Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-08-05
LIFE In THE 0LDLAND YET.
RINGING PLEAS FOR THE HONOR
OF VIRGINIA.
The Debt-PaYers COnVentIOn-EIo-
quent Addresser-Trumpet Notes
of HOnesty-Thei FaVOrites for the
Nominations.

was called to order by Absalom Koiner, of
Augusta county, Chairman Of the State
Central Committee, who announced that
Hon. J. N. stu0bs, of Gloucester, had been
seated as temporary Chairman, and J. B I'll
Bigger as temporary Secretary. Both were
unanimously elected.
Mr.. Stubbs on taking the chair made a
short, stirring speech, acknowledging the
compliment, and claiming glorious victory
for the party in the coming election.
A resolution was adopted providing that
each district delegation propose the names
of three members for each of the following
committees Credentials, Permanent Or
ganization and Resoiudons and Platform,
also three members from each district to
constitute the State Committee.
After half an hours recess, the several
delegates reported, and the above men
toned committees were formed. Another
recess was then taken till three O'Clock p.
IN. The body reconvened at 3:l5, when the
committee on permanent organization re-
ported as follows: President, Hon. Thomas
g. Bocock; Vice Presidents, Thomas Crox-
ton of Essex, L. r. Watts of Portsmouth,
Gen. PeYtOn s. Wise OF Richmond city, r.
8. Powell Of Brunswick, Gen. Jubal A.
Early Of Lynchburg. Hon. John T. Harris
OF Rockingham, p. P. Barbour Of Orange,
w. F. Ellis of Montgomery, and G. G. Hol-
land of Danville. The report was adopted.
Mr.. Bocock, on taking the chair, said:
"Gentlenle1 Of the Convention. l beg to
assure you that duly appreciate the honor
you have conferred upon me in selecting
me to preside over the deliberations of this
convention-a convention which, whether
you look to numbers and the character of
the members of which 1t is composed or the
ends it was sent here to accomplish, must
be long remembered as one of the most
important party conventions ever as
sembled in the State ;..and, gentlemen, permit
roe to congratulate you upon the brighten
ing auspices under which you have as
sembled. A Divine Providence in It's mercy
has already given US the assurance that the
husbandman will secure fair share of the
fruits OF the earth as the reward for his years
Oflabor. Day after day minerals are discover
ed in different parts of the State, which by
their bright and laughing beauty make glad
the hearts of men. Under such influences
the spell is soon to be broken, which has
heretofore held In icy bonds the energies Of
our State, and soon under the genial glow
of reviving hope and confidence the cur
rents of active effort in our midst will be
sent dancing and tingling to the remOtest
fibres of our industrial systems. Under such
circumstances what manner Of men ought
we to be? So pure in thought,
so wise in council, so firm in action. Every
resolve we should make in reference to our
line of action on public questions should
be characterized by justice, moderation and
frmness, and all our intercourse with each
other should be marked by courtesy, kind
ness and brotherly love. Above all things
we must remember that righteousness ex-
alts nation, but sin Is a reprOach to any
people. Actuated by such consideration, ,
and governed by such policy, what may
not such convention accomplish in such q
State?
'I give it to you as the great leseon of my
life, which is now neither short nor un-
eventful, that in the long run great results
are not to be accomplished by corrupt
means, not by tricks, not by articles, rot
by unnatural alliances, not by corrupt coali-
tions. Noble ends must be attained by
noble means, and, If we prove ourselves
wise and prudent now, and energetic and
brave in the coming canvass,I will say, with
out claiming the spirit, or wearing the garb Of
prophet, that on the ides of November we
will achieve a victory, which in It's thor
oughness and completeness will only be
surpassed by the magniiceDce and brillian-
cy of its results. Results which, beginning
at the election and continuing on through
the long years, will mark the history OF our
State with a bright line Of glory, which
neither time nor circumstances will change,
which neither adversely nor prosperity will
ever eradicate, but which will stand as a
monument to our prudence and to the
grandeur and importance of our cause"
The Committee on Credentials submitted
a partial report, which was laid on the
table. The Committee on Resolutions and
Platform announced that they were not yet
ready to repot. A resolution to adjourn to
p. N. was then adopted.
The convention reassembled at D. M,
when the report of the Committee on Gre
dentials was adopted. Some further time
was given to the Committee on Platform to
put that document in shape. During the
interval Hon. John T. Harris and Hon. j.
Randolph Tucker, in answer to repeated
calls, addressed the convention in stirring
speeches, which were received with great
enthusiasm. General VIM. B. TaliaferrO,
Chairman of the Committee on Platform,
submitted the following:
The Conservative Democratic party of
Virginia, democratic in its Federal relations
and conservative in its State policy as
sembled in convention, in view of the pre-
sent condition Of this commonwealth, for
the clear and distinct assertion of its politi-
the following articles of political faith:
First. Equality of rights and exact JUS
tice to oil mea; special privilege to none;
freedom of religion and freedom of the
press; freedom of person under the prottc c.
tion of the hdbedS corpus and trial by juries
impartially selected, and a pure, upright
and non partisan judiciary; elections bV the
people, free from force or fraud by citi-
Zens or by the military or civil
officers of the government, and the selection
for public offices Of those who are honest
and best fitted to fill them; the support Of
the State government, In all their rights as
the most competent administrations of our
domestic concerns, and the surest bulwarks
against anti-republican tendencies, aud the
preservation OF the general government in
its whole constitutional vlgor as the sheet
anchor OF our peace at home and our safety
abroad.
Second. That the maintenance of the
public credit of Virginia is essential to the
promotion of her prosperity; that we con-
denim reputation in every shape and form
as blot upon her honor, blow at her per
manent welfare and an obstacle to her pro-
gress Ia wealth, influence and power; that
we will make every effort to secure a
settlement of the public debt with the con-
sent Of her creditors, which is consistent
with her honor and dictated by Justice and
sound public policy; that 1t is eminently
desirable and proper that the several classes
Of the debt now existing should be
unified, so that equality, which is
equity, will control the annual interest
and the ultimate redemption of the princi
pal; that, with the view of securing such
equality, we pledge our party to use all
lawful authority to secure a settlement of
the State debt 80 that there shall be but one
class of the public debt; that we will use
Nhn laxr L.
In our power to secure a settlement on q
basis of per cent. bond, and that the
COnserVative-De party pledge itself
as part Of its policy not to increase the rate
of taxation.
Third. That we will uphold in its full
constitutional integrity and efficiency our
public school system for the education of
both white and colored children, a system
inaugurated by the constitution of the
State and established by the action of the
Conservative party years before it was re-
quired by the constitution, and will take
the most effectual means Tor the faithful
execution of the same by applying to its
support all the revenues set apart for that
object by the constitution or otherwise.
Fourth. Upon this declaration of princi-
pies we cordially invite the cooperation of
all Conservative Democrats, whatever may
have been or are now their views upon the
public deot, In the eleclon OF the nominees
of this convention, ard the maintenance of
the supremacy Of the Democratic party in
this State.
ReSOlUed further, That any intimation com
ing from any quarter that the Conservative
Democratic party of Virginia has been, is
now or proposes to be opposed to an honest
ballot and fair count is a calumuy upon the
State of Virginia and as unfounded in fact
as it is dishonorable to its authors; that
special efforts should be made to foster and
encourage the agricultural, mechanical,