The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-08-08

OF authority, make the advocacy Of, or op.
! position to-, orsretoIug thereof, test oi
Conservatism. Nor did they, by organizing
q canvass or otherwise, attempt to procure
the passage, the defeat, or the veto thereof,
as party measure.
We desire to record the further fact that
when, later in the same session, an act
known as. the Bocock-Fowler bill was
passed by recast OF the Conservative eie-
nent in the Legislature. many supporters
of the Barbour bill voting against This, and
risef uersd, no attempt was made By this
committee, under pretence Of any delega-
Etion of. authority from the Conservative
party, to define awhat was orthodoxy and
what heterodoXy touching that measure.
l. We desire to record the further fact that
when in December, 1878, certain persons,
claiming to be Conservatives, in. conjunc-
tion with professed Radicals and office
lholders, apd.in direct contrayention OF the
party platform, organized q society with
the avowed objects OF electins members of
the Legislature in opposition to any adjust
ment Of the debt, and iavoring increased
Taxation, this committee claimed no pre-
Aogative in the premises and pretended no
Melegation Of authority to define whether
Ithose parties were acting within or with
out the pale OF cOuSeTfatlslu.
We desire to place on record the further
fact that it is still an open question whether
the terms of the act known as the McCul-
IIoch bill can be complied with without an
increase. of ftta3ation that it was 4 disputed
iquestfon wien ft was passeds fiat irs 'oppo.
nepts then and now strenuously insist, and
claim to demonstrate, and some OF its adj
yocates' admitted when it was passed. that
| Il o1 q
breach OF that clause OF the platform of
1877, which forbade any increase OF taxa
ton.
In recorded support Of this assertion
stand the declarations on the floor Of the
Senate of Senators Phlegar, OF Montgome-
ry: Lee, OF Prince William; and Johnson.
OF Richmond, then and now advocates OF
this bill.
! Under these circumstances we consider
the question as to whether this bill, known
as the McCuIloch bill, shall remain upon the
statute-books or be repealed, as orc upon
which Conservatives may honestly and pro-
perly differ, and while conceding that the
fate OF the bill may be determined by dis
cussion of its merits, we deny the power OF
] this committee to refuse TO Conservatives
Y the right to discuss it, or require them to
accept it as 4 principle of party faith. 1t
must be manifest, in this view, that the So
licitude of the majority is for the success OF
the McCulloch bill and not for the unity Of
the Conservative party.
Denying the right OF the committee, act
ing unanimously or by Il majority, TO pre-
scribe articles OF party faith other than those
laid down by the people in convention assem-
bled denying the right OF the committee
to enforce or seek to enforce through the
| NV off 1iuI
4rhe individual opinions Gf majority CT
Ithe body as to any public measure;
| DENYING their right to organize a canvass
in which but one faction in the party would
| be allowed to present their views on queS-
tion as to which the party policy has never
been defined by the only competent au-
| thorlty, and upon which Conservatives are
known to be divided;
| DENYING the wisdom, ii the right existed,
OF adopting Il policy which can only result
| in the disruption OF those elements which,
combined, have made the Conservative party
powerful;
Convinced that no people will or should
submit to such wanton abuse OF power
and attempt to suppress their right OF free
speech and free opinion;
Believing that the adoption OF this ad-
dress or manifesto by the majority arises
rather from purpose and desire Oh the
part Of the majority, in conjunction with
others OF their faction, to coerce and per-
vert the machinery Of the party to the ac-
complshment OF their peculiar views than
from any anxiety about the unity Of the
party;
Considering this action OF the majority as
tantamount to an attempt ut eXcommunica-
ton OF all Conservatives who differ from
the faction promuIgating this address, we
are forced to dissent from the views OF the
majority, and TO appeal to the Conser vatiyc
people against this GSurpation Of authority,
which, though powcrless TO resist, we Gun
still expose. ....
II the assumption upon which this com
|, mittee is acting be conceded, and the
power he yielded them to make and un.
make platforms; to determine by partial
and prejudiced Judgment the loyalty OF
disloyalty OF those whom they favor OF
oppose; to use and and abuse the limited
trust conGded 10 them by an entire party
to further tueir peculiar views and tc
advance the ends OF one faction OF the
party; then the Conservative State Com
mittee, from having been the mere servant
OF the party, is now transformed into {
dangerous and aristocratic dcspotism, from
which no popular right would be safe, anG
from whose dictation there can be no escape
Conservatism consists in principles OF
which no man can be unwillingly deprived
The name is prostituted when sought 10 be
applied to the coercion or suppression ol
the popular will.
AS officials OF the Conservative party.
there is no measure within the scope OF tae
authority OF this committee, tending to bar.
monize party differences, TO which we would
not gladly assent.
As it is, we can do nothing but record
this our protest against this usurpation.
We call upon the Conservative people OF
Virginia to remain true to the principles OF
conservatism, and to resent and resist this
attempt to restrain their right OF advocacy
or opposition to public measure affecting
their rights, their liberties, and their mate
rial welfare. '. ID. GROEER,
X. A. WISE,
Delegates from Second District.
Mr.. Groner made some comment upon the
fact that 1.-The debt-payers" were in close
conference all day; that he had never been
asked to join it. Dir. Smith asked him why
he didn't invite them rs the debt-payers "
to come and write that paper just read.''
Mr.. Groner responded: because we
didn't want you," and Mr.. Smith reioined
'swe didn't ~ant you, either" Laughter.
Mr.. Groner went on to say that the address
of "the 80" fell stil-born, and, with all due
respect to his friend Mr.. Marye]. he didn'l
think these resolutions amounted to much
DR.. WISE.
DR.. Wise also spoke against the proposed