The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-02-23

Constitution OF virginia IN TeleTcBce 10 Lue
elective franchise and qualifications for office,
and concerning the legislative department..
To amend the charter of the town Of
Waterford, 10 Loudoun county, approved
March II, 1875.
The author of the following article is
distinguished Conservative, whose counsel
we think the people are entitled to have
whether We agree with him or not:
Let Us Prepare.
Editors of the Dispatch:
The settlement of the senatorial contro-
versy by the seating OF General johnson
offers the occasion for some needed freedom
OF consultation among the Conservative PEG.
pie OF Richmond.
Right or wrong, the conclusion Of this con-
trorersy is one for which the Senate of Viz
ginia is alone accountable; and it is an issue,
therefore, which may be accepted By the one
party without unseemly triumph, and by the
other without modification. Indeed, re.
gard it as circumstance full Of promise of
party unity in the future that the result,
however eagerly awaited, and with what.
ever zeal clnvassed, has been accepted by
the best men, if not with full and cheerful
approval, certainly with manly acques'
cence on the one side and wise moderation
on the other. Ibelieve it leaves the patriotic
on both sides with the disposition as well as
The opportunity to give thoughtful attention
to the future.
The year upon which we have entered has
an outlook of great interest for the people OF
this city. 1t is the year OF the presidential
election, and that election is to take place
with so critical balancing of parties that
the electoral vote of single State may de.
eide the issue. In the last election that vote
10 Virginia was given to Grant. 1t is the
year of our municipal election, and Interests
Of nearer concern to US than those which are
involved even in presidential campaign are
put in peril at every such contest.
Now, the natural division of voters in this
city, as in every southern city and State, is
into two classes:
/. The Federal officers and the blacks con-
stitute one.
2. The true white people the other.
Wherever, as in Richmond, these parties
approximate an equality of numbers, or the
negro and Federal office.holding party pre-
dominates decidedly, there has always been
found faction Of whites who, through lust
of office, or love Of plumber, or personal
to renouncs their natural associations and
fraternize with the blacks. The woful his
tory of many q southern State for the past
ten years is the record of their trcacbery and
their triumph. With us these parties are
we'll known. They turn up at every election
as either the candidates Of the black party or
the violent partisans of those candidates,
ard have no more true sympathy with our
people than the latest carpet-bagger among
US. a jus. public sentiment denounces them
as worse enemies than the strangers who,
while laboring for the overthrow of our
freedom, do not deepen the ignominy OF
assault upon our rights by the blacker offeIce
of treason 10 their birth, and blood, ana
friendships, and State. From these we have
nothing to fear and nothing to hope. We
have done without them, and shall continue
to dispense with their help and survive their
hostility.
But there is another and more reputable
class Of our people upon whom the yoke Of
party fealty sits lightly, and who, under cir
cumstances in their view justifyng them,
either give formal support to our enemies,
or, W hat is lar more 'ual, absent themselves
from the polls. The formidable size and the
spirit and disposition of this party are we'll
! illustrated in the recent history of Virginia
politics. Probably no party in any State
ever polled in successive years votes SO
nearly identical as the Virginia Radicals in
1872 and 1873.
General Grants vote In 1872 was 93,46s;
Hughes's vote in 1878, SO, 400 difference
OF but twenty-five votes in nearly hundred
thousand. Yet Grant carried Virginia,
while Hughes lost it by nearly thirty thou.
sand. WhyS Simply because 10000 Con.
servalives could not be dragooned into voting
for Mr.. Greeley. Now, however much we
may deprecate the course of such ConserVa-
tives, it is impossible to withhold certain
respect for their motives; and in the last
degree unjust to denounce them. They are
often among the most honest, incorruptible,
and patriotic Of our people and their fault
most serious one, admits the.lofty and
noble one of an unwillingness to see that all
politics is Of necessity compromise.
1t is from this class Of our citizens alone
that the Conservative party has occasion to
fear disafection that will in the slightest
degree imperil the result of our elections
either in the spring or fall. And in my
humble opinion the single problem which
need engage tie attention Of those who have,
or may have, the control Of our local politics
this year in Richmond is to see to 1t that
every just and reasonable concession be
made to these our natural friends and allies
not inconsistent with the rights and just ex-
pectations Of the rest Of the party, or the
permanent public interest involved.
As every Conservative citizen might we'll
be invited, so / may be pardoned tor Volun.
teering to express an opinion as to the prac.
tical way of attaining this:
/. I think the City Central Committee
should meet at an early day, and in an ad.
dress, to prepare which no citizen of Viz
ginis is better fitted than its admirable chair.
man, summon The Conservative people of
Richmond to choose their successors. TO
many of the committee / know this course
would be agreeable, and doubt not to all.
2. Arrangements should be made while
the Legislature is in session for an early call.
ing Of the State Convention, that our party
may profit BY such infusion of patriotic en-
thusiasm as such convention always in.
spires.
g. The question Of the method Of deer.
mining the local candidates should be re-
solved on ut as early period as Is consistent
with full discussion, 10 order that all as,
perities growing out Of differences on this
matter might have ample, time to snbside. 1.
4. The method of choice, whatever be
adopted, should be such Us got only 10 indi.
cate itself by its fairness, but 1t should invite
and provide for the very largest participation
by all classes and This MT PUPru SteD from