Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-01-18
The Convention Farce.


We transfer to our columns the reso-
buttons Of the Richmond meeting in re-
lation to the presidential question just
aswe did the dispatches Of Grant and
Don Cameron ordering troops to the
support Of Chamberlain merely as a
matter Of news.
The resolutions are tolerably well
prepared, though very lnsufficiently ex-
pressive, all things considered. But
We cannot endorse the calling ofsuch a
meeting by the Chairman Of the State
Executive Committee as such, nor APP
prove any action such meeting might
take. 1t Is not satisfactory that it was
done at the instance Of the National
Committee. Chamberlain called fol
troops and Grant supplied them. The
National Committee called for an ex-
preston from the people of Virginia
and convention was summoned OF
twelve hours notice. One did not over.
step its authority more than the other
One involved grayer consequences, it is
true, but the warrant for the one is moi
more difficult to seek out than the pro.
priety of the other.
When we reflect over the occurrences
III the State convention which curtailei
the power Of the Committe as it was
delegated by the copscript plan Of or
ganization, we are not surprised at the
position Of Ex-Gov. Smith, Judge
Meredith and others. The Bourbonish
tenacity with which they then clung to
an odious system of centralized politica
power was peculiarly characteristic
But for the Jealous determination O
tie progressive men Of the party at thai
time Conservatism in Virginia would
have been reproach. The party
would have gone to fragments before
the election Of 1872, and the white
banner would scarcely have crystalized
sentiment in 1873 for 10000 majority.
Party discipline as a necessity in all
the southern states. To preserve it,
the people must be the residuaries Of all
power. Virginians would suffer the ills
Of mlsgovernment for season rather
than have their liberty Of choice in
finged by party managers. As mat.
ter Of right, the Chairman had just as
well call q twelve hour convention for
any other purpose as for that ofexpress.
ing Virginia sentiment on federal
politics.
Richmond had the privilege Of a meet.
ing. She could have assembled hel
people On the call Of her city superinr
tendent. Why did she not do so? Their
we should not have republican papers
North ridiculing the extremity to which
we appeared to be driven to get VI
huge meetings. 1t is appropriately
stigmatized as farce all over the coun
try. It is the weak spot in the 8th 0
January programme-thc vulnerabl,
point inviting assault.
Those members Of the General As
sembly, Terry, Allen, Penn. Pophan
and Page, with Chamberlayne. Christian
and others, acted as representative
men, in our humble Judgment, shoulc
have done. They saw clearly that th'
call was to identify them with con
vention to which they had not beef
delegated; state convention to which
their constituents received bids after thu
wedding was over; q convention Of no
bodies to represent this state on tht
most important subject touching GU
federal relations which has been befor,
us since the adoption ofour federal con
stitution. barely excepting the ordinanc,
of secession. That they were right the
reader of the resolutions can readily see
It IS not becoming the state Of Virgin;
to give forth uncertain sounds. Shc
can afford to remain quiet and passive
but to pledge ourselves to the use o
daaeftI means Only to perpetuate ou
liberties and preserve our free institu
tons is not Virginian. Better..a thousand
times that she should say nothing. VIZ
are glad she did say nothing. Wha
was said. was not said by a Virginia
convention.