The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-01-11
A Timely Rebuke.

Col. n. i. Meade chairman of the Demo-
cratic Executive Committee OF Virginia, is
sued a call in the Wig, Of the sth, for a
meeting OF the Conservatives Of Virginia to
assemble in the Capitol to give expression to
public sentiment in relation to the political
situation OF tle country. In other words, it
Was designed to carry out Mr.. Tilden's ruse
OF getting up partizan clamor on the Sth
OF January to help him into the Presidency.
| Mr.. Meade visited Mr.. 'rilden at GraEl-
mercy Place, scme time ago, and ever since
then has been splitting sulphur through the
columns of the Wig, OF which he is che edi-
tor Failing to arouse a response to his bel
| lcose articles from the people, he availed
himself of his official position as Chairman
OF the State Democratic Executive lCommit-
Tee to issue the call above referred to.
The Ereniag State of the same date
whose editor possesses a rem Invariably level
head, except when game boosters are in
sight has this to say Of Mr. Meade's
thoughtless expedient:
| 1t is to be hoped that tile meeting called
| for this afternoon by N. B. Meade. Esq.
| ssChairman State Executive COMMITTEES. il
| it be held at all will c1onfine itself to its
proper sphere: that is tile expression of its
opinion as a gathering OF individual citizens,
and not at all as presuming to represent the
Conservative party nor the people of Vir-
ginia.
| The call for it is indeed an exceptional
and remarkable one. 1t asks in the name of
| the Conservative party that q meeting be
| held. Yet we have heard Of no desire eX.
| pressed by the Conservative party for such a
meeting, nor is ii known where or when the
| Conservative party empowered the chairman
of its subcommittee, resident at Richmond,
| to make such calls in the name OF the party.
We all understand that citizens have a
| right at all times to assemble, To discuss pub
lie mattel2, to pass resolutions, and to offer
petitions or instructions to their re:,resenta-
tives or their public servants. But this call
implies That this handful that may gather
| in the ball of the Housa can speak for Vlr-
ginia; gan ''give assurance" that Virginia
thinkA soand so, rsthat ''her Conservative
citizefis ere firmly tGsolved'' Oh this Or that.
Suclg an mplica:ion Is altogether wrong.
| Whdn the Conservative citizens OF the State,
by }mass-meetings in their counties and
| tow MS, shall Lave expressed their avishcs IN
ting premises, shall have appointed delegates
IOE Il grand nlaSS-nlecGinG, or snail nave 0ele-
gated to Ml& Meade the power to call a
homeopathic mass meeting, so to speak, in
the hall of the House, then, indeed, ssassur-
ance' can be given that Virginia and the
| Conservatives OF it are resolved to. do or
not to do something. Until then the motto
Of this meeting OF to-day should be
| ''sPEAK FOR YOURSELF, JOHN : =
Moreover, if emergency should arise so
that there should not be time for the ordi-
nary routine in which States or parties
move; surely we have our delegation in Con-
gres3s to warn or incitc us; We have our Cen
eral Assembly in session; we have a Legisa-
tive Committee on Federal Relations, and
We have State Conservative Committee
whereof the members could quickly be gath
cred, and whereof the chairman is a member
Of the Assembly. Any one OF these, were
lgneed upon lis, could better CALLS meetiEg to
give assurance about Virginia and the
'sresolve" of her Conservative citizens thar
can this small meeting under this strange
call.
We are sorry to disagree with Mr.. Meade,
but he has Ito use a common phrase) ''put
his foot in it, this time.