Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1846-02-05
THIS CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
A Convention Proposed.

w e insert to-day the proceedings or meel-
ing held in Staun,on, on the Goth ult, 'sto take
into consideration the propriety Of holding a
District Convention, for the purpose of nomi-
mating Republican candidate for Congress"
Our neighbors of Rockingham have also called
for meeting, to assemble in Harrisonburg, on
Saturday next.
We will not quarrel with our friends in the
counties named, for the zeal which they no,r
manifest; but, we must confess that, to our
humble understanding, the contrast between
the sentiments expressed in those quarters last
spring and noac, is most striking, not TO say
irreconcilable, upon the subject ola Convention,
and. indeed, upon the principle upon
which Conventions, in general, are gotten
! up. What circumstance has transpred-what
new light has burst upon the minds of these
precocious politicians, to produce so great a
change in their sentiments, in the short space
of one year? Perhaps the solution OF this dit
ference in their sentiments, is to be found in
the fact, that the Democrats had candidate
for The State Senate, IN the .4ugsssta District.
and now the Wings threaten to ''commend the
poisoned chalice 10 their own lips, }" by running
a candidate for Congress. But, as we said
before, we will not quarrel with our Democra-
tic brethren, for their Inconsistency upon the
subject of Conventions.
We believe now, as we always have done,
that Conventions, as general thing, are right;
and hence. they have been resorted to by both
parties, to reconcile differences of opinion and
secure the triumph Of the arty having the ascen-
dency. But we confess, candidly, that we can
not see that a Convention will De of amy essen
tal service to our party-''mder eaisting cir
casn,stances" Is it certain-is it even proba-
ble-that, should nomination be made by a
Convention, there will be but one Democrat in
the field A.? 1t is doubtful for, it is a recorded
fact, and one well known in every county in
the District, that one of the candidates now
before the people, (Mr. LErcHER,) is uncom-
fiomisingly and unqualifedly opposed to all
Caucuses and it's fair to infer, as a matter
of course, that he would not recognise the ac-
tom of any such body, ''as of binding force"
with him and it is not likely, either, that
Mr.. l.. would give up the contest, after being
so earnestly solicited by his numerous admit
rers to take the field, to nominee of his
"Royal Highness," king Caucus Con-
vention or no Convention, then, we shall, in
all probability, not have less than two candi-
dates in the feld-perhaps more. But, sup
pose Convention should assemble, what will
be the course proper for his own county,
Rockhridge. to adopt2 Will his friends there
consent to go into Convention ?-or, will the
Democratic party there support the nominee Of
a Convention, or will they vote for Mr.. L. re-
gardless of such nominee? Here is difficult
ty:-Mr. LIS friends must either put him "a
side and go into Convention, or reject Con
vention and support him; which viii they do2
Taking this view of the matter, we cannot sec
how Convention, at this time, can be gotten
up, so as to reflect the wishes of the party in
every county in the District. And the day
upon which it is proposed to hold the Conven-
ton, is so near at hand, that it is doubtful
whether the difficulties which we have named
can be removed by the day for the election, SO
as to concentrate upon the nominee the entire
vote of the party, if such result be desirable
Now, we wish our friends in the upper end
of the District distinctly to understand, that
in giving utterance to the above remarks, we
are not to be understood as being uncondition-
ally opposed to a Convention, even at this late
hour. On the contrary, ii is source of no lit
tie satisfaction to see those who so strenuously
opposed US upon that subject. year ago, now
occupying the same ground with ourself; and
it would be source of unspeakable pleasure to
US, to see our present difficulties amicably ad-
iusted before Convention of Delegates ''fresh
from the people," We have not lost our con-
fdence in the good sense of the people; and
we most sincerely hope, notwithstanding the
obvious difficulties before US, that the nominee
of the proposed Convention, whoever he may
be, may meet with the cordial support Of the
Democratic party-We wish it also to be I'M
derstood, tina: in making the foregoing remarks,
we have not been prompted by any hostile fee
nes toward any one of the candidates now be-
fore the people. Not at all. We would not
lay straw in the path of either of them. They
are made honestly and canddly, and to show
the people, that our past course upon the sub
iect of Conventions has been just and right, and
that those who have heretofore opposed us up
ON that subject, now think as we do.
THE OUTH-lVESTERN ROAD.
The citizens of the western and south-wes-
tern portions ofthe State will be greatly re-