Year: 1873

Hon. Thomas s. Bocock.


Dear Sir,-l am profoundly sensible Of the
honor conferred on me by the Convention in
selecting me as the candidate Of the Conserya-
tive party of the State for tie office of Attorney
General at the approaching election, 4" and CRATE
full to yourself fer the kind and com mplilnentary
terms 10 which, as the organ of the Convention,
you notify me of the selection [ promise, as
the best return L can make, all the aid [ can
give to the distinguished gentlemen with whom
l am associated In the nomination 10 achieving
the supreme wish of US all-the continued as
cendancy of the Conservative party in the State.


Well and truly has the Convention declared,
THAT a contrast of the condition of Virginia
under Conservative government, with the con-
dlton OF those southern States which have been
under RADICAL rule, illustrates the wisdom of the
people OF Virginia IN the adoption of this plan
OF State policy, and demonstrates the necessity
OF continuing the powers of the State Govern
ment In the control of the Conservative people
of this Commonwealth"


In every one of the unhappy States In which
Radlcallsm has succeeded in upturning the old
established society, we have witnessed the same
bankruptcy of the State, the same destruction
OF public credit. the same weight of taxation
which has exhausted the means and crushed
out the energies of the people-the same pro-





money-in short, the same organization of the
authority of the State into schemes of corrup-
ton, spollatlOn, and plunder.


Their institutions OF learning and charity are
broken down. their colleges, once instinct with
the life and hight of learning and civilization,
are deserted and 10 ruins; even their lunatic
asylums plead in vain at the doors of an empty
treasury for promised support, and their unhap-
py inmates deprived of the sustenance provld-
ed for by fruitless laws, appeal In tones that
pierce the heart for the means of lite to the
charity of the world.


In the once sacred halls of legislation obscene
birds OF prey profane their most sacred places.
Here ignorance, greed, corruption, and vulgar
passion, and the malignant spirit bred of these.
bear unresisted sway. Liberty, born of order
and law, seems to have fled away from the
scene forever.


There was time when the patronage and in.
huence OF the Federal Government were sonar.
ated by a jealousy guarded line from even the
shadow OF interference with the freedom of elec-
tions in the States. Conduct in Federal of.
| ficlal, apparently marked with design to disre-
gard it, sealed his election from Office Now,
the ruling purpose of the rings" which ELL the
custom-houses is to run" the State, and the
shibboleth of party confidence is with them and
their bIlod supporters official commission
l l.


| To carry presidential election we have seer
the vote of a popular majority of six thousand
reversed and a State Government overthrowu
by chancery order made by Federal Judge
and supported by the military authority of the
United States! Aspurious government install
ed by the same means usurps and exercises the
supreme power; yet Congress is informed BY
the President in formal message that mo ex.
ecutive control is exercised In any one of these
| (the southern States) that would not be ex
ercised in any of the States uuder like circum.
stances" Congress in turn refuses to interfere
and thus are we forced to conclude that those
entrusted with the constitutional powers of the
Government instead of preserving and enforc
ing the pledge in the Constitution that the
United States shall guarantee to every State il
the Union republican form of government,
are cooperating with full purpose to foil anc
defeat it. 1t is habitual thing with these peo
pie when they hold State, by means of cor
rupt boards, to count out a popular majority
against them. To this day they usurp in thi
manner the government of Texas against th.
recorded protest of her people, and in Arkansa
they have thus defeated the popular will ex
pressed in majority of twenty thousand


by their fruits We shall know them" Il
doubt that similar results would follow thei
accession to power here is to lose faith In ho
writ itself.


| Space is wanting for more than a glance a