, freed
from race enthrameut, would come under the
same influences and reasons which governed
other men 10 forming party affiliations, when
the politics OF our whole people would return
to healthy and normal conditions aid when
men OF both races combining for the good Of
ALL would restore peace and common pros
perlty. After color-line party had been form-
cd Conservatives arrayed themselves against
it to destroy it; and if any man supposes that
10 thus arrayiug themselves they initiated the
very example against which they waged an ex.
terminating war, he mistakes the shadow for
the substance of historical truth If the Con-
1t Is that OF the disastrous discovering of the
community into Earring and hostile classes, in
splred by the fatal war-cry of black against
white or OF white against black" At the
same time and from the same devotion to
principle and to peace, it has resisted the ty
rauny and wckedness of any iutermeddlug
with the social relations of the people, of so
legislating as to impair or to touch the social
independence OF any race or class, uudcr the
pretence OF conferriOg civil rights so-called.
The Conservative party has broken down all
race combinations in the past, and 1t will as
surcdly never countenaDce within its own
ranks any efforts for their renewal. No such
narrow ideas can ever hem in its organism.
mo pent-up Utica contracts its powers. Ii
not only seeks to promote the peace and well
fare of the State by establishing the harmony
and cooperation Of the races. Il is the REIN
bodiment Of those true principles Of govern
ment which in esrer days gave to the States
and the Union their purity and real glory. 1t
would confirm TO the States all their original,
constitutional rights and powers; it chcerluy
comedies to the common government the full
measure of its delegated authorities; it steadily
reslsts the tendency of the hour towards cen
trallzaton; it holds ours to be governments of
and for the people, amenable to the people,
with 20 powers except such as arc derived
from the consent of the covered; it fosters har
monious and cordial relations between all the
States as CO equal members Of i restored I'm
lon, and between the States and the common
government; 10 a word its voice is clarion
blast which summons all men to rally under
the standard Of constitutional free government.
National parties have been so impressed and
shaped, or nlisshapcn, by the violence of arms,
that they eau only be adapted to the new era
Of peace and wcll.rcgu,atcd government by be-
ing either materially modified or altogether re
constituted.
THE POLITICAL ELEMENTS
arc in process of transition. While many of
them are ylsby floating in uncertain waters
and drifting around Us, the Conservative party
Of Virginia stands on dry land, 1t stands on
constitutional ground, broad enough and firm
enough to receive and hold all true mcu of all
parties. The necessities Of the hour incline
true men, Of whatever past party Affiliations
to draw together on common ground. 1t Is q
great company receiving CONTINUAL additions.
Sooner or later such accrctions must crystalIze
in the perfect structure Of Il great, national,
constitutional party of Conservative ideas the
ideas OF Jefferson, of Mason, of Madison, and
of Monroe.
| should not do justice to the whole of the
subject matter suggested by your letter with
out referring to one ground OF mi>construc-
ton to which our party is subjected by a few
in our midst, One article in the platform Of
the party. as empha,calIy rcahrmcd by the
present General Assembly, disclaims all pur-
pose of captlous opposition to the present
Federal administration, aud manltests a de-
sire for friendly relations on the basis of prln-
ciple, 10y pledging our support to its measures
so far as they may be just 10 design and pro-
motive of the harmony OF the While country.
This article declares at once our supreme al
legiance to principle and our desire 10 do exact
Justice as between ourselves and all others, Ivy
cultivatiDg harmonious relations with the
common government and every department OF
it, and by going precisely SO far aud no farther
in that direction than our plainly avowed prlD
ciplcs will let us go. The Conservative party,
like every other party, includes extreme mcu.
They are more noisy than numerous. They
arc extremists Of two classes, the antpodeS OF
each other, and the great body OF the people
rcposc silently between them, sympathIzlng
with neither The one class treats this article
as a mere void and meaningless generality, aud
avows general aud determined hostility to
the present Federal administration. The other
seems to construc the same article as commit
ting us to the unreScrvcd and unqualified sup
port of the course OF that administration, and
Of the supposed views of its executive head,
generally and in advance The one would place
US in relations OF pronounced anagonlsm, hos
tity and defiance to that administration, while
the other would convert us iuto its blind par
tsans The one would deal out indiScriminatc
ceusure, the other indiscrlminate praise of the
whole policy and conduct of the Federal add
nDistration-b its good AMI its bad. lis
riSnG anu It's wrong lue poilcy vi lhc ouc
would deprive us of all the benefits of pacific
and conciiatory relations with government
which is our govcrnmcnt-weldng many pow
ers within the State either for good or Tor evil
and it would cmbro US in uncalIcd-ior and
miscellaneous discard, collision and bitterness,
while the other would be prone to deplorc our
action in resisting even the errors Of those who
may happen to administer the Federal govern
ment The one would forbid all Interchange
of civilitics between those who may happen to
be charged with the State aud the Federal adj
ministrations, would have the former rudely
and groteSquely to repel even courtesy tender
ed by the latter, would construc the acceptance
Of such courtesy into an unmauly surrender Of
State pride and personal independence, and
would have an angry aud impossible gulf Of
separation between the two; while the policy
of the other class Of extremists would tend,
however otherwise designed, to bcgct such an