The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-08-14
State Conservative Committee.
ADDRESS TO coNsERvATIvEs-TH PRO.
TEST OF THE TWO MAHoNrrEs.

Pl{()s
TEST OF THE TWO NIAHoNITEs.
The State Conservative Committee
held meeting at the Exchange Hotel
in Richmond on last Thursday night,
at which the following members were
present:
Present: Messls. John T. Lowell, Of
Warren (chairman) !; A. N. Wexford
Richmond county; J. L. Marye, Frede.
ricksburg; Richard A. Wise, James
City; John w. Wright, Rich mond city:
V. D. Groner, Norfolk city; A. M. Da,
Wis, Grayson III. H. Hurt, Halifax: G.
I. Smith, Nelson; r. r. w. Duke, AL
bemarle w. A. Burke, Stanton H.
Shepperd, Fauqp,er; r. III. Logan,
Roanoke; J. B. 3 lrrett, Wythe; j. H.
H. Figgatt, Botetourt.
Among the spectators were Messrs,
w. B. Taliaferro, of Gloucester: T, M,
Logan, OF Richmond; M. Glennan, of
Norfolk; G. A. Mushbach, of Alexan-
dria; L. R. Edwards, of SOUTHAMPTON /:
Warner L. Taliaferro, of Norfolk.
THE DEBT.
Mr.. Marye presented the following
for the approval of the committee:
Whereas the Convention of the Con.
sentative party of Virginia which met
at Richmond in August, 1877, declared
in the platform of principles then adopt
ed that the Conservative party of Vir-
ginla would scorn to repudiate her just
oollgatlons, and are resolved to preserve
lnvlolate the public faith and credit"
and further declared that "the Conven-
ton earnestly urged upon the Legisla.
ture and upon tho Executive branches
OF the Government the Importance of
using all just and honorable means of
bringing about an adjustment of the OBJ
legations of the Government, which
will bring the payment of the interest
upon our indebtedness within the re-
sources of the State derived from the
present rate of taxation"; and whereas
the Conservative voters of Virginia, liz
| the general election held in November,
| 1877, elected a General Assembly and
| Governor who were specially charged
with the important trust OF effecting this
great result, if practicable; and whereas
this General Assembly devoted its la
bors through two sessions to this object
ana finally agreed upon an act for the
adjustment and settlement of the public
debt, which was passed by the vote of
more than two thirds of the Conserva-
| tive members of both houses of the &C.
| Governor; and whereas by the provi-
slons and effect of said adjustment the
public faith and credit of the Common
wealth are maintained inviOlate, and
(through the voluntary concessions of
the public creditors) the burdens of the
public debt are SO reduced as to bring
them within the public revenues deriv-
ed from the present rate of taxation
and whereas, Notwithstanding the be-
neflcenj influences of this suspicious
settlement upon every material and mo-
raj interest of the people of Virginia,
the party which met at Mozart Hall in
February. 1879, styling themselves ire
adjusters," have continued and are pro-
scouting their endeavors to resist the
execution of this debt settlement, and
are proceeding in TIE work (avowed as
their object in that Convention) of or
ganlzing new party outside of the
Conservative organization, and are pro-
ceeding under an Independent party
machinery to nominate candidates for |
the next General Assembly and to pro-
mote their election and whereas the |
State Central Committee of the Conser- |
vative party are charged with the duty |
OF maintaining the organization of the |
party and viz dicating its principles and |
public measures; therefore
ResolUed, l. That the said act for the |
settlement of the public debt having
been passed by an overwhelming major
lty of the Conservative members of the
Legislature elected specially to accom-
pllsh settlement) must be justly recog-
nized as great public measure devised
and accomplished by the will and judg-
ment of the Conservative party of Virginia,
appropriately expressed through their cho-
sen delegates /; and the said act being con-
formed in its provisions and effect to the
policy OF the Conservative party declared
IN It's last popular convention, is entitled
to the hearty concurrence and support of
every true Conservative in the State.
2. That the Conservative voters in the
counties and towns OF the State who adhere
to and uphold the measures and policy OF
the Conservative party should take prompt
and etectual measures TO constitute the To-
cal committees of the Conservatives who
are loyal in their support of the organiza-
ton and principles..of the Conservative par
ty, and who heartily sustain the great pub
lie measure aforesaid for the settlement of
the public debt achieved by that party
). That the local committees are earnest
~ urged to take effective measures, either
by nominations in county or town conven-
lions or in the mode deemed most judicous
by said committees, to select and put in
the field as oandidates..for the Legislature
true and loyal Conservatives pledged to the
maintenance OF the debt settlement.
4. Ihat the committee now proceed to
appoint convassers for the State at large
for the approaching canvass, leaving it to
the Executive Committee to appoint SEN
atorial, congressional. and county canvass
ers,
A PROTEST.
MT. Groner handed his paper to DIR.
Wise to be read. It was in the form of
o protest, and Mr.. Shepperd made the
point that it was out of order, as nothing
had been done to protest against. The
commlotee, however, tacitly consented
to allow the protest to be read as part
OF Mr.. Groner's argument, as follows:
The Undersigned, members of the .
State Committee of the Conservative
party, desire to record in this solemn n
form their protest as Conservatives a. "
yainst the action of majority of this &c
committee this night had, and against o.
The manner in which that action has A
been taken. tt
They regard the action of the majority Il
as usurpation of authority, as an abuse NJ
If the power of the committee, and as "
ending to produce an irreparable breach
n the party, which the party platform to
IN which they pretend to act declared
% be the greatest evil that could befall ti
he party. 81
The undersigned. although in this al
;ity hours and days before the meeting 81
If this committee were neither advised
Tor consulted as to the propriety or ten ST.
" of the proposed address, but learned &C
trough the city press, before the COM III
nittee met, not only what their own
views were. but what the majority of U
he committee proposed doing and of ia
he further remarkable fact that the
majority had called in the aid of persons ~
lowise connected with the committee II
0 frame manifesto exactly in accord- II
nee with the most ultra views of one d.
wing of the Conservative party.
We desire to recall the language of the
Conservative platform adopted in Au- VI
ust, earnestly urging upon 'the vi
legislative and executive branches of
be government the Importance of using
IL just and honorable means of bring
ng about an adjustment of the obliga-
ions of the Commonwealth which will
ring the payment Of interest upon our up
ntire Indebtedness within the resources fu
f the State derived from the present KIN
ate of taxation, and do equal justice to
IL classes of her creditors.I be-
We desire to record that the mower of