The Democratic Whig. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1842-1843, 1843-06-01
For the Democratic Wing
CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR--GEO.
r. CLAYTON, ESQ.

Mr.. EDITcR.-I wish to lay before your
readers, few considerations, in addition 10
those already suggested by me, in favor of the
nomination of George R. Clayton, Esq, for
the Office of Governor of this State, by the
Wing convention which will assemble on the
End Monday in June. | cannot hope that my
views on this subject will meet the eye of any
subscriber to your valuable paper; for have
discovered sedulous and ovetweening anxi-
ETY. on the part of other wing editors to with
hold from their readers, even the fact that the
name of Mr.. Clayton had been mentioned in
connection with the Office of Governor. This
unjustifiable course is pursued by them, not
from any opposition to Mr.. Clayton, but for the
very unsatisfactory and absurd reason, that
discord may be produced among the wings by
the discussion of the claims of gentlemen
whose names viii be before the convention.
Such protective policy might do for men who
had assumed the guardianship and manage
ment OF unlettered Arabs, and unthinking loco.
focos but | am mortified that such an appol-
ogy should be offered for a direliction of duty
by the editors of the Whig party; embracing as
that party does, so may men of intelligence
who have not been accustomed to avoid the
light of truth, but with minds, fearless and in
dependent, have sought it wherever it was
to be found, and with liberality, disseminated
il, wherever it could be spread. 1t is proper
to discuss with freedom the qualificatio tons of ALL
| whose names win probably be submitted to the
convention-that their claims may be canvas
| sed by the people; and that the delegates may
| be enabled fairly to represent the wishes of
their constituents. Conventions are odious,
ii cir action partial and unjust, and their nomi-
nations entitled to no respect. conducted upon
any other principle. When they do not con-
centrate and proclaim the voice OF the people,
they are engines in the hands of a few crafty
and selfish politicians. without intelligence,
judgement, or honesty. TO comprehend and
provide for the interest of the commonwealth.
They are MONSTERS from whose large and pro-
life spawn proceed a progency OF curses
more odious and destructive than the curses
inflicted upon the all fated land of Pharaoh
for his contumaceous disregard of the voice OF
the people of lsreal and their God.
How generally is it the tact.that men OF great
merit, and competent to fiji! the highest ot1ces
of the State, have but limited acquaintance
whilst the names of their noisy and aspiring IN
feriors are trumpeted forth with bustlng con-
sequence throughout the whole country. The
result is, not unfrequently, that the man OF
modest merit, is permitted to remain IN o0'
SECURITY, and the offices of the State, by the IN
f1uence of a nomination from convention, con-
ferred upon arrogant inferiority, and crafty,
but noisy imbecIlity.
Mr.. Clayton, though many years cltlzen OF
Mississippi, and favorably known IN this Sec
tion of the State, and highly appreciated by all
his acouaintances, for his talent and undeyIa-
ting morality, has occupied no public station
which would give him notorlety abroad; he
has filed no Office of importance, since his re-
moyal from the state of Georga,h his native state
where. for several years be was Useful ana
| nromineut member of the Legislature. his
time has been devoted to the duties OF his pro-
fession from which he has lately retired ana
is now engaged in the quiet occupatlon Oh
nlanter. He has never authorized ms natAe
| to be announced as candidate Tor the Oince
of Governor: nor is he an applicant for NOM
nation hv the Wing convention. HIS friends
have thought him peculiarly qualified to DIS.
charge the duties of a Chief Magistrate OF the
State.-and believe that the interest OF the
country demand his services belleVe ne
uould regard it as his duty to accept noml-
nation if rendered to him by the convention' ana
that he would exert the energies OF a wen oiS-
ciplined, and well. stored mind for the HluLnpn-
| ant success of the wing party. Upon tne Sc
verest scrutiny, he will be found liable to IeWer
| affections than almost any other prominent
man in our ranks. His political enemies VII
be compelled by a sense ofjustice4to accoru 70
| him the highest qnalifca tons. Ihe Wnlgs
have not lost the majority which carried tne
State in 1910. Judge Shattuck dld not re-
ceiye the full vote Of the party. There is q
deem and immoveable prejudice in the mlnas
of MANY of the people against voting i0f any
man for political office, who is Preacher 2.
the Gospel. They believe. and not wIInou.
some reason, that the duties Of the sanctuary
should be unconnected with and uncontamln ma
1 ted bv the political strifes and tumults OF tne
day. This, ifonly prejudice, is an nones'
one. and ought to be respected. 1t is enter
famed by nearly all of our citizens who have
removed from States where the constitution
and laws prohibit ministers of the gospel rom
ho1dn~ political Office. It was this deep root
al nreiudice which enabled Mr. Tucker tc
| succeed over an opponent, greatly bis superior
r ahility. Passon Shattuck, Passion shat
t,,ct - asTucker so frequently and so eupho
neo1slv designated his competitor was NOR.
powerful weapon in his hands, TO WORK upol
The nrsiudices of his hearers, than al bis con
fused arguments upon the constitution. Eo
The vvhies. therefore, to select candidate: wn'
in intellect and morals, viii compare with On
sd able and worthyas Judge Shattuck. ana 2
| the sametime not be obnoxious to the opJecuoa
e above named, is 2 consideration OF great IN
portance.