The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-01-16

I SefYatlTe people OF tnlS commonwealth, q!
expressed through their representatives, ne
one couversant with our party history err
question.
The Conservative party was organized il
the face OF great public danger. It's Gen.
1871 instituted State Committee, and BY
resolution, unanimously adopted, invested
it with "plenary power to perfect the party
organization, to direct and control its prac.
tical workings in all parts Of the State, and
| to- decide finally all questions that might
| arise respecting its harmony and efficiency"
The Convention also declared by resolution
"rhat county and district conventions
should decide as to the proprlety Of making
nominations, and who should be the nnmi-
nees'; and also that "this organization
should continue in force until superseded
by regular State Convention
In August, 1873, -
ANOTHER STATE CONVENTION
OF the Conservative party assembled. On
motion Of Mr.. Phlegar, OF Montgomery, it
was unanimously resolved:
"That in the opinion OF this Convention
it is as much hednty of every Conseryas
tive voter Of this Commonwealth to vote
against all Independent candidates, profess
ing to be Conservatives, while running
against the regular nominees, rs it is their
duty to vote against the regular nominees
of the Radical party"
And this was speedily followed Up by
another resolution adopted by the State
Committee on its acknowledged iurisdic-
ton, and signed E'N. e. Meade, chairman"
whereby it declared its earnest purpose
not only to throw. the whole weight of the
party organization against Radical candl-
dates everywhere" but in accordance with
the resolution Phlegar's) unanimously
adopted by the State Convention, "to treat
boilers from oar organization or opponents
OF our candidates In all respects as RGdi-
GALS"
The powers and duties OF the State Com
mittee have remained in force, and have
been actively exercised up to the present
time. The last State Convention assembled
in 1877. 1t appointed new State Commit
tee to carry out those powers. "ratiiied and
reafirmed the Conservative platform there
tofore promulgated" and declared its cum
compromising opposition to RadicaliSm in
all its forms and features"
>As the gubernatorial and legislative
CANVASS OF 1877
progressed it became obvious that our can
didate for Governor would have no oppo-
sition, and that the Radical party was too
weak for q regular organization to beclfect-
ed, but equally obvious that sinister efforts
were being made to disintegrate our party
by numerous Independent candidates for
the General Assembly, who, relying on the
united Republican support and upon some
discontented boilers from the Conservative
ranks, hoped to overcome the regular Con-
seryatiye constituencies and their nominees
for the Senate and House OF Delegates.
In this threatening aspect OF affairs the
Conservative State Committee held meet
ing, at which were present Nfessrs. John Il.
Lowell, chairman, and r. Z. W. Duke, w.
r. Chandler, a. n. Wexford, William A.
Burke, j. B. Barrett, V. D. Groncr, John
w. Wright, G. T. Smith, II. Shepherd, Will
liam Z. Hinton, and John L. Marye, and
on motion OF 5Ir. &. t. Smith. OF Nelson,
unanimously
Resolued, That the party throughout
the State are earnestly called upon TO sup
port all regular nominees-St district,
city, and,county-and that all Independent
candidates should be discountenanced in
this canvass, and refused any recognition
by the party during the term OF Office for
which they may be elected; and that all
such persons be remembered and treated as
disorganizers by the Conservative party
until they shall have, proved by their acts
purpose to return to their party ALE
glance"
In the face Of these repeated and this re-
cent expression OF the representatives OF
our party. we have considered that
PARTY FEALTY AND POLICY
alike dictated that we should exclude the
Independent boilers and disorganiZers from
our conference. It is true that they have
been allowed to come into similar confer
ences Of Conservatives at prior sessions OF
the General Assembly by mere sutferance,
ken to exclude them. But experience now
combines with reason to show that these
precedents have been disastrous, and have
borne bitter fruit. This indulgence and
moderation hitherto extended to 1ndepen-
dents has increased their heretofore small
number to twenty-five at present, en-
boldened their action, and strengthened all
the elements Of opposition to our cause.
The results OF the late election from
these points conclusiyely demonstrate both
the necessity and duty OF firmly standing
by party organization. In Tidewater and
Southside Virginia, by its rigid observance
and obedience, nine Conservatives were
elected for the first time from counties and
districts heretofore represented by Repub-
lIcans, while in Piedmont, the Valley, and
other sections where party rules were not
so regarded large increase OF Independents
is the result. And
THE TINE HAS CONE,
in our Judgment, when we must make a
firm and resolutc stand by the principles
which we have affirmed so often, or submit
to decentralization and overthrow by the in
strumentality Of those who claim the Con-
seryatiYe name for their own protection,
while at the same time they marshal and
lead the forces OF the Republican party,
which in the main sent them here as the
avowed opponents of our organization,
seeking within its lines to impair its efficicn-
CIV and to break it down.
With the Radical party now holding the
Federal Senate and the presidential chair,
bringing all the patronage and power OF a
vast official retinue to bear to perpetuate its
power, with nucleus OF opposition in our
own midst which only needs such alliances
as Independents and boilers can afford to
array formidable local party against US,
we hold it to be the duty OF all ConserVa-
| tlyes to present an unbroken front and tc
uphold with unshrinking hands the noble
organization that has preserved our suf
frages from disfranchisement and our pro
perty from confscation, and which, being
omnipotent against open enemies, finds now
its greatest danger in internal dissension.
WITHOUT PERSONAL AIMS
to attain or personal ambitions to subserye
we have deemed our course not only iusti
fed, but necessitated iby the dangers which
surround US. Trusting that our brother
Conservatives, regularly chosen as we were
who have not yet associated themselve
with US, may see this matter as we do, ant