Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-07-07
TO THE EDITORS OF THE Enc UIREE.
q ~

70 .p1 IKE EpETo SSf or mE Ez5 ENQUIRER
Your columns being open for free and fair discus
sion of The question of the next Pr sdency, shall
avail myself of the privilege, by communicating, from
time to time, my thoughts, We've, and opinions upon
the subject.
Three things have been spoken of, ns being highly
important, in relation TO this subject 1T, The time
when a National Convention shall be held-2nd, The
mode of eectng delegates thereto-3rd, Who ought
TO be the nominee of that Convention?
If ALL who now profess 10 be long to the Re publican
party are resolved 10 abide by The decision of The Con
veniton, matter upon whom the choice may fall
then, the time be of but little moment the pc
Iitical opinions Of oil those whose likely 10
be brought before the Convention, we'll known
and if the Convention were TO take place to morrow,
as far that subject is concerned, the Republican
party would be well qualified TO Judge then, as in
November or May next. There, thsn must he some
ucrior object in view with those who for post
ponement. Whstitis cannot iel-but, surely, there
mus, be very strong motive with those who ask for
MAY, 1874, instead of an earlier day. Is it that they
fear that their fayor,e is yet loo weak 10 contend
cessnlly, against some other aspirant DO they want
time to make converts; Do they expect that their ia
vorile will become better and favorably known
AS far as am concerned would not give rush for
the choice Of any particular time There other and
more important matters involved. Let the Conven-
ton be held when II may, either in November, Janu.
ary or May nex-f principles are lost sight of IN ma
king the SELECTION better, far better, have no ConVen
ton at all!
You, Messrs. Editors, evince the proper spirit
You not tenacious about The time. As TO that you
are willing TO yield your opinion for the sake OF
peace and harmony When The States have all Spoken
then let the majority govern.
! The second point Of more difficulty. The
mode Of choosing delegates, is one about winch there
seems 10 be great diversity of opinion. Our own
Convention, held last Spring, has suggested mooe
that cannot well be carried into execution 1t IS an IN
al hara ntn
Virginia II cannot be said TO he un improvement, be-
canse i; certainly presen's difficulties that have not
heretofore existed, and, therefore, makes worse pan
than the old Let present some oil The d'ihcui,
Ties that appear 10 me to exist Say, that mere sha"
be Convention held some where in the eighth Con-
cressionol District for the purpose Of selecting four
delegates TO attend the National Convention. The DIS
tric is composed Of nine counties, of unequal popu-
a,ion. King and Queen can vote six hundfed-Caro.
line and Spo,sylvamiu perhaps nine hundred, il not
more Middlesex and King George 60 not vote more
than two hundred and fifty. But they would have me
right TO send many delegates to the Congressman
Contention King and Queen, Caroline and Spo,sy'-
vania-nay, they might send more II might so hsp
pen that the small counties in the district might nave
more delegates than the larger once, and us IT VIII be
the duty of all who present, "a majority ruiIneJ 10
prescribe the of voting, il might be Determined
that each delegate present, should be entitled 10 So
regardless of The sizs of his county. This would
not only be unfair but unjust. Again-Kng william
and Wes,moreland each votes about the same number
saw five hundred. Yet, while King William gives
over two hundred majority for The Republican uche''
Wes,moreand gives yet larger majority tor the h'g
ticket Yet, il mig be, that Westmoreand woniu naVe
double the weight in the Convention that KING Wian
would have. This would, also, be unfair ana un-
lust il is thus aeen that Convention IN tah Con-
oressioaal District would be attended with such din.
cues as would most likely produce discord, instead
Of Union.
The mode recommended by the South Carolina
Convention is still more Objectionable. T'ere are al
ready six Republican candidates for the Presidency
all Of whose names are TO be brought before The Con-
, yenton Then, for examples sake, lake The eIgh'h
district again. Six candidates must be brought out,
and in order TO do Justice their iavorite they ought
TO traverse the district and address the people, and snow
that the individual for whom they will vote, has supe-
ror claims TO all the rest Six talented gentlemen
travelling through the various counties OF the dsr'c
presenting the claims of the Presidential candidates
whom they represent in the most favorable light ano
either by nuendo, implication, inference dispa
raging the claims of all the rest, would be Just suci
. sport as the Wings would rejoice to behold But, wnt
are 10 vo!e who TO keep The polls: are Questions
more easily asked than answered Who are to be lht
Judges of the qualifications of the electors What 10 Il
be the of Republcan'sm' If all these questions wer
to be satisfactorily answered, yet it might turn out
that the most Objectionable candidate might be elected
Let test it There are six candidates IN o'suic
tina, votes three thousand. A. receives 800 votes,
eo7, ooI, Z. oUU, r. 900, G. i99, making 300
votes. 1t might be- that &. was the most obnoxou
of ell the candidates, and yet, having plurality, h
would be duly elected This scheme, then, can fin
no counienance with any who prefer the success Q
the party and IFS principles 10 the success OF any man
u no matter who he may be. 60 for the old mode Q
the people assembling in the various counties and nomi
mating as many delegates as they choose TO atten
the National Convention. | am aware, that some o
the objections mentioned be brought agains, tn;
last plan and at another and more leisure time shall
examine further into this subject.
We should adopt the sentiment of MIR. Wise, express
ed in 1910, with little variation-"The union of th
Wings for The sake of the Union" said Mr. Wise
Our motto should be-The union of The Republican
preserve their principles. ALPHA