The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-01-24
An Original Rcadjustcr OH the Con-
ventiOn Question.


TO the discussion Of q convention, trust
YOU will pardon word from one who was
n X, adjustcr from the beginning TO the end
of that troublesome and annoying question.
have read with care and deep interest
all that has been said in the press with
reference To the suggested cali for a con-
vention, and am gratitied that the Demo-
cratic papers. including the Abingdon pir-
gii.iGn and the Virginia RcddJuSter, are
nearly unanimous In favor OF "a call; and
Is the press is true index TO the scIti-
ment OF the people, il is clear that they arc
overwhelmingly in favor OF reunion and
q Reorganization Of the Democrats, and y
Democrats is meant ail voters who are Op-
posed TO Mabone-negrO rule in Virginia.
But few objections have been urged to a
convention, and none that are well founded e,
in my judgment.
One class Of objectors say we must have
Crest" Rest, indcedi Rest on your lar-
rels, suppose. Too much rest. too much
idlencss and indifference, hasalrcady we'll
nigh ruined orc wing Of the party. 1t Is
work immediate, hard, thorough, intelli-
gent, well-d;rected work-tBat is needed.
"Eternal vigilance is the price OF liberty"
and iDcessant, ceasclcsS work is the price
OF victory. Rest, indeed, while chains for
every white man i'll Virginia are beng
forged at the White House, and by Ar
thurs Kitchen Cabinet at Portland Flats.
But the proposed convention Is for re-
organization. and need not and will not
disturb the repose of the people. 1t is TO
provide the machinery and the ways and
means. details, &C., TO enable the Democrats
oil the State TO make successful canvass
next fall, in 1884, DC. The convention
should be eminently and entirely OF busi-
ness character II should not be a mob,
but composed Of two or three first-class,
active, live, representative mcn from each
county. appointed by county meetings OF
hCadjuSter and Funder voters acting to-
gcther under cali Of the State Committee.
Neither the call OF the State Committee Hor
for county meetings would create any OK
element, but the Democrats would respond
to them promptly, quietly, and In BUSH
ness-iIkc manner, and send their delegates.
1t requires an immense amount Of work TO
organize party effectively. and unless the
matter of r>sniting and rc0rganizng the
party is taken in hand speedily and earn
estly / predict there will bc ample time in
the future for crest" TO those who arc I'M
willing or are afraid 10 work now.
Other Oliectois say the United States
Supreme Court has not decided the deIt
question. and that complications may grow
ont of It's decision. The greater reason
why convention OF Rlaliuster and
Funder Democrats should be called at once.
The decision will be rendered in February,
before convention can possibly be ASSEM-
bled. But whatever the decision OF the
court, will not the Funder Democrats
agree to say in advance that they will abide
by the decision. All with whom | have
convcrsed, comprising q vast number OF
the leading members OF the PARTY, say they
will abide the decision Of the court what
ever IT my be. Then, would it not be emil
nently proper for the Democrats TO meet In
convention and proclaim to the world that,
as the people, the Legislature, and the
courts had passed upon the debt settle
ment, they would submit to the settle
mcnt and oppose any further agitation OF
the question, come from whatever source
il mays
Malone had Che debt settlement sub
mitted to the courts, and he will be bound
by It's decision, ana If the United States
Court decides against the settlement, and
II he should be disposed to resist it, he
would be powerless, us the negroes, who
compose four tfths OF his party. would,
under the direction OF the northern Re
publicans, sustain the court. Still. Il i'm
the face Of the decision Of the court and
the sl0ughing OFF OF the negroes and true
Republicans be should ondtavor to bolster
his lettering power Nv tIe further agti-
ton OF debt question, it would amount to
nothing. He told the people that If they
would give The Readiustels cont oil OF the
State government he would settle the debt
on the basis OF the Riddlcberger bill. IL
he has done so, all will admit it will never
be disturbed but " he has failed, the peo-
pie (eyen The Roadiusters) would have no
In his ability to settle ii, and il !
they had, they could give him no other or
greater power than he had when the last |
attempt at settlement was made. Would |
Il not. therefore, be eminently proper for |
RcSHusters and Funder Democrats to
meet together at once and declare that so
lar as they are concerned the decision OF |
,he Court shall settle the debt2
The conycntlor, having agreed upon a
nan OF htate and county organization, ar-
'osnted MS committees, placed the Demo-
rails Di the State in accord with the Ma
icpa' Democratic party, and taken posi-
ION Oh The debt settlement. might adjourn,
nd leave the tariff and Other questions OF
national Character 10 bc settled by the
lational convention or by State conyen-
ion called to deal with national questions.
he great and Paramount object ~ the
rsposed conyenlions as understand 1t,
rtdnion and Reorganization. The best
al only time fit for organization Is tine ,
profound quiet and peace. Ii Is impossi- /
le TO organize In the face OF the eucmy, !
Id those who postpone organization till |