The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-01-17
What veteran Democrat Says.
SOUTHAMPTON, January ID, 1880.


TO the Editors Of the Dispatch:
see that correspondent in your valua-
bic paper, who sigLs himself "DcmOcrat,"
in long and weI-considered article calls
for the immediate organization of new
party by tie name Of the National Demo
cratic party OF Virginia on the ruins OF the
Conservative party, which, he SAYS. has
passed away. While agreeing with " Demo
crat" in many things which he has said, /
see inSuperable difficulties in bis way OF the
organization OF the new party at once. In
deed, see no reason for 1t at this time. He
should remember that the Conservative
party OF Virginia has always been Demo-
cratic, always acted with the NatiOna! ID mo-
cratic party, and that the organization OF
the party is still perfect and intact.
This new party OF RtadiusterS which
ha, Just sprung up has nothing 10 do with
the Conservative party now. 1t has broken
away from it, and we now have three par
ties in VIRGINIA Con. ervatiye, Rtadiuster,
and Republican.
We do no, know as yet how the Read
ulster party Will 20 in national politics
whether it will call a halt and act with us
in the coming contest, or try TO absorb the
Republican party of Virginia, and failing
there is no halfway house, and it must 90
on or come back. a party organized as that
is on one single idea, and that bad one
the reputation Of solemn obligations
must certainly have very epbemeral eX-
ls'ence.
Now, sir, what propose is this, and We
have plenty of time for it. too: Let the
State Committee Of the Conservative party
call a convention OF the party, TO be held in
Richmond late in the spring or June. Let
that convention send delegates to the Ma
tiona Democratic Convention, and also APP
point IN electoral ticket aud adjourn. after
appointing new State and Executive Com
miitee.
And il The Roadiuster p9rty should de-
tormine to call q halt and act with the Con-
sentative party, let them call a convention
also, send delegates To the National Demo-
cratic Convention, and name an electoral
ticket if they choose.
Now, YOU ask me, How will you Get rid
Of two sets of delegates and two electoral
tickets for Virginia:
Ireply, this presents no difficulty to the
National Convention. The writer OF this
was a delegate from Virginia at the Cinoin
matt CUuycutrVn " ncu JdIne> buchanan was |
nominated. The State OF New York was
there with two full delegations-the |
V IIards" and "S0fts and the whole |
matter was am.cably arranged by admitting !
,ne half Of each delegation, and the New !!
York Democracy, after long aud bitter |
contest, was united, and James Buchanan |
elected. So we can do in this case. Let |
zach party have half The delegates, and then |
ct those delegates name an electoral ticket, |
lr let the two State committees meet again |
md name the electoral ticket.
Should the Readiu>ter party either fight |
m its own hook or 20 over TO the Republic |
an parry, then we are fully organized for
he coming contest next fall; aud let me
ell You. il we do this we can win. There
we're c., 600 white voters VINO did not vote
at fall. Many are coming cut OF the new
,arty, and think we can beat the two par
les combined
There were many elements Of discomfort
n the party, which last faIl's election has
Eliminated. The great powers and patron
ge vested in county judges formed what
we're cilcd "stroDg rings" in every county
nd made many disconnected, and this last
lection was a blow aimed more at the
buses OF the party leaders than the party
self, and there is general desire TO get
id Of county judges. One thing is GER
ain, the Readiusters VIII now run the
ouniy rings, and our party will go into
ew contests without being handicapped
With these burdens. | throw out these
ugges tions with much diffideEce for pub
C consideration. CONSERVATIVE.
The above comes endorsed By a member
I the Conservative Committee, though not
'ritten by bin.