The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-07-18
AN APPEAL.
To the Re-adJusters Of Rockingham and tc
Re-odjusters of the It'll Congress
sionQk District of Eiraiaain.

To the Re-adJusters Of Rockingham and IL
Re-oayusters of the It'll Congress-
sional District Of Virginia.
A call for Convention to nominate cand
date for Congress for the 18th District of Virginia
has been published. signed by Messrs R. T. w
Duke of Charlottesville, w. A. Burke of Augusta
and Mann Splitter of Page county.
Without rejecting upon the motives or ques
tioning the intentions of the gentlemen whose
names are attached to this call we beg the priv
1lege OF dissenting from the policy Indicated fol
reasons which may be briefly summarized.
There is no object stated, except to make q
nomination" There is nothing of State or Ma
tional policy stated to which the approval or dis
approval OF the people of the District is invited
Recognizing the good the Conservative organiza
ton has accomplished in its early history we
must no less recognize the harm that has been
effected by those who have chosen TO abuse its
authority and power for selfish purposes. Polit-
lsai organizations are formulated to effect speci-
fled objects involving the interests of the peo-
pie, and whenever they fail to effect the good of
the great mass OF the constituent body. or are
people, they, to that degree, lose their virtue and
compromise their usefulness.
Few men who are familiar with the current
history OF the State not cogniZant of the fact
that the present management of the Conserva-
tive party is responsible for the confused, I'M
finances. The wants OF the people have not been
bravely and sincerely considered, the dignity OF
the State has not been upheld nor her welfare
promoted, but the organization of the party in
stead OF regarding as paramount these and kin
dred interests has been prostituted to elevating
men governed by purely selfish considerations
losing sight of the higher object of State and the
prosperity of the people.
Called without reference to the wishes of the
people-Wlth their sense as to it's necessity
never aSked-their beheStS never consulted-no
discussion OF its pfopriety solicited, it should
not be considered strange. in view of what has
been too recently accomplished through this
kind OF machinery, that it's necessity should be
questioned, and those whose views Of State poll
cy are represented in the term Reimbursement, -
should hesitate in their acquiescence in this call
for district convention.
With no thought but for the good of the Com
monwealth, and impressed with the deep sense
of the responsibility that rests upon the people
in demanding q speedy set Element of our State
complications. the appeal here made to the Re-
adnsters OF the district and of the State to keep
aloof from all 'entangling alliances and hold
themselves free to act as the necessities OF the
people demand, we cannot recognize at this
time the necessity for or understand the good to
be accomplished by the primary meeting called
to be held on the eth of July OF the Convention
on the LIST OF August, and it is therefore deemed
proper to advise all who sympathize with the
policy of Re-ad ustment to hold their ballots
unembarrassed, and their manhood uncompro
missed. The people have a right to express
themselves through the ballot box forit is their
legal method to make themselves felt i'll the leg
lslation OF the country, whether State or Nation
al, and this cannot be done when they surrender
their right to exercise the elective franchise to
men, however reputable, calling themselves the
organization OF the Conservative party.
This is the peoples .fght and they should be
aroused to its importance for it inUolpes The very life
of the State,