The Democratic Whig. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1842-1843, 1843-09-01
CONVENTIONS.

thas become the habit Of certain neraons,
who doubtless have their own reasons for IA. q
declaim against Conventions.-For the accom.
pllshment OF all important public measures, il
Is necessary TO have general understanding
and concert Of action among individuals. But
little can be effected without it. Conventions
OF Representatives ofthe people assembled from,
different parts of the country, enbodying the
opinions and wishes of the various sections
from which they are sent. when properly got
ten up, afford the fairest and most efectua]
method of ascertaiaing the sentiments of the
puoiIc. In such assemblies sensible and Judi.
clous representatives will ascertain the wishes
OF the greatest number, modify their own local
predictions By them, and endeavor in the
course. which they may dete rhine to pursue,
TO adopt such measures and bring forward such
candidates, as will be most likely to obtain the
appreciation and support of majority of those,
whose opinions they represent. 1t can rarely
happen that the members Of convention can
be swayed by any other motive than desire
To promo the cause which they adyocat e.
individuals may be Influenced by private con.
siderations, local feelings or personal attach.
ments; but public assemblies desirous of estab-
llshlng certain principles, which they deem i'm
portant, Will be less apt 10 be diverted from
the object, which they have in view, by any Of
these extranious Influences. When therefore
we hear persons, who have brought themselves
before the public for their support, declare that
they will not submit their blGanlS'to he decision
of a convention of the people, we set it down
as the strongest evidence of their presumption
and their Indifference to the cause, which they
profess to advocate. We may always take it
for granted that such individuals are not accep.
tIb1e to the party, upon which, they wish to
force themselves for their support, and that
they know they would not be selected as can
'dldales by majority of these upon whose suf-
frages they are dependent for election. But
they think that by the disturbance and distrac.
ton, which they produce in their party, they
will force them into their support, and they
therefore affect to despise convention and utter
ly refuse to submit to their decrees. The de.
cision OF a convention properly organized comes
as nearly being the voice of that portion of the
people, whose opinions it purports to represent,
as it is possible to attain, and is therefore emit.
tied to the utmost Difference and respect from
every member of that party, from which it EN-.
enates. 1t is always in the power of the people
to appoint such persons to represent them as
VIII PtSCAuuO TIC POSSIBILITY VI SI10 proceedings
of conventions beng controlled and directed
by '-clique;" and the existence OF such
"chques" is much less frequent and their lnfu-
ence much more limited than it suits the pur-
poses of certain persons 10 have believed,-in'
dividuals who are opposed to any course being
taken, by which the general sentiment oftheir
party may be expressed in regard TO the selec'
ton ofproper candidates for particular stations.
1t may be laid down as a, general rule that,
whenever an individual is known In advance
to denounce conventions of the people or any
other far and practicable method of ascertain
ing the opinions and wishes of the public upon
a particular subject and refuses to yield his own
little schemes of ambition to what may be de.
termined by his party to be for the general
good, he is essentially selfish and utterly UNI
worthy of the support of those, with whose
sentiments he processes to concur. No party
ought to allow itself to be distracted by such
persons.