Year: 1871

Inc acJ0n OF the Convention that assem-
bles tomorrow will exert powerful innt-
ence upon the present canvass, and we
hope, as we believe, that it will be power
fully for good. In this, as in all other
Conventions, we are in favor of bold and
positive action. We distrust what is known
as policy among the politicians.


What the party wants in Virginia, is the
vitality that comes from sharp, living issues.
They are lying all around us the very air
is full of them, and the Convention ought
to be the battery to collect and flash hem
into living light.


If we aim at any thing more than piti-
full transient or local success if we would
put the party in Virginia side by side with
those noble organizations of the North,
whose splendid successes are thrilling our
hearts to-day, we must put away from us a
narrow and cowardly policy we must take
into the compass of our thought and care
Che varied interests of this great Common
wealth. We must rise to meet the de-
mands of the occasion, fearlessly asserting
the right and condemning the wrong, in
State as well as national policy. The school
system is inadequate and imperfect, and is
threatened with destruction by powerful
combination of stock gamblers and aristo-
Gratis, who hate free schools. We must
protect and reform it, and carry its benefi-
cent influences to every child in the State.


The finances of the State are in despe-
rate condition, and the people are being de-
ceiyed by financial quacks and desperate
politicians, who are using their position to
sell the taxes to the stock brokers of New
York.


Emigration is being diverted from lis for
want ofsome simple provisions by which it
might be localized here.


Virginia, peculiarly manufacturing
State, has a deep interest in the protection
of her great staples of iron and coal. Last
aolstey the Democratic members from W.
giuia voted unanimously against protection !;
our own members voted unanimously for it {.
We hope to see the latter commended, and
the former censured, and our party put up
on high ground for the protection to home
industries.


The present judicial organization of the
State, confers upon the county judges un-
heard of powers, dangerous to the liberties
of the citizen.


The infamous apportionment of last VIM
ter robs large portion of the people of the
State of their representative rights.


These and other outrages should be pro-
perly denounced and some means agreed
upon to concentrate the whole strength q
| the party upon measures of defense and re-
lief. Upon national issues we can reiterate
our unalterable faith in the grand princi-
Piles upon which we have always won the
victory, and we trust give our hearty com
mendation to the administration which has
redeemed the country from the corrup-
ton and misrule, established our credit
and made the nation honored abroad and
its laws respected at home. With these
high themes of debate, let no man drag
his personal wrongs before the Conven.
tion, nor SOW the seeds of strife and bitter
ness. Let him that suffers bide his time
and be faithful, and time will vindicat'
him. Our best wishes and hopes go out t.
this Convention, that it may be the mean
of promoting entire harmony and securing
the wiscst results in its deliberations.