The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-06-09
Readiuster Convention.

u
NOISY AFFAIR.-CoL. VIM Z. CAMERON
FOR GcyERNoR-HoN JNo F. LEWIS Fol
LIT. GoyERNoR--FRANK s. BLAIR FOR AT
j ToRNEY GENERAL.
The Re-adjusters' State convention met il
Richmond on Thursday last, June 3, with full
representations from the cities and counties o
of the state. The delegates numbered ovel
seven hundred and included about seventy
five colored men The convention assembled
in the Richmond Theatre and was called to
order at 1915 p NJ 10y General Stith Boiling
of Petersburg, who, acting in the absence Of
General William Malone, Chairman of the
State Central Committee, announced that Hon
| John Paul. member of Congress, had been SC
! lected as temporary chairman. He then intro
duced Mr.. Paul. who upon taking the chair
briefly addressed the convention. He congrat-
ulated the State Of Virginia upon the repre-
scntation present, knowing the fact that this
was busy season with many of the delegates.
They had answered the demands of patriotism,
and had come to represent tlieir people. He
congratulated them upon the proud position
their party holds to-day in the politics OF this
country. They were no longer held up to the
world as pitiful party ofrepudiation, but were
recognized everywhere as honest and the only
debtpayng party in the state They had es-
tabllshed Their reputation as party of men
who are jealous of the honor of their native
state, and We're ever ready to protect her glory
| from stain or tarnish Said the speaker YOU
have shown to the world when you say you
are going to pay thatyou mean to do it, and that
you intend to pay the last dollar that you hon
estly owe. The speaker said further that after
fifteen years it has remained for the Re-adiuster
party to come to the front and break down the
barriers of prejudice by procaming liberal
ana progressive policy. Independent organi
cations in the last ten years had risen numer-
ously in this country, but they had risen and
| flourished for a temporary season, only to be
absorbed bya national organization, and to be
sacrificed on the altar of national party dicta-
ton. The Re-adjuster party of the state was
the only independent organization that had
made itself felt in the politics of the country.
| MIR. PauFs remarks were received with great
applause. yHa@ 4 ~
| Committees on credentials and permanent
organization were then appointed, after which
"a recess was taken until 230.
Upon reassembling, the committee on per-
manent organization reported, recommending
Hon. Jno Paul tor permanent president, to-
gether with one vice president from each dis
trict-Capt E. A. Fulcher, of this county,
representing the 9th district, and p. II.
1 McCaull of Pulaski, Secretary The report
was unanimously adopted.
i GENERAL MAHONE'S SPEECH AND RECEPTION.
At this point General Mahone's presence at
the back part of the stage became known, and
Immediately vOcferous calls were made for
him to address the convention. All efforts to
bring the body to order failing, the president
called for General Malone to respond to the
call. As soon as he rose from his chair to
come forward the whole convention rose to
their feet and greeted him with d laundering
val ~
handkerchiefs and fans This deafenng APP
pause and manifestation of pleasure continued
for several minutes, General Malone mean
while standing at the front stage. apparently
deeply touched by this overwhelming rccep-
ton. When order had been restored General
Malone spoke as follows
greet you my friends and fellow citizens
with my most earnest compliments, and beg
to assure you OF my supreme qualification al
this assembly. 1t fills the measure OF my loyal
ambition to this people and this State 1t
testifes to M, in words of warmth | trust
never to forget, appreciation of my public
conduct. Applause. 1t assures me, and by
this presence am doubly assured, that there
resides yet in the bosons of this people true
devotion to Jetfersonian principles of govern
ment. 1t assures me that the people of this
State mean in their might to say to her sister
States again that Virginia is to be put in cor
dial relations with the other States that IN
future her face and the faces of her people are
to be turned in the direction of progress and
freedom-freedom before the law, freedom of
the ballot-box freedom of opinion, and all that
relates to manhood. You sent me to Wash
ngton rs your representative, and as you well
| know, was chosen without solicitation on my
part. No sooner had | commenced my duties
as your representative than I was requested to
become the pawn of Bourbon caucus. If
had done this would have forgotten the spr-
1t which now anmates you, and ! should have
| laeG TO recognize my own manhood. | said
| was there to voice the will of the people OF
Virginia. It would have been lamentable
spectacle If your representative had gone into
u caucus composed of the very men who inva-
ded Virginia last fall to teach her people thei
duty and to tell them what was true Democracy
These men, claiming to be Democrats, would
throttle free opinion and destroy Il free ballot
told them l wanted no more of such De
mocracy. You are here to give effect to the
principles of equal rights, free ballot, an
honest count, and liberal system of public
education. You are here to assert the rights
OF this people and say that congressman from
this State are to represent their constituents,
and not obey the dictation of the caucus of a
so-called Democratic party You are here to
free all people, and relieve your interests of
the blight which Bourbonism has put upon
them. You are here to show that Virginia
| turns towards the rising sun, and that you
| mean to keep step TO the music Of the Union
L have not, fellOw-citlzens, forgotten my duty
TO my people, but have never undertaken 10
dictate to the representatives of South Carroll
| Ma or any other State as to their duty. IT. is
| tor you to restore cordial relations between
Virginia and all the States of the Union, and
TO oDliterate forever all race distinctions. AL
low me to beg OF you to have harmony in your
proceedings. Whatever may be the results
whoever may be chosen as your standard
bearers you should rally around them as one
man, and back them in fight for freedom for
you and your postcrity. APPLAUSE
| During the delivery of his speech the Gencr-
al was frequently interrupted by applause,
which at times was SO great that he was forced
to suspend entirely, and at its close he was
again the recipient OF another great outburst OF
enthusiasm. This was followed by the intro
| ductlon Of a resolution endorsing General
Mahones course in the United States Senate
which was adopted unanimously.
The Committee on Credentials submitted
their report, which, after some exciting debate
| over contested delegations from Lynchburg,
was adopted. The Committee on Resolutions
next reported platform of principles, which,
| after being read, was adopted amid considera-
BILE applause.
PLATFORM
The Re-adiusters of Virginia, in convention as
sembled affirm that the work of their organization
for two years has been such to commend itself to
The majority OF Virginia taxpayers, whose voice
spoke them into authority in the legislative depart
ment and over other offices in 1879. They affirm
that the fruits of that triumph OF tho people
such immense difficulties then confronted them
should be preserved: that within two years they
nave ayerted the threatening peril of increased tax
alton: that they have successfully mot and answer
ed the aspersions of eight years upon the charac
ted and fame of the Commonwealth and her people,
and have completely restored to her the acknowledge
ment of the 'outstde world" OF her just claim to
superiority as faith preserving State those
VINO have been chief among her aSSailantS and de-
famers that they brought back To tho Virginian
mind the once deeprooted and fundamental con-
v1ct1on that state Constitution fixes the limit OF
Legislative power and must be respected; that the
sovereignty resides with the people and cannot be
al1enated; that government is not supported by
force, but depends upon free will; that the great
des1deratum and governing principle should be the
OF order the protection of life, liberty and property
ana this at.the least possible cost to those who
must pay taxes for its support; that they have de-
Yeloped frauds and defaults in the management of
Inc public revenues and public Institutions aggre-
gazing over ~ per cent OF the gross revenues of the
State for any year; that they have opened 1854
pubic schools for i've months against 1854 for
the year previous, with terms of three months and
have paid much Of the diverted funds to tho colleges
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