Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-03-14
Address Of the Conservative State Committee.

We publish below the admirable address
of the State Conservative Committee al
luded to last week. We commend it to
the careful consideration Of our readers az
exposing the attempted organization OF
party, having for its aims disruption or
the grand old Conservative party which
has saved the State from Republican con-
troll and whose preservation in Its strength
and entirety is the States only hope ia the
future. The purely selfish designs of the
leaders of the disorganziers, have slncethe
obstructionists convention, been as will be
seen elsewhere, even more fully disclosed
than appeared during the session OF the
so called convention and its action has
been since repudiated by some OF its mem
bers since their eyes have been opened:
RICHMOND, March 4, 1879.
To the Conservative Voters of Virginia:
The convention If persons which met
Richmond on the 25Jh of Feb udry and III
acts and utterances of that body dema'
the most serious considerati n from every
Virginian who desires The welfare of hi
State. 1t is manifest that the aim and Ell
fort of those who shaped and controlled
the action of that body are to disrupt tin
Conservative psrty and to raise upOn lit
ruins an organization which shall WELD th'
political power OF the State and dispense
its offices and emoluments. This cOnven-
ton was largely composed of men who had
heretofore thrown off all allegiance to the
Conservative party, and bolted its nomi-
nations in pursuit Of the personal aims and
ambition. They invited into the cOunssls
and fellowship of the convention consid-
cradle number OF white and black Radl-
calls; and hearty pledges of mutual respect
and aid were openly exchanged between
these Few allies, and compact Tor earn
est cooperation in support of the new par
ty was formally ratified between them.
there can be no disguise or doubt as to tho
purpose of this combination to destroy tho
Conservative party if they can gather
strength to achieve it.
1t is true that this political faction, like
all movements in popular government
which seek public favor for personal ends,
put forth pretext for their organization,
claiming that their purpose was to relieve
the people of public burdens. They claimed
that their organization Was necessary in
order to effect "a just and favorable settle
ment Of the public debt. But this pretence
WAS without foundation-First, because
dU ULlc vtly llluc Va UllS uScGluk VI UulS
convention the legislature of Virginia,
elected by the Conservatives for the ex-
press purpose Of adjusting and determining
| this important issue, was earnestly enga ged
in that work, with favorable prospects Of
| success; and next, because there was no
| Justification or apology possible for al at
| tempt to divide and disrupt the Conserva-
| tive party because Of differences OF opinion
as to the proper basis for the settlement of
the public debt. Conflict of opinion is in
evitabie upon all measures of grave public
| interest; but to make division OF opinion
| upon one public measure the ground and
warrant for disbanding the Conservative
| party, which was created by combining
| the property, intelligence, and moral worth
| of the State, and has proved its fidelity
and capacity to protect the public welfare
and social interests of Virginia, is an as
sumption which cannot be truthfully char
acteriZed as less than folly or a crime.
| 1t is worthy Of notice to remark that
there is no difference i'll the burden of taxa
| ton proposed in the scheme of settlement
favored by this convention when compared
| with the rate required under the settle
ment which was about to be agreed on by
the legislature.
No true-hearted Conservative, who
rightly values the public benefits which
|
ginia by the united and efficient action of
the Conservative party, aud the grlevous
| injury which must be inflicted upon their
property and social welfare in the event of
its decay and downfall, will consent to see
that party struck down and destroyed upon
such vain and unworthy pretexts as those
put forth by this assemblage of dis
organizers.
This body of dsorganizers, in further
ance of their obvious design to destroy the
| Conservative party, proceeded to construct
an independent State organization, and to
equip it with all the machinery needed for
putting its candidates in the field in all
future elections in Virginia in opposition
to those who may be duly nominated by
the Conservative party. 1t is true that
some apologists for Such proceeding seek
to justify it by alleging that it has been
rendered necessary, in order to resist az
organization raised outside Of the councils
of the Conservative party, in the form OF 4
society to maintain the public credit,
which avowed its purpose to create popu-
lar movement, pledged to assume the bur
| den of the entire principal and interest OF
the public debt. But this apology can de-
ceive no one observant of the facts. Be
cause the movement Of this society has
been practically abandoned, inasmuch as
| the creditors Of che State have rendered a
| compromise which consents to take re-
| duced rate of interest.
| The State Committee of the COnserva-
tive party Of Virginia, in discharge of the
trust imposed upon them to watch and con-
serve the interests and efficiency of the
party, after duly considering the facts
above set forth, do hereby resolve:
| 1, That the considerations Of public in
terest which led to the formation OF tho
| Conservative party continue in full force,
| and they imperatively require the mainte-
nance of the organization of that party in
its unity and efficiency. And for this rea
son the recent action of the.recent conven-
| ton of disorganZers, in creating an indie
| pendent party, should be disapproved and
| discountena ced by all true Conservatives
| as unwarranted by any adequate public
need, and tending inevitably to divide and
| disrupt the Conservative party.
2. That in view of the bold and threat
ening attitude assumed by this disorganiz-
ing faction, the duty and the necessity is
laid upon the Conservative party to pro-
coed promptly and vigorously to strengthen
| and perfect its local organization in all the
counties and cities in the State; and the
| county superintendent or chairmen and
local COMMITTEES are earnestly enjoined to
see to it that the local organizations are
put into full and efficient operation.
8. That the chairman OF the State Com
mittee sign the above statement of facts
and resolutions, and that the Conservative
press of the State are requested to publish
the same.
JOHN T. LOWELL,
Chairman.