Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-08-17
RESULT OF THE CONVENTION.
THE PLATFORM-WHAT THE SUCCESSFUL
AND DEFEATED CANDIDATES Say
SKETCHES OF THE NOMINEEs--THE
PUBLIC VERDICT.

The nomination of Col. F. W. N. Hol-
liday for Governor, Geu. Jas. A. Walker
for 1t. Governor and Z. 7. Daniel Tor At
torney General, was announced by the
VINDICAToR last Saturday in an extra.
To-day we give the platform adopted by
the Convention, the remarks Of the candl-
dates and. what we ask especial attention
to, the comments of the press in and out
of the State on the result of the Conven-
ton.
THE PLATFORM.
The committee ON resolutions submitted
the following report, which was unani-
mously adopted
Whereas the good people of the ST. tie of
Virginia, represented by the Conservative
party. have been greatly concerned and ag-
ltated by representations and miSrepresen-
tations as to what would be the probable
action of this Convention upon the subject
of the State debt, and it has become vital
ly important to the preservation of the in
tegrity and harmony of the party that an
authoritative expression of opinion should
be promulgated upon that question; and
whereas the future welfare, honor and
"
upon the continued existence and cohesion
Of the Conservative party, now, therefore
be it
Resolred, By the Conservative party OF
Virginia i'll convention assembled, while
the Conservative party, true to the past
glorious history of Virginia and proud of
her good namefand fame amongst the ma
lions of the earth, would scorn to repudi-
ate her just obligations, and are resolved
to preserve inviolate the public faith and
credit, yet we cannot but view with con-
Germ and anxiety the accumulation of our
financial difficulties and the increasing
weight of our public debt, therefore earn
estly urge upon the legislative and execu-
tive branches of the government the i'm
portance Of using all just and honorable
means of bringing about an adjustment of
the obligations Of the Commonwealth
which will bring the payment of interest
upon our entire Indebtedness within the
resources of the State derived from the
present rate OF taxation, and do equal JUS
tice to all classes of our creditors.
2. That every effort should be made by
the legislative department Of the state to
reduce the expenditures Of the government
and return to the methods of frugality,
economy and moderation practiced by our
forefathers and approved by former gene
rations of Virginians even in the palmiese
days of our prosperity.
3. That in the approaching election OF
members OF the Legislature it is earnestly
recommended by the convention that the
people shall elect their representatives with
view to their wisdom and integrity, and
their ability to deal with the difficulties
presented by the financial situation OF the
Commonwealth.
4. That our past experience demonstrates
the great benefit resulting to the people OF
Virginia from an active and thorough and
efficient conservative organization, repre-
senting and expressing the views and wish
es of all classes and conditions; that in Or
der to continue to enjoy such benefits al
good citizens should strive to strengthen
and preserve that organization, and by
mutual concessions to settle all differen
ces of opinion justly aud fairly inside OF
the party.
That We hereby ratify and reafirm the
vital principles of conservatism as embod
led in the platform of our party heretofore
compromising opposition to radicaliSm IL
any and all of its forms and features.
COL. HOLIDAY AND THE STATE DEBT
To show the status of Col. Holiday up
on the debt question the following extrac
from his letter Of April II, 1877, addressed
to a gentleman of Augusta, is sufficient.
explicit
GAS to the State debt I am opposed tt
repudiation. [ would no mere have sucl
a stigma cast upon my State than [ woult
upon my private fame. But, whilst L an
thus opposed to reputation, for the same
reason am in favor of some speedy set
Element of the debt-honorable to ou
State and satisfactory to the creditors.
have not sought the high Office Of Governo
with, at this time, its tremendous respon
sibilities. My friends have done me grea
honor by thinking ME worthy OF it; but
the people Of Virginia are now resolved tt
go back upon a renOWn hitherto untar
nished by the reputation of her plightet
faith they must find some other than my
self to do their bidding"
In brief speech accepting the nomina
ton for Governor, Gen. james
A. Walker said
II regard the honor Of Virginia as thu
the honor of an individual. Whateve
other gentlemen may think, regard thai
Virginia should be true to her obligations
and concede to her creditors what belongs
to them, have no sympathy with forciblt
readjustment.o
THE NOBLE LITTLE MAN WITH THE
CRUTCH-WHAT HE SAYS.
On the night Of the nomination thu
L5ncbburg friends of Jno. W. Daniel re
paired to his residence, and, through thu
window, saw him at work as usual in hi
private office. He was called out, and il
aspeech said
But there IS to me and doubt not to yol
all, another cause OF congratulatlon. a
man has been nominated for the Governor
ship of Virginia who will be d worthy sue
cessor of the illustrlouS men who have fill
ed the Executive Chair. 1 know some O.
you don't like the rather curious way il
which the thing WAS done, aid can It say
that | fancy it particularly myself. Bnt il
there was anything wrong about it, un
dertake to say that he was neither party to
or privy in it. A soldier of the old Stone
wall Brigade, who left his right arm upon
to make glorious; a comrade who would re-
joice at another's success, and take nc
pleasure in his disappointment; lawyer
who has never prostituted his talents or at
tainments to any ringmaster's service; a
gentleman in the sense that that word was
known and recognized in better days than
these; man who would stoop to no low
acts, and who will guard the honor of his
State with ceaseless vigilance, Frederick
w. M. Holiday, of Winchester, is the noble
leader of the Conservative party of Wiz
ginia. AS such | here give him my ale
glance. Let us then turn this gathering
into the first ratification meeting held in
the Commonwealth. Let us send word to
old Winchester that Lynchburg is with her
in spirit now, and will be with her in power
on election day in November. And let me
again thank you for your generous marks
of esteem, and close my poor remarks by
proposing three cheers for Holliday-the
next Governor of Virginia.
The cheers were given with a will. The
next evening when the Lynchburg dele
gates returned from Richmond a tremen-
dous crowd assembled at the depot.
Speeches were made by Jno. Randolph