Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-12-10

Fox r!.s ENQUIRER.
To nc Democratic Voters ot Redior,!. lhlhcysi
Nel0a, dMcmnr!e, Oraaae, Grtcn end .MtdiSoa.
The late Election proves, that we have majo-
ritz OF the resiG.m voters Of this District. We
shall. therefore, have can idae ia the iiell and
il il highly probable that energy, U.ion, and the
momentum OF Our late vicioiy viii secure his clec-
ton. still cre is doubl Of it, and We Ought 10
smccih the pain for the r"ce.
OF comse we shall have Convention, and it
is hoped Speedily 10 prevent wTaLgling among
the friends o! the candidates ior tie nomination
oil whom there will be probably two
Whoever gets the nomination will need the &C
tive and hearly SUPPORT OF the whole party: and
this can be most readily obtained by appointing
the man preferred by the majority Of the votes OF
The District. Il becomes then Ike question, and
ii max he ali important ono 10 us, 10 ascertain the
wis.e> o. the ma oriy.
At the fir; Con :en;:on Of this District j, was
proposed, an carried against sone opposition, 10
vote hy counties, each counting oac, III the nom-
nation In argument, it was coGlsnded, compar-
iaa SNAIL things with great lha, this was Justified
ay The analogy OF the Federal Government; tough
it is plain, hat there is analogy in the cases
The raGica! difference is in the sovereignty oi the
States aud the subsection Of lha crnnIies; an lie
District, though made up OF several counties, i
no more federation, than IS COUNTY, which Is
composed al several parishes. a District is, in
tact. n large Congressional county and as the
Representative is elected no, by The countless but
~ the Individual voters, without reference 10
county limits, il is perfectly proper that these yo-
tors OF a majority OF them, shond designate The
man they prefer. Under such circumstances, To
allow an equal vote to the different and unequal
counties composing district would be as absurd
as 10 permit each election precinct, whether CIV
ing len or hundred Democratic votes, 10 have an
equal voice in selecting a county candidate. In
this case it would allow Orange, with 2ss votes,
to offset Madison, with her 5l3 votes.
The more usual plan in District Conventions,
OF voting according 10 representation IN the State
Legislature, is eren more unjust; for, that gives
Madison, wi,hncGrly equal Democratic strength,
only half The weight Of Bedford. So that
neither plan ascertains the will OF 4 majority
OF the party in district or Congressional county;
and candidate nominated in either mode canno,
eifectthe same willing aid as if he was the un-
donbed choice of majority OF those who elect:
he might be voted for, but people would not r0rk
for him.
But rule simple and just, TO get the sense Of
the whole is neutrality-suspicious. in proportion 10
the absolute Democratic vote oteach county. Thus,
suppose il determined to allow one vote in conven-
ton for every fifty in the district Then, throw
ing out fractions, Bedford, with G39 votes, would
giye thirteen in Convention; Amherst, with 46l,
would give nine Nelson, with POI, would give
six; Albemarle, with 102, would give fourteen
Greene, with 300, would give six; Orange, with
28s, would give six; and Madison, with 5l2,
would give ten. Or take any other number that
may be agreed on; it matters not 50 the proper
ZION be preserved. Then each county would be
rated at its full value. II might send one OF
twenty delegates TO cast its vote, which would be
a certain NUMBER and, sup7osing the delegate tc
represent the wishes of those appointing him, the
effect would be the same, as if every individual
member OF the party had been consulted as TO his
choice. The size Of the county will be inmate
rial, and all cause of jealousy on the part OF The
small counties efeclualy removed. Intrigue
will be checked, if not banished the majority o.
the voters will have their man; none will have
cause to complain; and ardour will take the place
OF supinsness.