Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1843-03-02

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A. see By your last paper thst a The Democrats
party are making arrangements for the Spr;ne
campaign, 4 behooves the Wings like wise a be ~
me Alert, the more especially since We have our
nodf o. nomination yet 70 be settled.
beg leave, then, TO take brief review Of he two
modes OF nomination which have been praetieed hith
erto. and see which is the most eonsonent with our
republiesn priueiples. In brief, one is 4 meeting
Of the people in the domination Of candidates snd me
other Is through the dcfution Of a eGucus Ina re-
publican government, Il uouldseem scAreely neees-
sary 70 argue which mode ought to be most aeeep.a
bic 70 the people. But, in much as there Is some
difference OF opinion on this subject We will sn.lize
the Two modes OF nomination And irs,, the Cah-
Gus PLAN public notice is given that there viii
pc Injecting at the several precincts il the county
Tor the parpose OF appointing delegates 10 county
convention to nominate suitable candidates for the
Legislature. On the appointed day. some Eve or ak
elIzens meet together chairman and secretary
are appointed, and one OF the numerous assembly
moves thar the chairman do appoint six delegates to
meet IN county convention (which is the commonest
model and tbas committee be appointed by The
shair, for the purpose az making selection Of de-
iegales Is this development Of public sentimenti
nut y may oesrsued that this is extreme ease--
10 thls the writer il has been enacted 81 the
Charestown precinct fer three years past tothe let
Il ter And the writer is Informed that a worse ease
i occurred last Spring al Smithfeld. The public
meellns consisted Of three or four persons only
The large assembly was organized by he appoint-
i nncnk 81 ofheers and committee appointed with the
double power Of selecting delegates to the county
convention, and the Recommendation of some Fit
person 70 be recommended by lhst precinct as
lcandldate for the Legislature. The committee re-
hred and performed The duty (which il Nss design
ed they should dol add recommended an individual
whemIt Wasnototous was not the choice Of the pre-
4 einct What followed Why, the delegates ap-
POINTED by The august meeting did one Of them
eohbrm 70 the instructions Of their constituents boz
/ dy. Now, this fact proves two things: One, that
n lew
OF public sentiment. And, secondly, that il is not
sale 70 delegate TO others what perform our
selves These are facts which easily account for the
strong opposition which this 81 stem meets amongst
Il the people. But there are two other weighty OBJ
jectIoHs 10 this system, TO Wit: They hold their
meeting in secret. sort Of iEquisition is estab-
lished Revolving TO the feelings Of a freeman And
the other weighty objettonis that they transcend
their powers by nominating individuals 81 will With
out regard to those whose names are submitted to
them BY the people. point 10 the fact, for exam
PIE that for the two last years, each tim., ndi-
II usi has been nominated who SO far rs the writer
y informed, was not whispered by the people.
This is not stated in eensorious spirit against the
nominees referred to, since there nothing objec-
ltionAble in the individuals, but merely as evidence
fnt The abnse Of power BY these conventions. What
uoes any meeting for the nomination Of candidates
Imppft, q u be not a compromise between indti-
duafs holdipg the same political tenelsi And what
must be th9usht Of those entrusted with this delicate
power when they betrsy il, by designating as d no
mInee third party entirely unknown in that conn
prpplsel So little faith ever is reposed in these
Conventions, that last Spring when il was deternn-
ed Twill net say howl TO ad6n( that pIan whenever
the question asked aho would be the nomneesa
The reply was do moi know, ii is now out Of the
hands Of the people Ii resolves itself into this fSct
that county convention ia no more nor less than
caucus, who meet and dictate TO the people whom il
IS their pleasure 70 send delegates to represent
their interests ia the councils OF the State And he
who has the independence I'd rebel against the pro-
cetdings, is denominaed an enemy the principles
which are held BY the nominees
we then will take cursory view Of the other
mode OF nomination which has been practieed. It
IS nothing more nor less than meeting Of our eiri-
zens at a convenient time and place from all parts
Ola small county for the purpose Of testing who are
the individuals most acceptable 10 the party TO be
run as candidates for the Legislature. This is a
trueRtest il comes up directly to the question He
who receives majority Of ballots is beyond AT caysl
the choice OF the people, and the minority are call
ed on by every principle Of patriotism to make sa-
erinee Of their own preferences over the altar Of
Having, therefore, Messrs Editors, called public
attention to this subject In time prevent collision
which must lead in injury TO the ofthe par
y tt which am proud 10 say belong invite dis
cusson IN your paper, Of agreeable you'll that il
may be settled before il becomes time for action II
IS my earnest desire to support true Wings 70 the
Il oi1ces OF our land but at the same timeI cannot
4 brook dictation in any form. | am committed a.
ga'nst THIS caucus plan, which we learn are in
i formed has its origin with Martin Van Buren,. |
am opposed to following IN bis foot steps +" espe-
cially when we know they lead TO destruction and
political overthrow We aware that it has been
argued that persons residing 10 the other precincts
H Of the county have not the same weight in mass
II meeting with those who reside in the Charlestown
precinct, aad that consequently they have not the
same opportunity of promoting their friends. To
this we will reply, that the last Springs nomination
demonstrates that The convention plan does pre-
X vent The grievance complained Of But, enough has
been said for the present.
H ANTICAUCUS