Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-08-13

The State committee Is CESIS eu
With the affairs ofthe party, and SHALL
have power to perfect organization
and to direct its conduct 10 obedience
to the declarations and policy of the
party as the same shall be set forth
by the convention"
With this grave public trust resting
upon them, the committee has viewed
with painful concern an effort made
by persons claiming to be COnserva-
tives to disrupt and destroy the organ
izatiOn Of the party un6 to overthrow
great public measure accomplished
by a Conservative Legislature in strict
accordance with the policy proclaimed
by the last Conservative convention.
This disorganizing faction, while it
claims to be recognized as COnserva
tive, has actually established rival
political organization throughout the
State, and Is actively at work with
its Independent party machinery,
avowing its purpose to nominate and
support candidates for the next Leg
stature by means outside of the meth,
DDS prescribed by the constitution OF
the Conservative party aud in defiance
of that constitution. We should be
false TO our trust if we failed to
DEFEND OUR PARTY
from such assaults, and to summon
all true Conservatives TO repudlate
this faction and to MAINTAIN a loyal
and firm allegiance to the faith and
policy af the Conservative party, and
thus to uphold an organization which
never held highc claim to the conf
dence add gratitude Of Virginians than
at this hour. For ten years it has met
and conquered every difficulty and
danger which menaced
TIE LIBERTY, TIE PEACE, AND WELFARE
of our people. 1t is now arraigned and
assailed by this faction for accomplish
ING beneGcent settlement OF a grave
and difficult public question which
tbreated the vital interests OF all the
people of the State-viz., the proving
a pl AN for the settlement of the public
debt, which should maintain the pubs
lie faith aud impose no increased bur-
dens upon the people.
To exhibit the means and the meth
cd by which this great public need has
been met by the Conservative party is
a duty of the highest obligation laid
upon us; and it is duty as easy as it
is imperative; for it is susceptible OF
absolute proof that the plan OF settle
ment is in the highest degree wise just
and practicable, and advantageous to
all the people. To make this plain
we proceed to present from the public
records detailed statement Of the
action Of our party upon the public
debt from the day when the Conserya|
atiyes declared their policy and pur-
pose in popular convention, and sum
moned the people to elect a Legisla-
ture with reference to that policy, up
TO the actual consummation oft in the
act for the settlement of the debt.
The Conservative Convention which
met in August, 1871 fully conscious
of the imperative duty laid upon the
party to accomplish settlement, de-
clared the line Of policy to be pursued
in effecting it, The legislation previ-
ously had created serious obstacles.
The creditors were divided into class
es with conflicting rights. The mag.
uitude of the yearly interest to be paid
was emptylng the Treasury of the
means necessary to provide for other
great public demands. The public
schools and charities were suffering,
and an annual deficit of over three
quarters of a million was occurring.
To settle the debt at once and for
ever. to maintain the schools, to ensure
the support of the State Government,
to guard against annual deficits, and
10 do all this without discrcdit to the
good faith and good name of Virgin
ia, aud without increasing, if possible.
the burdens Of the tax payers, was the
great task assumed by the Conserva-
live party, to the fuldlment of which
it plighted its faith and pledged its
standard bearers.
This policy was proclaimed IN the
PLATFORM OF THE AUGUST CONVENTION,
as follows
Be ii resolred by the Conservative par
tn of Virginia, in COncention assembled,
| /. While the Conservative party, true
to the past glorious history Of Virgin
ia and proud Of her good name and
fame amongst the natiaas of the earth
would scorn to rcpudiate her just obli'
cations and are resolved to preserve
inviolate the public faith and credit,
vet we cannot but view with concern
and anxiety the accumulation of our
financial difficulties aud the iucreas
ing weight of our public debt, we
therefore earnestly mge upon the Leg
islature and executive branches of the
Government the importance Of using
all Just and honorable means of bring
ing about an adjustment ofthe obliga-
tons of the Commonwealth which will
bring the payment ofthe interest upon
our entire Indebtedness within the re-
sources of the State derived from the
present rata of taxation aud do equal
Justice to all classes Of our creditors.
.. That every effort should be used
by the legislative department Of the
State to reduce the expenditures of the
Government and return to the method
of frugality, economy, and moderation
practiced by our iorefathers and APP
proved by former generations Of Vir'
ginians, even 10 the palmiest days OF
our prosperity.
3. That in the approaching election
of members of the Legislature it is
earnestly recommended by the Con-
vention that the people shall elect
their representatives with a view to