The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-08-09
following able and conclusive paper,


D1Fye, Shepperd, Figgatt, Smith, and Da-
Eis) of the State Conservative Committee, is
issued by the direction of the latter and un-
der the signatures OF its officers. 1t contains
q mass OF information in regard to the public
debt OF great interest to the people, and it
is magazine of information upon which
our canvaSsers may safely draw in their
battles With the enemy:
RICHMOND, August s, 1879.
TO the Voters Of the Conservative Party Of
Virginia:
The plan Of organization Of the Conscr-
Yative party OF Virginia defines the duties
Of the State Central Committee as follows /:
"The State Committee is charged ,oiM the
affairs of the pdrtg, and shall have power
to perfect its organization and to direct its
conduct in obedience to the declarations and
policY of the party as the same shall be set
forth Jy this Conrention.'
With this grave public trust resting upon
them, the committee has viewed with
painful concern an effort made by persons
claiming to be Conservatives to disrupt and
destroy the organization OF the party and
to overthrow Il great public measure ac-
complished by Conservative Legislature c
in strict accordance with the policy pro-
claimed bv the last Conservative conven-
ton. This disorganizlng faction, while it
claims to be recognized as Conservative,
has actually established rival political or
ganization throughout the State, and is ac-
lively at work with its independent party
machinery, avowing its purpose to nomi-
nate and support candidates for the next
Legislature by means outside OF the methods
prescribed by the Constitution Of the Con-
servative party and in defiance OF that Con-
Wa cha no fl1- RI fr1,Sf
if We failed to
DEFEND OUR PARTY
from such assaults. and 10 summon all true
Conservatives to repudiate this faction and
to maintain a loyal and firm allegiance to
the faith and policy OF the Conservative
party, and thus to uphold an organization
which never held higher claim to the conf
dence and gratitude of Virginians than at
this hour. For ten years it has met and
conquered every difficulty and danger which
menaced
THE LIBERTY, THE PEACE, AND WELFARE
OF our people. 1t is now arraigned and as
sailed by this faction for accomplishing Il
beneticent settlement OF grave and diff
cult public question which Threatened the
vital Interests OF all the people OF the State
viz, the providing plan for the settlement
OF the public debt, which should maintain
the public faith and impose no increased
burdens upon the people.
To exhibit the means and the method by
which this great public need has been met
by the Conservative party is duty OF the
highest obligation laid upon us; and it is a
duty as easy as it is Imperative; for it is sus-
ceptible OF absolute proof that the plan of
settlement is in the highest degree wise,
lust, and practicable, and advantageous to
all the people. TO make this plain we pro-
ceed to present from the public records Il
detailed statement of the action OF our
party upon the public debt from the day
when the Conservatives declared their
policy and purpose in popular convention,
;aud summoned the people to elect LeSis-
lature with reference to that policy, up
Ito the actual consummatlon OF 1t IN
the act for the settlement or the debt.
The Conservative Convention which met in
August, 1877, fully conscious of the i'm
peratiye duty laid upon the party to accom-
plisli settlement, declared the line of poll
cy to be pursued In effecting it. The legis-
lation previously had created serious OBJ
stacles. The creditors were divided into
classes with conflicting rights. The magni-
tude of the yearly Interest to be paid was
emptyins the Treasury OF the means ueces-
sary to p."ovide for other great public de-
Iuauds. The public schools and charities
were suffer ing, and an annual deficit Of
over three q uarters OF million was occur
ring.
To settle the debt at once and forever, to
provide for it>; interest, to MAINTAIN the
schools. to eDsu. re the support of the State
government, to guard against annual def
,its. and TO do ali this without discredit to
he GOOD faith ant good name of Virginia,
md without mere. sing, if possible, the bur-
lens OF the tax-pa yers, was the great task
ssumed by the Coz ,servative party, to the
uIhlment OF which it pI!shted lts Iath ana
,ledged its standard-l bearers.
This policy was pro, :lalmed IN
HE PLATFORM OF THE AUGUST CONVENTION,
s follows: 49,. :,
Re ii resolved by the Conservative
drty of Virginia, in & onoenta0n assem-
led, l. While the Cons 'erVatlve pafty'
rue to the past glorious his, tory OF virginia
nd proud Of her good na me ana 1ane
mongst the Dations OF the cafCn' "ouid
corn to repudiate her just obi lgalions, ana
re resolvedto preserve iIviolal' g lne puoiic
aith and credit. yet we cannol put view
With concern and anxiety the acc. 'lmuiatlon
our financial difficulties and the lnereas-
ng weisht.of our public debt, wet tilereIore
arnestly urge upon the Legislatn re ana
xeeutlve branches of the 6oyernmeilt tile
Importance OF using all Just and'hono. rabie
,eans Of bringing about an adjustment OF
le obligations Of the Commonwealth VIII ch |
'ilI. bring the payment OF interest upon oL'r
ntire indebtedness within the resources ni'
le State derived from the present rate OF
xatioD and do equal justie. TO all classes
our creditors. &,,h -. yis .L.i.l ,fii ~.
.2,EThat every effort should be used by The
gislatiYe department. OF the State toreduce |