Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-09-12
MODERATION AND WISDOM

liberal spirit which presides the columns of the
"Federal Union" Of Miliedgevie-oue of the abss
journals Of Georgia Its last M furnishes new ev
dence of its discretion. Would il not be we'll for
of the other Southern papers TO initiate its
ample:
''The Federal Union" flies a, lis mast head the name
Of "John G. Calhoun" as President-and we must do
1.-THE Justice TO say, that il did display this flag
til the late Estate Convention Of Georgia had declared
it's preference for Mr. Calhoun. But the "Unon"
still goes for the Union of the party. 1t supports Mr.
Calhoun, but declares its determination support the
nominee Of the Baltimore Convention In this spirit,
comes forth in its last No TO define its poson-,o
nculcate the necessity Of Unon-and to respond the
question, "IPatchman, 7chat Of the Nights" In the
Of very we'll written article, under this cap
lion, in which it maness disposition TO put aside
MIR. Van Buren,, il lays down the general grounds of
action for the Republican party. 1t says:
"Our business is now to promote with all our inau-
euce the harmonious action of the Democratic National
Convention, which have doub, will be held in Bal
timore in May 1914. The preminares OF this Conven
ton all agreed on, and details would produce no diff
cutv, but for the number Of asanls 10 the Presden
tial office. 1t is already manifest, that all conno be
satisfied and it is not too to say, that unless the
several States choose their delegates with determine
ton TO carry out the will of the ority, when ascer-
tanned, the whole effort will be failure They must
ask themselves what they determined to ca,m ana
be willing TO grant the to others Huh MtS sptt
Convention can meet and select its candidates. ana
the strength of the Democratic party be combined Tor
success ,othout it, defeat is certain.
"Several important questions have already arisen IN
regard to the selection, organization and acion oil Inc
Convention. How shall the members be CHOSEN In
what manner shall they vote And who are to be &C
knowledged entitled to seats, however chosen
1--WE have said, that the manner in which the mem
hers of the two Conventions which have been held
were chosen never contested and there is not the
least prospect that the Delegates who will assemble IN
Baltimore 1874, 'cil be chosen siM any uniformity
The action of the Democratic party OF the States winch
have already acted, has shown that each considers It
self entitled to select its members IN it's cay 1hiS
re consider point chieh cannot be safely contested
This much mast be domedt The discretion Of each and
| the members who present themselves with evidence
that they sent by the Democratic party of State,
or an integral portion thereof, under any rule it may
have adopted for making the selection, ought NOT TO DC
excluded Our own Delegates have been selected by the
| Democratic members OF the Legislature OF 1912. Our
Convention which met for the nomination OF Governor
10 June last thinking themselves the higher tribunal
and more entitled speak the voice OF the Democratic
party assumed the responsibility Of these appointments
by confirming them, aud nStracting the delegates TO
cast their votes for MIR. Calhoun. Probably not ano
her set Of delegates derirtng their pO,ccrS through TIC
same sources ,ca present themselves for admission at
The ConuentiOn Of lsii. And yet not single State
will select with better guaranty OF the Democratic par
ty If they are excluded, because their appointments
hare not been made according TO the plans adopted in
other States consider the Convention dissolped We
have fear that they will be rejected, but others
may present themselves under such circumstances as
to compel the Convention to assume the responsibility
of judging of the qualifications of its members
This power subject to be abused but essential 10 the
existence Of all representative bodies.
"The manne. in which the votes Of the delegates
| shall be gwen, is already matter of controversy
| some conendng that each member shall give bis vote
separately, and Others that each State shall vote with
It's numera strength Tor the person receiving The votes
of the majority OF It's delegates. Virginia, 1t seems, is
to send 100 delegates 10 give her 90 votes
and 1t IS easy TO perceive the questions which may
arise in reference TO a body constructed We are
decidedly in favor Of the efficient action of the Con
vention, and think all questions touching the mode
and manner OF voting therein, ought TO be decided by
Itself. This, have doubt, will be found abso
lutely necessary, and the States who limit their dele
gates to particular mode of casting their votes, will
be in great danger of having their votes rejected
Georgia has recommended to her delegates to vote
per capita but with due discretion, left them at liberty
to vote otherwise, should the necessity 10 do SO be
forced on them.
"We have said that each State will select lis dele
gates IN way, and If any attempt is made 10
control them, the Convention never be organized
The DELEGATE who presents himself for admission, wall
bring proot that he is by the Democratic party Of
his State, and tina, and nothing else should entle
him seat If an inquiry instituted into his pot
cal opinions or his personal or official relations with
President Tyler field of controversy is entered which
will be dangerous 1t is uncalled for. IL will be
moreover unprecedented and The attempt TO raise these
embarrassing questions involves responsibility which
ought to have been duly weighed We not apprised
that Mr Tyler has prospect Of sending to the Con-
venton single delegate; nor do perceive how 1t
is possible he should the nomination of the De-
mocratic party tor the Presidential Office. Why then,
the battle against him fought ercey? Is it bes, 10
force the administration with all its power into The ranks
of the Wings: Are we prepared to say to all who rose by
the revolution Of ls40 the royalsls did the reg
cides of France-ihy blood and nothing short of thy
blood, shall atone for the deed
opinion, that policy rejects such revenges, and that the
Globe, in It's course Of passion and empesuous denun
citation, is pursuing course not only wrong in itself,
but dangerous to the Democratic party.
"The ground Occupy on these important questions
distinctly taken. We shall sustain the meeting
Of a DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION in Baltimore,
in May, 1874 We shall sustain the right Of each State,
through the action Of its Democratic party TO choose its
delegates IFS lcay. We shall sustain the right
of the Contention to Judge Of The qualifications Of its
members and TO ascertain It's oacn 'oshes, and go
Germ its ocn proceedings ind shalt aoiM zeal and
in good faith. support for the Offices of President and T.
President, the acho may DC selected In conformity
acuh these nieos.'
The Italics are ours. The manly and liberal sent.
ments expressed by 'the Federal Union, are its
We ask for nothing better. We should think them
sential to the Of the Convention, and TO the
triumph Of the party. They comfortable to the
past usapes of the Repubicaus-and why should we
"uncompromisingly insist upon other rules, in the
new and embarrassing era TO which We have arrived
and when those very rules, because they new,
naciously insisted upon, would only be calculated to
introduce new, and TO say the least of them, very un
pleasan, dssensons into the bosom OF party The
"Federa Union" does not sneer at "Caucuses and Con-
ventons It does not raise by anticipation any clamar
against the Baltimore Convention Il raises shout
against "men who must 60 hundreds of miles 10 Batl
more to vote not they think best, those who
elected them WISH bu, as majority of their colleagues
shall Orders The "Federal Union knows better.
It knows, that Convention is necessary to concen
rae the vote ofhe Republican pary-to carry out the
Electoral vote of the peopleand prevent the cleo
from being carried to the House of Represe natives
where arsocracy Of small States, as John Taylor
Of Caroline called them would have undue influence in
the election and where a baleful spirit of intrigue
might introduce a weak, odious, perhaps corrupt
into the midst Of distracted councils and
suspicious country. The "Federal Union knows,
that the Republican party requires to unite
it's eorts and it knows further, that unless The mno-
ty after attempting in vain to carry out its own wishes,
should yield to the "majority Of their colleagues, its
whole object will be defeated. The ~ MON" knows,
it in this spr. that all our Democratic Conventions
have been conducted-and it asks nothing, which is
not justified by general usage, and by the soundest