The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-12-17
rTne Coussrvatives.

the Conservatives:
The processes Of rcconstructing the or
SANITATION Of the Conservative party in the
Legislature have gone steadily forward ana
promise entire success. The origtnai es1ap.
lishment Of that party was measure OF
public necessity, and the purposes u was
intended for were entirely accomplished.
Nevertheless, we have seen tnss sleas
danger, not at the beginning anticipated mas
.risan. ant, that it has placed the welfare OF
&he S,s.e its honor and credit, in decided
,.or;, therefore, there was still remaining
uork Cor Conseryatives-the guarding OF
the peace OF the State, its public credit, ana
tic traditional honor. These shou'o be. pro-
.ected and conserved by every consideration.
When the Legislature met here, on the
first Wednesday in December, there were
found to be goodly number OF new MEN,
bers and there was amongst them confu-
sion OF views upon this very matter OF the
preservation OF the public faith and the
steady and orderly security OF commerce
and domestic industry through the proper
disposition OF the question Of the public in.
deb;edpess.' There were many who pro-
posed to compose the question In the
wiscst and best manner possible that
would protect the public faith ana
avoid an infringement OF the right
of the public creditor. lie being in
deed the creditor who had entrusted bis
money to the honor OF the State, and we
being in possession Of the property created
by the money so borrowed, these conslde-
rate and patriotic gentlemen declared that
they could not consent to wrong that credl-
tor. They would consider themselves
grossly faithless to deny their own obliga-
fions, but 1t would be an added enormity to
their moral turpitude could they, with the
responsibility Of their representative ca
pacity resting upon them, disown or seek
to impair the solemn obligations OF the
Commonwealth.
Had the representatives OF the State all
manifested tins high and faithful sense OF
public duty all would have been peace and
harmony. But not so. Others, and we
mourn to say considerable number OF per-
sons standing forth as Virginia legislators
ayowed opinions not at oil in harmony
with those we have stated. To make their
position known as men who were deter
mined to sustain measures not consistent
with the public obligations they adopted
the name OF 'sForci6le ReddjuSters"; thus
proclaiming themselves ready to help to
break the plighted faith OF the Common
wealth and invade the sacred rights Of the
public creditor.
In spirit OF open opposition to the most
solemn obligations they became reckless and
Yociferous, and in many ways manifested
headstrong sentiment, that in some respects
seemed affected, by way OF haunting those
whom they opposed, and probably to alarm
The public creditor and impair the public
credit as facilitating policy as iniudicious
as faithloss. They began series OF eau
cuses as the better way to give shape and
Roadway TO their ill-considered and perilous
plan.
The betler-tempered and better-advised
members of the Legislature considered that
the time had come when Conservatism
was needed--when the patriotic Conserva-
tive should buckle on his shield and 60 to
the field. This was his public duty while
Virginia had something to conserve that
was In peril. The result was the effort to
reconstruct the Conservative party, which
was made on Friday night with decided
success. During the proceedings with this
view there were manifest some unpleasant
passions and some regretiul scenes. But
let us poss them over. The course OF things
when partisans are excited by doubtful
schemes for indirect personal advantages
can never be pleasant and peaceful.
And now as this is most important
juncture in the affairs Of Virginia we hope
all men in and out Of the Legislature will
feel that they are Virginians, and that their
first duty is to her. The ambition and
greed OF men are cohtemptible by the side
OF the majesty OF Virginia. The man who
obtrudes himself into the arena to engineer
his little aspirations when Virginia is in
peril deserves universal execration. -.