Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-01-16
Conservative Meeting in Richmond
ADOPTION OF RESOLUTIONS.

suance of the call of Nathaniel B.
Meade, Esq, Chairman of the Conser-
vative Executive Committee of Virgin.
ia, to consider the grave i issues involved
in the present aspect that the national
affairs have assumed.
The meeting was called to order by
N. B. Meade, Esq, upon whose motion
Hon. r. M. T. Hunter was called to the
chair.
Upon taking the chair that gentleman
spoke as follows:
What means this large meeting, these
anxious faces, this grave assemblage
The citizens of Richmond, and portion
of the people of Virginia now here have
convened in view of the portentous issu-
es in national affairs. Ugly rumors are
afloat. 1t is said that powers are claim
ed and exercised by the President which
virtually will give him the nomination
OF his successor, and the appoint
ment of the legislatures and executives
of the States. Popular liberty and the
framework Of our Government are at
stake. Can the people of Virginia do
anything? Can they hope to ward off
the evil? This is the very object of our
present inquiry. Alas, there is not
much hope except in the spirit and vir-
tue of our people. Of all the States in
the Confederacy there are none whose
people have deeper aspirations for peace;
none VINO dread more the work of war,
and scenes of violence and strife. For
justice and fair dealing we will trust to
reason, as our fathers intended, but for
4 l., L., hot I
compensate us? Liberty is priceless.
What can compensate us for that? We
have stood much we are prepared still
safe us for the loss of liberty? That is
which we can exchange it. Nothing
nothing. We hear it is said that we
will sacrifice it for O consideration we
will give it up for office and emolument.
Nothing can compensate us for its loss.
Perish the son who would sacrifice it
for office or emolument. We are here
this day to offer 10 peril everything for
the liberty of ourselves, our confederates,
and our posterity.
On motion, the members of the press
who were present were appointed secre-
taries. Judge Meredith then rose and
as he understood it the meeting saidthat
called for the city of Richmond, arc i
was not designed for the Legislature, al
though all Virginians were expected to
take an interest in it, and as citizens of
Virginia the legislators were invited to
act with the people assembled. He Of
fered motion that committee of nine
be appointed to draft resolutions express
sive of the sense of the meeting.
On the adoption of this motion, the
chair appointed the following to consti-
tute said Committee: Judges Jno. A.
Meredith and W. w. Crump; A. NJ.
Kelley, w. P. BurwelI, J. w. Wright,
R. D. Ward, J. J. Allen, w. H. f. Gre
CORY, and DR.. Blair Burwell.
The Committee, through its Chair
man, reported the following resolutions
which were unanimously adopted -
Resolved, That the recent presidential
election threatens to be one of grave inn
portance, involving momentous results,
affecting for all time the constitutional
method of determining the title to the
chief magistracy of our Republic. The
difficulties that have arisen have been
caused by the illegal and fraudulent
practices of the convassing board in
some of the States, and the only mode
of extricating the country from the dan
gers that imperil our institutions is by a
firm adherence to the cardinal prinei-
pies of the Constitution and strict OBJ
servance Of the long established prece-
dents on such occasions
I'd. That the right to count the electo-
raj votes, and the right to determine the
authenticity or validity of any vote,
belongs exclusively to the two houses of
Congress, and this right to count the
vote conferred on the two houses of Con-
gress by the Constitution, empowers
them to pass all laws and rules necessa-
ry and proper to carry the granted
power into effect. And in the eX-
ercise of this power heretofore, the mode
of procedure has been invariably regula
ted by concurrent resolutions or stand
ing rules adopted by the two houses
before the count. Such has been the
official exposition of the Constitution
and the 1nvariable practice of the Gov
eminent, which has been deliberately
adopted, uniformly acted upon, and
invariably accepted.
Sd. That should the two houses be I'M
able to agree upon a mode of procedure,
and thereby unable to declare which OF
the candidates has been cOnstitutionally
elected by the people, then the contin'
gency contemplated and provided for by
the Constitution will have arisen, when
it will be the duty of the House of Rep
resentatiyes to elect President from the
three persons having the highest num-
Der OF votes, and the person thus cho
sen will be the lawful and constitution
ally elected President of the United
States.
4th. The Constitution of the United
States confers upon the President of the
Senate no power whatever in respect to
the counting of the electoral vote, anG
requires him simply. in the presence D
the two houses, to open all the certifi
Gates which may be transmitted by The
colleges directed to him; and no Presi
dent of the Senate has ever claimed OF
exercised a power at any time at any o.
the tWenty-one presidential elections
under our Constitution, and the exercise
of such power on the part of the Pres
ident of the Senate would be a usurpa.
ton, in violation OF the Constitution
and the uniform practice under it, des-
tructive of the liberties of the people
and should be firmly resisted by all law
full means necessary and adequate tc
preserve our free institutions.
9TH. That the claim propouuded and
exercised by the returning boards OF
sundry States to manipulate the vote o.
their fellow citizens, so as to disfran
chise, without law or excuse, m ny
thousands of people, is an assumption O.
authority, if acquiesced in, which pla
ces the rights and liberties of the citi-
zen at the mercy of partisan organiza'
tions. which have often proved to be
equally corrupt and irresponsible.
9Th. That in view of the brief interva
that will elapse before this threatened
danger may arise, we call upon the Leg
islature of the State, representing the
whole people of Virginia. to declare il
firm and unmistakable tones the senti
ments of their constituents on the grave
questions now agitating the country.
Grant is now the greatest impedimen
in the way of o peaceable and satisfac
tory solution of the presidential muddle
1t is his sympathy and cooperation with