The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-03-09
The Disguise Thrown of.

The mask of s'Conservatism' that has con-
cealed the motives and purposes Of the leaders
and sc.emers of the opposition party in Vir-
ginia, we were aware, would, sooner OF later,
be torn off, the full grown State Rights De-
mocracy, as it existed before and up to 1861,
exposed to view, and the hollow and nsincere
proclamations of fidelity to the abtramert to
which we appealed demonstrated. Indeed,
those who addressed themselves to the task,
could, years ago. easily discern the deception
and duplicity that were being practiced upon
the people, and that the sole object of the Ge-
signing few was to mislead and delude the
masses by appeals to race prejudice and Sec
tional sympathy in order to command, control
and revel in the Offices and plumber Of the
State. The congratulatory telegram of Ra
leigh L. Daniel, speaking for the ssTrue Re-
publican" party in 1869, to Gen. Grant, upon
the triumph of his pclicy'' in Virginia in the
election of Walker; the sudden reputation OF
the name under which the victory had been
won; the dcnunciation by Walker, shortly after
his Inauguration, Of the very President whose
generosity and kindness had elevated him to
endorsaton Of Horace Greeley, in 1872, as
the Presidential nominee ; the base deception
and falsehood concealed under the resolution
in the platform of that year thanking the Union
soldiers for their defeat of the rebellion - the
adoption of the Constitution Of Virginia by
200, 900 majority, i'll which the doctrine of
State Rights, as understood and commended for
,U 10 4 tJ,o
dated and this government declared to be
perpetual national unity - the campaign of
1873, in which the Conservative party claimed
to be par excellence the Union party of the
State; and the subsequent history of the Con-
scrvatye organization, in its proposition to
strike out of the s:Bill of Rights the very
clauses which recognized the results of the
war and the construction of the National Con-
stitution which prevailed in the determination
of battle; all go to exhibit in glaring boldness,
the deception that has been studiously practi-
ced to conceal from the people the Interior
designs of the men who, having first precipi-
tated secession, and brought desolation upon
the country, have determined still to control the
government of the Commonwealth, whatever
the qualification and Justification that are
necessary to that end.
Confident by reason of their continued sue
c ,ss by these deceptions to keep hidden from
popular apprehension the true purpose of this
conservative" party grown insoent and
bold by the enormous majority which decided
the last contest Of strength between the two
parties, and lusty and vigorous upon the plum
der they have fed upon, drawn out of the i'm
poverished people who have been deluded into
trusting them, they now frankly throw off the
disguise and announce themselves in the Halls
of the National Capital, through their CHOSEN
representatives, the Old State Rights Demo-
cratic party, contending for the very theory
that was swept away in the carnage of war,
and surrendered in the adjustment Of the
terms of peace. This, too, regardless of the
solemn oatll-bound sanctions voluntarily as
sumel in the adoption OF our State Consttu-
ton, and the amendments to the National
Constitution comprehcnded therein.
In proof of this we have only to refer to re-
cent declarations, by those authorized to speak
for the Conservative party of Virginia. The
Richmond VAig, shortly after the assembling
OF the present Congress, announced, in exhll-
berant and nervoas sentences, that Hon. j.
Randolph Tucker WAS the recognized leader Of
the Conservative party OH the floor of Con-
gress and that his utterances would be regard
ed az but the reflex OF the sentiment Of those
who assumed the leadership of that organiza-
ton. Mr.. fuckers views upon cardinal ques-
tions affecting government were well known
when this announcement was made. Those
acquainted with him were cognizant of the
fact that he was one Of the leaders who dis
dained to declare his acceptance of the praot-
cal results Of the al--that with Jefferson
Davis, he commended that the doctrine of State
Sovereignty was still live issue, and that the
Developments OF the future would establish the
Truth Of his conviction,