Year: 1869

II


with as much vehemence as they disclain


a victory. IF the President sustains Gen


eral CANDY, then the Virginia election be
comes Radical defeat, but not otherwise
It seems to us that this is question
J | which will settle itself in due course OF
time. Being local election, it matters


but little by what name the party is called


upon whose banner victory perched. III
can in no wise be called the Republican
party. The Conservatives OF Virginia,
with the examples OF Alabama and Missis


sippi before their eyes, knew full we'll that
their State would not be admitted to the
Union under officers elected by them OF


their own party, and without accepting the
Constitution. In other words, that the


election was an empty form, and they had
no option in the matter. Under this con-
dition of affairs they wisely determined to
take advantage of division in the Repub-
lican party, and vote with those least OBJ
jectionable. The Conservative State Com
mittee Withdrew the name of Colonel
WITHERs as candidate for Governor and
the others of the ticket, and supported the
claims of Mr.. WALKER with all the .fervor
and enthusiasm with which they had ad-
vocated the election of Colonel W1THERS,
and with success.


This course no moro commits the Con-
servative party OF Virginia to the Repub-


icans than it does ex-President JOHNSON
in his present support of Governor SENTEE
in Tennessee, or it did us in voting for Mr..
CI1ADBoURN for Mayor, or Messrs. KIDDER,
RICE and others for Aldermen OF our city
at the last municipal election.


It is doubtless true that there is no Dem
ocratic party as it existed before the War,
in Virginia or in any other Southern State.
A lifelong Democrat ourselves, since we
voted for Gov. ELLIS in 1860. we have sup
ported no man for Governor of the State
who was formerly a member of the Demo
cratic party. And yet we voted for Gov
ernors VANCE and Worm, and Colonel
AsIIE with as much pleasure. and contrib
uted our efforts for their success with as
much enthusiasm, as we did for Governors
BRAGG and ELLIS. If there was at the time
of their election, or ii there is now any
difference of opinion in regard to our pre-
sent duty in political matters between ex-
Governors VANCE and WORTH and our
selves, or those who formerly acted with
us, we have been unable to discover it.


The mistake some of our people make
is that they do not appreciate the fact that
old party issues and names in the South
ing of Democrats or Wings during the
war. We were all Confederates. At its
close We found but one national party i'll
existence with which we cOnld unite, and
that was the Democratic party of the North.
This is the sum and substance of party
names and relations at present. Among
the Conservative masses in this State and
elsewhere in the South, there is no conflict
of principle. We all have common sympa-
thies and interests, and it is worse than
folly for US to attomp! to get up a family
quarrel upon names. It would be most
suicidal.


What Conservative man iii the South,
by whatever political name he may call
himself, who does not sympathize with,
and desire the election of, Judge PACKER
in Pennsylvania and General RosEcRANz in
Ohio Yet they are Democrats. Does
not nine of evory ten men who supported
WALKER in Virginia wish for the success
OF. these gentlemen We do not desire
to be understood as claiming that they en-
dorse their entire political records or agree
altogether with the platforms upon which
they have been nominated But we know
that our people sympathize with the Demo
Gratis of those two great States, and will
watch for and receive the news OF their
success with great interest and eioicing.


In this feeling of unity and interest
among ourselves, let the press and public
men not interfere. There is q strength
and moral force in our union which will
yet achieve success, as it now commands
respect. Thero is the same necessity now
as formerly for close alliance between
our people. And, too, there is no neces
sity at the present time of raising new and
exciting political issues. We only ask that
these subjects shall not be pressed just yet,
but let us leave it to time and circum-
stances to settle. Our people will only be
the better off for the delay, and will be in
better condition to meet the issues when
they do come. .r. ~.
The County Election. "a


Now that the excitement of the convaSs