Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1880-08-03
To secure this end, denominated ian

| u ScCuI6 Oi1lS Cbu, uOAOAAAAdtCu 6L
unpledged electoral ticket" series o
were held throughout the Common
wealth during the latter months of win
| ter and the early spring, the resolutions
of large number of which are .befor,
us. They consist in the main of full
some eulogies of General Malone (tht
identity Of their language showing e
common origin) and endorsements o
this hybrid political CONFERENCE.-The
unpledged ticket Weselect one or twt
specimens OF the latter as samples q
all:
| On the 23d of February the Readjust
ers of Cumberland held Inass-meeting
in which it was unanimously
"Resolved, That the Readjuster Con
vention should nominate an indepen-
| dent electoral ticket with full liberty to
cast1its vote in the Electoral College as
the then existing political condition OF
afairs may indicate as best for State and
national interests. -RiohnaOpd Wing,
February 26th.
On the 9th of March the Readjustera
of LoudOun ~..
:" -"Resolued, That we most cordially ap-
prove the plan of an Independent Re-
adjuster electoral ticket. - Wing, March
13M
Occasionally the secret purpose of this
little plot was indiscreetly disclosed.
Then the Readiusters of Patrick, In
mass-meeting assembled on the 23d of
March, resolved +
"To sever connection with the Fun
ders, both in regard to State and ma
tional politics, believing that any re.
union with them would result in q sep
aration from US of that portion of the
Republican party who faithfully united
with us and rendered such essential ser
vice in our attempt to settle the debt
question: Wing, A2orSI Sd.
So universal was this endorsement,
under the order of the leaders, that the
Richmond Wing of May Goth proclaim
ed that, of the many counties heard
from, only two had failed to endorse
this unpledged electoral ticket Wing,
May 10th.
An essential condition of this extra
ordinary coalition with the Republicans
was of course their assent, and the same
appliances were resorted to to make
them endorse the fusion, and like rsso-
lutions were adopted by them. Many
of these are likewise before us one or
two samples will suffice:
At April court the Republicans of
Franklin, in mass-meeting,
"Resolved, That we heartily endorse
the proposed Independent electoral
ticket, and pledge ourselves to stand by
readiustment and the fruits of readjust-
ment. u Wing, AprI 18th.
On the 10th of April the Republicans
of Campbell passed resolution that
1--WE approve the Independent electoral
ticket" and then elected delegates to
the Republican Convention at Staun-
ton.
The County Committee of the Repub-
licans of Prince Edward resolved, Feb
ruary 26th. "that we will not recognize
any one hereafter but those who are or
may be in full sympathy with the Re.
adjusters in this State, and the National
Republican party."- Wing, February
26th.
So universal was the assent of the Re-
publicans to this scheme that the Wing,
commenting on the Republican county
meetings, large number of which were
held on Saturday, April 10th, said in its
issue of the 18th:
"The Republicans of Virginia on
Saturday, so far as heard from, pro
nounced Grant their tdvorite for nerl
President, but WISELY indicated their
preference for an Independent Readjust-
er electoral ticket over straight Re-
publican ticket, that can only be de-
feated."
The implication is irresistible that the
project of the leaders of the July Con-
vention then was an alliance with the
negroes of Virginia, known to be for
Grant, to support an unpledged ticket,
which, if it supported Grant, would
have deceived the whites, and if it did
not, would have betrayed the blacks.
And the success of the scheme was
based on the assumption avowed by the
Wing May 22d that "the majority OF
Republicans are devoted Readjusters.' y
This precious and apparently promis-
| ing scheme met its first and most fatal
blow at the hands of the Republicans
principle and more wisdom than the
schemers had credited them with.
The Republican State Convention met
at Staunton on the 21st of April, and
those who favored the hybrid ticket, led
by Colonel John R. Popham, vehe-
mently opposed the nomination of any
ticket there, the plan being that the
joint convention of Republicans and
Conservatives to meet in July should
nominate the unpledged ticket in lieu
thereof. But the Republican Conven-
tion, Notwithstanding their aOise prefer
ence for an unpledged ticket, refused to
sacrifice their principles or compromise
their party duty, or, what is equally
probable, knew the promoters of the
scheme too well for implicit trust in
them, and nominated an open Republi-
can electoral ticket. This was a shock
and a surprise to their Readjuster allies,
and met at their hands the most furious
abuse
Commenting on this action, the Wing
of April 29th said:
"That it is sham is its only possible
excuse. The Republican Readjuster
who abides by it, consents to double
suicide-invites the blow which not on
ly destroys him as a Readjuster, but as
Republican"
In the same journal of May Sd, the
minority, who favored the Grant Ma
hone scheme, were described as 1.-THE
faithful sixty three who were so shame
fully treated by the Grip-Sackers in
StauntOn.n
The chairman of the Readjuster Ex-
ecutive Committee of BotetOurt, in an
official manifesto, dated May 10th, Ito
the Conservative and Republican Read
justers of Botetourt," described the
ticket nominated by the Republicans at
Staunton as 'a Carpet-bag, Scalawag,
Parson-Allen, Funder. Poindexter,
Baboon electoral ticket;
this still-born bastard abortion"; and
the Wh2g of the next day recommended
its subscribers to read and circulate this
BotetOurt proclamation
All hope was. however, not yet aban-
doned. Should Grant be nominated at
Chicago there was still a chance to
bring back the majority of the Republi-
cans, and while that was possible the
coalition was promising. The leaders
accordingly still held to their scheme,
and as late as May Goth the Richmond
Wing announced its position still to be
that "the electors should dispose of their
votes in the Electoral College of Vir-
ginia to the best advantage of Virginia,
and then under the instructions and
limitations of the convention which
should appoint them"
Indeed. week later one of the electors
at present on the July electoral ticket
| announced that he was ready, at the
order of the Convention of July to sup.
port the Cincinnati nominee. or the
Chicago nominee, or an unpledged tick.