The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-12-18

NO. 146.
caucus held Friday night, but he saw n,
reason why that should prevent him from
attending here. l. was his opinion that th,
way the canvass was carried on during thi
last campaign entitled Conservative Inde
pendents to ask admission here. In othel
days he had fought against the admission o
independents in vain. It seemed to hin
that this caucus was regularly organized
and he should participate in it.
| Mr. Hinton said that IL more than the
usual number Of Independents presented
themselves here it was thefault Of the party
managers. He had tried, but in vain, to
make the State Committee come out boldly
against them. The canyassers appointed
by the State Committee had been as dumb
as oysters. The precedents were all in fa-
vor Of the Independents they were admit
ted in 1869, 1871, 1873, and 1875. They were
in the caucus which elected senator in the
Goode-Daniel caucus, and some Of them
voted for Daniel. Mr.. Hinton, in the
course Of his speech, expressed himself
against Hayesism laid down the principle
that the caucus OF each house, was to decide
upon the eligibility of its members; that
the House caucus had decided by vote OF
only twcnty-nine noes that it would admit
Independents that the joint caucus was
compelled to admit the members passed
upon by the House caucus; that the other
[Lee] caucus was self-constituted and with
out authority. and while he hoped the pres
ent difficulties would be amicaby adjusted
would never bow the knee to those gentle
men. - .-...
Mr.. Shelburne explained that he signed
the call for. the other lLee] caucus without
reading the heading. Itsoon after occurred
to him that he had done wrong. and be went
after the gentleman to let him read the head
ing, but it had gone to the printer. In the
House caucus he had voted against exclud-
ing independents; in that call he was put
in the position Of excluding Independents.
The former was his true position.
DR.. Moffctt made q lengthy speech, defn-
ing the position Of the gentlemen acting with
him. He believed that when a man came
forward and said he was q Conservative
nothing more could be demanded. That
was all he wanted. 1t was all anybody
ought to ask. 1t was the common law Of
the party.
A MISTAKE.
In relation to the resolution about Iude-
pendents said to have been adopted by the
State Committee on motion Of Mr.. q. T.
Smith, Mr.. Hinton declared that it Wa his
belief that no such resolution was passed by
the State Committee. He thought that there
was mistake about it. There was such q
resolution introduced he knew, but it was
his impression that it passed in modified
form, advising the Conservatives to vote for
the nominees. In questioning the adoption
ha ho RI ,rtx -
derstood as impeaching the secretary, John
Bell Bigger.
MORE EXPLANATIONS.
Mr.. Sherrard explained how he had been
elected against his protest. He had sought
no participation in either caucus.
Mr.. Fauntleroy also explained his posi-
ton, and pitched into the funding bill.
That bill, he declared, had been engineered
by carpet-baS Governor through Legis-
ture OF carpet-baggers and aliens sitting at
the point OF Federal bayonets. He spoke,
too, OF the depredatlons upon the Treasury,
and declared that no man could tell whether
the coupons in circulation were stolen or
not. He made several POINTS about the
stolen bonds, going to show that the people
were most unjustly called upon to pay the
coupons torn from them. He also wanted
the war interest abated.
Major Lady also defended his Conserya-
tive record. He never wanted to enter any
caucus but Conservative caucus. In Rock
bridge there Is no Radical party worth men-
tioning. The county has long been mis-
represented on the debt question, and the
people had III the last canvass risen against
the rings. He hoped the reporters would
put him down as a Conservative, as that
was his proper position.
Every gentleman present claimed to be O
good and true Conservative.
o., PEACE OFFERING. -s
Mr.. Fowler offered resolution inviting
all Conservatives to participate in these
caucuses. :......:'. .s..... .. ..isi
Ex-Judge Stevens, Of Nelson, opposed
the resolution. He desired no invitations tt
be sent out. II Conservatives want to come
let them; il they want to keep out, let then
keep out. la.' t. us
Senator Massie favored the resolution ant
spoke in n conciliatory tone. f,
After consulting with some gentlemen
around him Mr. Fowler proposed to with
Senator Fulkerson spoke in favor of Mr.
Fowler's resolution. He believed that thi:
caucus represented the sentiment Of nine
tenths OF the people OF the State.
Mr.. McCabe said be was here to readjust
the public debt, and by compulsory mcn
sures il necessary. ,e,. sga.r
Senator Brooke attended both caucuse:
to hear the opinion Of all his brethren. Ht
suoke in conciliatory spirit.
The resolution of Mr.. Fowler was adopt.
ed. s.r-. ,s.lr-4E - ...s"< .T.=
Adjourned to meet at the call OF the chair
man.. .,.s, ,-.-t s.s-.. a.ss !. 81.