Year: 1869

ADDRESS OF THE STATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE


a. OF THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY.


The State Conservative Committee feel i'm
PEELED to address you briefly on the impending
crisis, and the duties and responsibilities it i'm
poses.


The recent Conservative Convention urged
you ito organize for the purpose of defeating
such obnoxious provisions of the Constitution
framed by the late Convention at Richmond as
may be separately submitted, and securing the
election of proper persons to the Legislature +"
but forebore to make any recommendation In
regard to voting on the Constitution, or for the
principal State officers. This departure from
the former policy OF the party IS due In great
degree to change in the conduct Of the gov
ernment at Washington towards the State, and
corresponding change in the sentiments of the
people themselves W hen it seemed the pur-
pose to coerce the adoption of the Constitution
as it came from the hands of it's trainers, they
were banded in unqualified opposition to it, and
nominated candidates who represented that op-
position but when it became probable, that in
the form of submitting it to the vote, an op-
portunity would be afforded to expunge its most
obnoxious features-thereby restoring to the
white race it's legitimate influence in the affairs
of the State, with the accompanying power to



it became apparent that the plan of uncondi-
tional resistance to reconstruction had ceased
to command the one indispensable condition of
success-a united people. Many conservatives
too, fatigued into olnpliance by years fpassive
suffering, had come to regard negro suffrage
already rivetted on eight OF the Southern States
as fixed fact in the destiny of them all !; and
to accept it as such, along with the alleviations
which would attend restored suffrage, restored
eligibility to Office and the withdrawal Of mill
tary rule. The test vote in the Convention up
on the policy proper to be adopted IN this alter
ed state of circumstances, may probably be re-
garded as fair exponent OF the change which
had taken place Gin the minds OF the peo-
ple. A decided majority favored the new line
of action which was adopted. 10 have gone in
to the approaching struggle divided In counsel,
and distracted by the presence OF candidates of
the several shades of opinion, represented by
Withers, Walker and Wells, would have been
to assure the success of the last named, and
perhaps the adoption of the Constitution with
all it's enormities Some compromise, therefore,
became indispensably necessary; and that was
found In the spirit of generous concession with
which minority, marked Tor its intelligence,
purity and patriotism, yielded the ground OF
unconditional opposltlon and IN which the can
didates who had stood on that ground resigned
C0olr Observation-Disclosures WOlCuy VI GuCIl, dLlQ
which has entailed on their fellow-citizens an
obligation as grateful as it will be firm and last
ing. Those who dissented from the majority,
only required to be left free to vote at pleasure
in the election on the constitution and for State
officers and the convention accordingly refrain
ed from making any recommendations on those
subjects. 1t prescribes no tests, but confined
its exhorations to those objects, as to which, ii
will be conceded. all Conservatives agree-op-
position to the clauses of the constitution which
will be separately submitted, and securing the
election OF a proper Legislature.


Much and natural dissatisfaction is felt at the
| refusal to submit the County Organization
clause to a separate vote; and 1t has been sug
| gested by some, whose opinions are entitled tc
resDect, that the disappointment thus inflicted
| furnishes reason for reconsidering the policy
adonted by the convention, and for Its re-assem
bling for the purpose. But it would seem thai
| such measure would involve loss of time
which could i'll be spared from the work of or
| ganization and preparation for actlon-woulC
induce doubt and distraction in our counsels
and result at last in adherence to the we'll con
sidered constitution already announced.


Moreover such course would be departure
from that toleration Of dissenting opinions
which induced the Convention to leave the vote
on the constitution and on candidates an entire
| ly open question Couiu lne MihoIity oI ina
body by any process grow into minority or
that question, it would surely be an ungraciou
return to prescribe a test to those who diffe
with them, when they would not willingly hav,
accepted one themselves. But there is reason
to believe that instead of becoming majorit,
they would, on the reassembling of the Con
vention, find their numbers reduced-at leas
there is none to suppose they have increased.


But the question which rises above all other
in importance is: Should not the white yot


be rallied in its full strength in opposition t.


the test-oath and DISTINGUISHING clauses? Th


defeat of these clauses will be in effect meas
ure of white emancipation. 1t will rescue th


white race from political osracism-restore t.


it the control of the State and forever secure t


the virtue, intelligence and property interests Q
the community, their legitimate influence !
will empower those who pay the taxes to lev