Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-10-30

For The Enquirer.
TO THE MEMBERS OF TIE GooCHLAND sENA-
ToRlAL DISTRICT CONVENTION.
Gentlemen: Upon you will shortly deyolve the
responsible duty Of selecting Democratic can
dida,e for this District. As it is probable that
the names of several worthy gentlemen from dit
tsrent parrs of The District will be presented be-
fore your honorable body, from amongst whom
selection Of The candidate must be made, The
question arises. how can The object Of your con-
vocation-viz: the selection OF Democratic can
didae who will command the entire vote OF the
nar,y-be best attained? What shall be lhe moce
r. vo,ino in Convention? What number of votes
shall each county in Convention cast =? These
are important questions, 10 which invite your
serious consideration. Did each Of the several
counties in the District contain about an equal
number Of Democratic voters, then theie Could
be no reasonable objection oglvlng 10 each coun-
tv an equal number OF votes IN Convention, say
ore or more. But this, il is well KNOWN Is not
SO. Consequently no one, presume, VINO Eeco9-
Misses The right of The ma jory 10 control, would foT
\ moment contend that he county OF Fluvanna, Tor
instance. which gives Democratic vote proba-
bis of 200, should give as large vote in The
Convention as the county OF Hanover, which
gives Democratic vote OF 400 probably. Nor
is il believed that the per capita mode-(ie e., that
each delegate shouli have an equal voice in Con-
venlon Lo respect being had 10 counties IRON
which they hail, or the number OF delegates in
attendance from each)-wil commend itself 10
your adoption; since il is probable that The coun-
ties of Louisa and Goochland, from their Froxi-
nifty 10 the place of meeting, will constitute
probably folr-fillhs OF the delegates present.
Flnvanna ald Hanover would thus be denied
,hei. Just weight in The Convention The mode OF
voting recommended by jackson" in the Enqul-
rer OF The ooh insl., is, think, likewise obJec-
lionabe. He proposes latter The nominations
ton should Ieire, take The vote as TO heir choice
and designated man To cast the vote or votes, as
The case may Dc, in general Convention" How
ever much nay diflerirom jackson" as 10 the
propriety oftte adoption OF The mode recommend
ed by him, feel indebted TO him for calling pub
lie attention o The question, for here turks our
greatest danger; and as his communication
brealhes throughout an elevated republican spr
it, regret The difference the more. The obec-
lions 10 which this mode is liable are these
First that the voice Of The minorites Of the seye-
raj county delegations could not be heard III The
Convention, and consequently They would have
no actual participation in the selection OF The can
ddate in The Contention; and secondly, that
The vote Of The county delegations in retirement,
the county Of Hanover, whose delegation We will
suppose represents 500 votes, should vote unani-
mously in favor of A., and The delegations from
the three other counties should give mcagre majo-
rites OF their delegations for b. is il not al once
apparent that whilst would be declared 10 bethe
candidate elected in Convention three counties ~
oue-yet, in fact, the large vote OF 500 for A. in
Hanover, il added 10 the large minorities in The
other counties in his favor, might constitute
large majority OF the Democratic voters of the
entire district. No Democrat, and least OF all Gt
am no. mistaken in The author) does jackson"
desire such result. concur most heartily with
him in the desire that each county in The district
will have numerous delegation in attendance
al Gum Spring on the first Saturday in Noyem-
ber"
Having frankly, YET briefly, stated the objec-
tons which attach 10 the methods OF selection
named, shall now proceed 10 invite your alien
lion 10 the outlines OF a principle OF voting which,
"while granting favors 10 none, extends justice 10
ALL" | suggest, that the delegation from each
county come prepared 10 state The Democratic
vote in their county at the last Presidential cleo
ton. or al their last election for county delegate
A statement can be easily procured al the county
office Let The number OF Democratic votes thus
ascertaned in each county be divided by the
number ut folpQGtos
~, and give 10 each his proportion oil that vote
Thus, if Fluvanna gives 200 Democratic votes
and has ten delegates in attendance, lei each OF
her delegation cast twenty votes. II Louisa gives
500 Democratic votes and has twenty delegates
present, each in voting would give twenty-five
votes, &c. The nomination for the selection Of
candidate being made in Convention Of the whole,
the merits Of all the nominees could be fairly
canvassed, and an interchange oil views be had
from all parts Of the district. When all The no.
limitations are before the Convention, lei The clerk
be provided with list OF the delegates present
from each county; and as The name OF each is
called, he can say for whom ne votes, and the
number he is entitled 10 cast, which should be Ia
ken down by committee appointed for the pur-
pose If no one obtains majority OF The whole
number OF votes in The district al the first ballot,
proceed to another ballot, dropping The lowest on
the list al each successive ballot, unit, an election
is had. Thus every delegate in attendance will
be heard, and have fair participation in the sc.
lection Of the candidate. A candidate selected
under such circumstances could mol fail TO re-
ceve the entire vote Of the patty at the polls.
October 23d. HANOVER.