Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-06-02


objection 10 appointing delegates by State Conventions
whIch Themselves are always one, and sometimes i@c
or three degrees removed from the people However
proper they may he, 10 make previous arrangement,
preparatory to their appointment is hazardous to leaye
tha, 10 them If il be left TO them ii would be vain tC
hope would not become, in time, the channel by which
improper Influences ard even corruption itself might
enter and control the proceedings of the Convention
and, through 1t, the nomination and election No plan
could he better devised, TO give those who hold or
pect TO hold office the control of the election, and
through them give the President the power of nomina
ting his successor In other Words TO divest the peo
pie Of the control over the election, and 10 transfer it
and with 1t the control over the Executive Department
10 those who hold seek hold Office. There is
proc.I"i,y IN all popular Governments that result
which can be prevented only BY the greatest caution
and vigilance.
Such is the danger Of appointing the delegates by
State Conventions; and objection to the plan OF
the Richmond Convention which proposes four dele
gates 10 each district is that has the tendency
though less powerfully, to weaken the voice of the
people and strengthen that of political managers. To
increase The number of delegates 10 be appointed from
each district is but to increase the necessity of
ccs TO make the nomination OF the candidates The
greater the number TO be appointed the stronger the
tendency distraction and confusion and the nece
sitv of such caucus to moke nomination and the
greater that necessity the less will be the control oil
the people of the district the appointment and
The greater that of political in,rirue.s The most eff
fciua check to their control and of giving the
appointment in reality 10 the people, is for each dis
;rict 10 appoin; delegate. Wbcrc one only is ,c
be appointed il the district is divided in reference Il
the Presidential candidates, the usua! course will be
that some one prominent individual The side Of each
Of The Two popular candidates. shall offer for The
place of dele gate and viii the district in be.
halt of his particular avor,e than which no conceiva
hlc mode ia better calculated 10 make kaown the qua
l6ca,ions ofcapddaes and thereby enable The people
10 come TO enlightened selection.
Having now stated frankly and fairly though no,
IS fully as might objections TO the plan of the
Richmond Convention, It remains to sci forth the rea
sons for our preference of the Maryland plan 1t vii
not be necessary 10 be very elaborate, The reasons
against the former are, in fact the grca; and conclusive
reasons in favor Of the latter, striking is the con
! tras; between the two.
We, then, in favor OF the Maryland plan, because
lie time II fixes TO hold the General Convention
affords ample opportunity Tor the people to make NJ
and develop their opinion reference the RESPECTIVE.
candidates, ami enables them TO mark the conduct
the prominent friends Of the several candidates in The
new Congress 10 be assembled in December mex OF
questions of vital Importance and strongly bearing or
The future course Of the Government We add that W
are in It's favor because II is convenient and pleasan
season of the year, which will be favorable to ful
attendance of delegates, especially from the distan
States.