Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-03-02
From The Men York PieIeian.J

THE NATIONAL. CONVENTION.
When and where shall the Presidential Conven,;on
be held; is a question of vast Importance 10 the n
mocralic party. BY whom shell the question he & .
nally answered. is another, if not of equal import.
ance, of greater difficulty. Evidently, the time and
place Of meeting should be designated by the central
| organization Of the party-but we have none The
nearest approach TO that would be caucus of the De-
mocratc members of Congress. To any decision thew
might make, we would cheerfuy give our assent. In.
deed, strongly impressed with the necessity
OF having this point settled that we would willingly
see all our preferences TO the time and nIare over
thrown by the acton of Democratic caucus. if wa
could thereby have the pleasure Of knowing that call
for Convention was issued, which the entire partv
would recognize But we understand that the re- il
Discrimination among the Democratic members 10 as
sumo the responsibility, and the session will probably
terminate without any action by them.
The next, and indeed the only other plan, that wa
can recommend, or have heard suggested s that some
State shol designate the time and place. and that the
other States follow its lead. The Democratic mem.
bers fthe Legislatures of Tennessee and Missouri we
think, have named for The time, the 4th Monday Of
November, ls43 those Of Alabama with other c,izens)
some time in January or February 1914 and those OF
Maryland May, 1874. These periods vary widely and
besides were merely propositions oflegisatiye CAUCUS
ses. 1t is plain, that under the circumstances, the
| action of neither will answer for starting point
What State shall 'set the tune and in what ma nner.
is the next question.
Virginia has failed in her support of the Re-
publican candldate-has been the soundest in the
exposition of the State Rights creed and is better en-.
'ieo man any other Slate to take the lead Of the De-
mocratlc party. In local position, although ranking
with the South, che is about midway; and she has not
yet made known her prefernece for the next
1t to U.S. therefore, that none csn object to her
action. Democratic State Convention meets at Rich
mond, on Thursday of this week, which will probably
be the lurges held in the Sate-and we trust that
It will name time and place for the meeting If a Ma.
tona Convention-and unless the Democratic men,
bers of the present Congress make contrary recon-
mendaton, sincerely hope her action will receive the
concurrence n her Sister States. II So this vexed
question will be settled and the harmony Of the partv
most efiectually secured.
word as 10 our own views in regard to the proper
time and place of meeting We prefer for the time the
4,h Monday of November next The elections for the
present year will then be over, and the Presidential
campaign, which should properly be preceded by the
nomination, will commence with the elections in the
following spring The travelling is generally better
IN November than at any other of the periods
proposed. Members Of Congress who may be ap.
pointed Delegates, will discharge their trust when
fresh from the People; and the proceedings of
the Convention will be free from any suspicion Of be-
ing Influenced by Congressional management or log.
rolling The next session of Congress will not then be
devoted to the making of President, but will be
short and business one thereby commencing the Demo.
cratic party more warmly TO popular approval If it
takes party three years 10 select its candidate and
some persons complain that is hurryng matters TO
make n nomination even then, (nine months hence)
surely the people ought TO be allowed one year to de-.
eide whether they will elect him or his opponent
And finally it is about the average between the times
of meeting of the two former National Conventions
one of which, held six months before the Presidential
election OF lS4O. was universally conceded to have met
loo ate and the other eighteen months before that Of
1896, 10 allowed TO have assembled rather early.
The place, it seems TO be agreed all handa shall
be either Baltimore Cincinnati We are Indifferent
as to the selection. Indeed, this point, which merely
concerns the convenience Of the delegates entirely
of secondary importance. Wherever The Convention
may be held, there will undoubtedly be full attend.
ance