Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1843-10-05

several candidates spoken Of. If it
were practicable to hold Convention
where there should be present every vo-
ter in the United States, we should as
certain with great precision, the matter
desired to be known; but as that cannot
we'll be done. the nearest we can approx
innate to that information, is to take the
separate opinions of the Representatives
OF the people, whom they send to the
Convention for the purpose expressing
their (the people's) opinions. If you
give the whole electoral vote of the
State en- masse, it will not be given as
accurately, as lntelIigibly, and as truly
as ii every voter in the state had spoken
in Convention, Or as if those sub-div-
sions of the people contained in counties,
Senatorial or Congressional Districts, had
spoken in the same body, through the in.
terventon of their Delegates.
! Again-The object Of the National
Convention, if it is to be considered a
body for friendly consultation, is not on
y to ascertain who it is that majority
of the people of Virginia prefer for Pres
ident, but 1t IS to know also how many
of the people of Virginia prefer MIR. A.
as candidate for the Presidency-how
many prefer Mr.. c. how many prefer
MIR. Band then by ascertaining the
like information from every other State
in the Union, through their delegates,
they come to the fact, Of acho 1T is that a
majority of all the people Of all the
States prefer as their candidate. This
must be the course pursued, if facts in
relation to the wishes of the people in
this matter are really sought after, and if
( to avoid offence, and to soften disappoint-
ment, the forms pursued are based up
on the largest sense of equity.
+ 2nL Question: Or oue hit Virginia to
submit the decision of the question to
"a majority of the States, if each State.
large or small, is to have precisely the
same vote?'
Answer--Certainly not. Because,
first, of its inequality, and because, Sc
condly, it would look like, and in effect
be, an election of the President by State
sovereignty; mode, not contemplated
BY our institutions. and in which the
voice of the people Of that great corpora
ton, called the U. S. light, and proba
blv would be, lost and disregarded.
3rd Question: 'Or Dug int we to submit
it to the decision of the National Con
vention; and in what form would it be
desirable to decide it by the action of
that body?'
Answer-Yes, submit in the form that
each Congressional District throughout
the whole Union, shall give an equal
number of votes. If that proposition
should not carry, offer. by way Of amend
meut, the Federative to the Representa-
tive principle, and as a precipitation to
the small States, to add the Senatorial
vote of each State.
} 18th Question: Or, should we consent
r TO decide it, by what shall appear to be the
wish of the majority of the Republican
party in the United States, collecting
, that wish either from the action Of the
Democratic party in several States, Or
from the declared wishes of that party in
other ways, taking care to distinguish
between the voice of a majority Of the
States, and the sense of a majority Of
the Republican party, throughout the
: Union?:
Answer. II is difficult, at present to
ascertain the wishes Of the Republican
party. If we can do so, let us follow it,
lead where it may. The actaon of that
, party, in the several States, would be
the next best mode of collecting their
wishes, to that of Convention-but a
Convention the first, and the best mode,
really elected, and not gotten up by
: mere nomination Or appointment.
! 5th Question. Cor, IS there any other
, way by which you would recommend
the decision of the manner of voting in
the National Republican Convention to
be made p
Answer. AS Congressional Districts
are the smallest subdivisions of the peo.
! pie that are known to be accurately num-
= bered, next to that of the States, know
S of no wav of voting i'll Conventioc SO fair,
so equal, coming so near representing
the opinions and wishes of the people, as
by Congressional Districts.
9Th Question. Would it be proper for
the Central Committee, appointed by
: the last State Convention, to declare the
? sense of the party in Virginia. or what
] other mode would you recommend for
that purpose ?
: Answer. doubt, if the Central Com
\ mittee know the sense of the party at
D this time. The manner of voting in Con
Y yention is a subject somewhat new to a
t great portion OF the people. Let the
: Central Committee devise the best man
ner OF electlng one or more persons from
each Congressional District Of the State,
and two persons to represent the Senate
e rial vote of the State, avoiding 10 substi-
: tute nomination for election. If the pub
! lie prints will continue to discuss this
| subject as they have done, the public
! mind will be directed to the subject >
2 and when opinion is matured, it will be
I; time enough to express it. Leave the
: mode of voting to the good sense and