Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1879-08-19
THE DEBT SETTLEMENT
Address of the state Conserva-
tive COMMITTEE.
RICHMOND, August 5, 1879

RICHMOND, August 8, 1870
To he Voters Of The Conservative Party Of
Virginia.:
The plan Of organization of the Con-
servative party of Virginia defines the
duties Of the State Central Committee as
follows.
"The State Committee is charged lcith
the affairs Of the pAty, and shall have
power to perfect its organization and to
direct It's conduct IN obedience to the decla-
'utions and policy ofhe party as the same
shall be set forth By this Convention.
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 to overthrow II great public
measure accomplished by u Conserya-
tive Legislature in strict accordance
with the policy proclaimed by the last
Conservative convention. The disor-
ganizlng faction, while IL claims to be
recognized as Conservative, has actually
established n rival political organization
throughout the State, and is actively at
work with It's independent party ma
chnery, 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 Conservative party and in def
ance 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 repu-
diate this faction and to maintain loyal
and firm allegiance to the faith and pol
ley of tile Conservative party, and thus
to uphold an organization which never
held higher claim to the confidence and
gratitude of Virglnians than at this hour.
Forten years It has met and conquered
every difficulty and danger which men
acod the liberty, the peace, and welfare
of our people. 1t IL now arraigned and
assailed by this faction for accomplish
ing beneicent settlement of grave
and difficult public question which
threatened the vital interests of all the
people of the State--viz., the providing
u plan for the settlement Of the public
debt, which should maintain the public
faith and impose no increased burdens
upon the people.
10 exhibit the means and the method
by which this great need has been met
by the Conservative party Is u duty
of the highest obligation laid upon us;
and it Ia n duty as easy MS II Is impera-
tive; for II Is susceptible of absolute
proof that the plan of settlement Is In
the highest degree wise, just aud practl-
cable and advantageous to all the peo-
pie. To make this plain we proceed to
present from the public records de-
tailed statement of the action of our par
~ upon The public debt from the day
when the Conservatives declared their
policy and purpose In ropulr conycn-
tIon, and summoned the people to elect
Legislature with reference to that pol
lev, up TO the actual contamination of
Il IN the net for the settlement of the
debt. The Conservative Convention
which mot IN August, 1877, fully con-
sclous of the imperative duty laid upon
the party to accomplish settlement,
declared the line of policy to be pursued
in c1ecung II, The lcgslaIatlon prcvl-
ously hac created serious obstacles
The creditors were divided into classes
with conflicting rights. The magnl-
tudc of the yearly interest to be paid
was cmptylng the Treasury OF the means
necessary to provide FOR other great pub
lie demands. The public schools and
charities we're suffering, and nh annual
deficit Of over tlrcc quarters OF million
was occurring. &"
10 settle the debt at once aud forever,
topro dde for IT. interest, to maintain
the schools, 10 ensure the support OF the
state Government, to guard against an
nual deficits, and TO do all this without
dlscrcdlt to The good faith and good
name of Virginia, and without lncrcos-
Ing, If possible, the burdens
of the taxpayers, was tho great task ma
sumcd by tho Conservative party, to the
mlament OF which II pllghted its h'ltl
and pledged lto acknowledgements
This policy was proclaimed In the
platform Of the August convention, as
follows,
Be u resoieed bB The Coaseivdiire party
" IirdiHfu IA Tuurauffou 1AArUblcd, I