Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1881-03-04
The FeuGuier Democrats,

setvatlVe voters OF Fauq1ler county held a
meeting in the Courthouse on Monday. the
2S:h Of February, 1881.
Msi:r John Scott beiog elected chsirman and
Mr.. H. Worthirgton Hillary requested to act
as secratar7, the Hon. James V. Brooke was
called on to state the ot:c! of the meeting.
After brief. bu. impressive CT, MIR.
Brooke. by request. read the foIlowiog pream-
BILE aud resolutions, which be had prepared to
DO submitted to the comui.ee, had ooe been
appointed:
The conservatives Of the cluoty of Fauq1er
having convened 10 pursuance of public notice
and 'irresp :clive of past differences on whatever
sutect,' ard being desircu, by harmony of &C,
ton, to secure the great ends OF final adjust.
ment of the State debt and as consequence,
the restoration of the integrity OF the conserVa-
tive party OF the State, d. snnounos to their
brethren throughout the Commonwealth the
following resolutions cs embodyiog their senti-
ments upon the matters involved.
In their iudgmeu t the unsettled condition OF
the State debt is an unmitigated evil. II az
fees alike iri1rlously the prosperity Ct the
Commonwealth at homs AMI its credit and
good 1ams abroad. IL is caLker upon the
body polite 1t operates paralysis of indus
try. 1t checks tho vital flow of capital. 1t locks
up The wealth that foreign enterprise would Il I'D
10 the development OF the splendid material re.
sources of our State.
IL has done more than this. L: has threat
eued to sever into 6l:c,rdant and irrcc ,pciiabls
factions the great conservative party of Virgin
Ia, the only reliebls guardian Of the rights and
liberties of its people. And if allowed to pro-
iec! its bsnetu llhueocas toto the future, this
threatened separation may become perpetu ,ted
and radics!isn erect its throne upon the tras.
meDts OF orc, powerful and harmonious para
ty. This mus. not cannot be
elimination and recrlminstIon ara nev,r en-
duclVe to the restoration of BROTHERHOOD and
peace. Its therefore wise TO avoid them. 1t
would not tend to the renewal ct iraternal con
cord. to review the past history of tho g;eat
trouble or to seek 10 show where tho blams for
this or that error may lie. Far better is it, in
the spirit OF homely maxim to llt bygoncs
be bygoDes' and forgetting tho past. to put
forth an hooest. c1rreot and united effort to re-
deem the III urc iron tbs evil which seems 10
imnend
Dispassionasc'y Considered the difsret c:s
which for tho last three or four years have *
listed within the ranks Of the conservative party
have not boon at sill fundamental. The party
platform, unanimously sdop:ed by ice euberna
tcrial convention of 1877, recognized the 50.
preuo lccossiiy of 90 &C iustment of the State
deb. 1t uses the following emphatic language:
We therefore earnestly ureo upon tho Leg
l9ls!lVe and Executive branches of tho govern
msnt tho importance of u'ing all 1st and hon'
orablo mears of bringing about 40 adjustment
of the obligation of the Commonwealth, which
will bli1g tho payment OF interest upon our co.
iro Indebtedness within The resources of the
State derived from tho present rate Of taxation
AID 90 cqlal jlsio, to ell CLASSES of cur cridi.
tors.
This was the uierarce CT the Conservative
party Ia It's entirety, add while some few may
hdVo tslt themselves at liberty to apply to it
such construction as might best harmopiz, with
their oRn peculiar view, the groat mass Of the
Dsrty have becn unlted 10 the purpose 10 read.
just the debt, il possible. in accordance with
the prlrcLlas thus announced. The difference
between them hss bsen mainly as to the ques
ton OF tho debt and tho ratio of interest which
could be safely promised, in just;c, to the prop
or demands Of tho State government aud of the
public sch dolls. The Barbour bill, the Senate
bill Of 1878. tho Bocock- Fowler bill, aud tho
MoCuooh bill were al! avovedlY framed upon
tie theory promulgated in he platform of 1877.
Whether one or tho other was wisely framed it
is not necessary now to erq9ite. size, oil have
failed, tho hIss two never becoming laws, The
third having been rei:ctcd by tho creditors and
tho last By tho people 10 tho fail election Of
1879.
Tie question OF establishment il therefore
still 40 open ono Tie vote 10 tbo last presl
Dental elecicn was no test OF popular scott
nent upon the sui ct and il il far to prcSumo
that serious di7trgeuoo OF opinion still ex q
betTcen the parties that stood GrrGYed against
ctch other in 1879. Why shall il logger COD
tlrus? Why may not harmony DO restored aud
the conservative party stand oDco more compcc;
aud united?
Upon csr;ain points thero seems to BIO geo.
eral concurrence OF sentiment 10 the couservs-
tive party Of the State. Tho first is that the
State debt must. if possible, BIO readiusted
The eziSticg i.reGulality among tho creditors
tho rapidly increasing Indebtedness 10 the
shape OF Interest upon the peeler bonds and
abo7c 81! tho loss of credit AID capital to the
Ststc, constitute irresistible argument ID favor
OF suoh measure. The second point of sgteo
moot is that the adjustment when made, shall
DO made b7 the conservative psrtg, CONSTITUTE
lng 81 It does the great mass Of tho tax.payiog
people OF tho State. And the third is, that
auJ ~ u5!WSuL So ESoe SQall SacQfC beyond
peradV=nturo tho proper support of tho State
government tic mslntenace of ts public schools,
ard equality amongst its creditors. ppon esti.
mates founded upon tho present revenues of
the State, aud without 90 Increase of ttxaiion,
Upoa such platform it would seem that all
usy stand,
This point being reached, i. ony remains to
enquire as to the mode o. givios practical
effect 10 their principles 1t may b, said that
the Conservative State Convention called for
tho 4th Of August nsy DO properly charged
with this duty; and the Central COMMITTEES 10
10 it's ado r:sS, seems to anticipate the execu-
lion oi tits trust by that body. Too muca Gao.
20; be said in comnendalion IF tho emInen,y
liberal and oonciliatory temper of that address
or ef the spirit of lofty patriotism that brea,hcs
10 its utterances. Nevertheless sound discre-
tlan would seem to dictate departure 10 this
resDec: from its suggestions. The fact must not
be lost sight Of, that it comes from committee
which has stood 10 seeming antagouisu to q
corresponding committee of tina ESQ caIled) re.
aclusttr party. 1t is not therstra likely that
its pr sent appeal for harmonious "a oreralion