State journal & flag. [volume] (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) 1843-1846, 1846-10-30
VOLUME 3.
From The Franklin Democrat.
Next Governor.

bO HhSoNVu uS ~ WHO snail De run ID
The Democratic party for Governor of Ala
bama, at the next election, is occupying
good deal Of attention throughout the State
The detection of a portion of our party a
the last election, has led TO much discusslo
az TO the best mode of restoring that unol
and harmony which distinguished the de
mocracy oil Alabama previous TO the appear
ance of Joshua L. Martin as the opponen
OF the regular democratic nominee. How
this desirable object may be bes, attained i
the question TO be considered.
From the best reflection we have beer
able TO give the subject, we have come to III,
conclusion that the breach produced in ou
party by The nomination of Col. Terry, car
be most successfully healed by a State con
yenllon, so cotton up and conducted as tc
have the views OF the democratic party oil
the State fairly and fully represented. In
getting upa convention, full and ample no.
lice should be given OF the time and place
OF assembling the county meetings TO appoint
delegates. In conducting convention the
representation should be so apportioDed to
each county as to give il due weight in the
deliberations of that body. The delegates
should conform strictly TO the instruction of
their constituents. A candidate nominated
by such a convention, thus cotton up and
conducted, we believe would receive almost
the unanimous vote OF the democracy the
State. We know there would be camorers
against him, who would denounce him as
the "caucus candidate !" but let him be a
sound and hied Democrat, man Of talent
and integrity. one who will canvass the
State, and we entertain not doubt of his
election by handsome minority. There
never was more puerile cry raised against
The nominee OF convention than that of his
being ''caucus candidate" Coucuses and
conventions has ever been found necessary
10 reconcile conflicting interests and opin-
long. They have always been pracliced, by
all parties, Tor the purpose of sustaining and
upholding their principles, and will always
be necessary where conflicting interests or
personal preferences prevail Without con.
yentions chickering's about minor questions,
and sectional and personal preferences, arise,
exciting learlburnings, jealousies and ami,
mosities, which continue to grow stronger
and stronger, until they become irreconci \
able, and the great leading principles OF the
party are sacrificed in the struggle to ele.
vate some particular individual 10 office, the
accomplishment of some sectional end, or
the qualification Of some personal animositv:
when, had convention been resorled to, ia
the first instance, the chickering's might have
been reconciled, and the principles Of the
party maintained 10 the ascendant. What
would have been the fate of the Democratic
party and its principles in the last Presden
tial contest but for the salutary influence
exercised by the Baltimore convention =?
There was every prospect Of certain defeat.
Previous to its assembling, the respective
supporters of Mr.. Van Buren's and Mr..
Calhoun's pretenions TO the Presidency,
had become almost as far sundered as the
Democratic and Wing parties. But by the
wise and conservative course of that con.
veftion, the friends of the conflicting aspi-
rants were reconcled, brilliant victory
was achieved. and the glorious principles of
Democracy restored TO the ascendancy in
the administration Of the general govern
ment. We think the present position OF
the Democratic party in Alabama particu.
lary requiring convention TO nominate a
candidate for Governor. and should one be
gotten up, we shall give lis nominee (al.
ways excepting Joshua l.. MARTINI our sup.
port.
We are appraised that there are many
sound and ardent Democrats in North Ala.
bama who are opposed to a convention;
some from the opinion that such bodies are
conducted ofiener for the accomplishment
OF selfish purposes than the maintenance of
principles; and others because they believe
ii is the design of those who advocate
convention, to nominate South Alabama
man. The objection of the first would be
allayed, if the nomination ct the convention
was manfeslly made with the view of heal
ing the present breach in our party; and
the latter would be perfectly reconcled by
the nomination Of a North Alabama man.
in fact the general sentiment Of the demo-
cracy OF this section Of The State, so far as
we have heard it expressed, is that the next
Governor should be selected from North AL
ALBANIA. The North has always supported
the nominees from the South, and she looks
upon It as nothing more than her due that
she should have the Governor alternately
with the South. The nomination of a South
ern man would strengthen the Mariinets in
this section Of the State. and his location
would be the heavist load the nominee would
have to carry. 1t would give The friends of
Martin lever of great power. They would
instantly raise the cry that the North had
been deprived Of its right. There are many
talented and, in every way, unobjeciionable,
Democrats in North Alabama, who have la.
bored ardently and successfully in the cause
of democracy. From among these the
nomination should be made, and being so
made, we have not doubt it would be tri.
umphantly sustained.
In the selection of candi late, we are
welded to no man, but desire to see harmo.
ny restored 10 the ranks of our party; and
in making nomination this object should
be the first consideration after the political
sentiments and talents of the nominee. We
believe that Col. Terry possesses every quail
ificatioa requisite to make as good Cover
nor as ever administered the affairs of the
State; we would prefer seeing him eleva-
ted 10 the gubernatorial chair to any oiher
man in the State and would most cheer
fullygive him our support; but there is an
other very important question to be consid-
cred in connexiOn with all this--cao h., beot