Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-05-15
CONVENTION.

nlvino the remedies, an elor! would be made to su-
nersede the councils and deliberations of sound and
DISCRIMINATING minds IN Convention assembled, by
positive instructions aud specific pledges, and could
we have arrived at the conclusion that such doctrines
vould Gain currency to any considerable extent, we
should have hestated long and deploringy before
committing the destinies of the State to hazards so
fearful However much we might be prepared to
concede, in ordinary legislation, upon the vexed
question of the right Of instruction. we perceive We
~ different question in the formation Of ConsIitu-
tion-iust about as much difference as there is be-
tween building palace and furnishing it,
As the spirit of progress has not yet brought us
to pure democracy, the high point Of wisdom is, to
commit important trusts aud responsible agencies to
the best men. We do not mean by this, college
bright and university men exclusively, but such as
are best fitted, by sound heads, enlarged views and
patriotic feelings, whatever their walks Of life, for
the particular duty, station or Office, Such is the
course of sensible and experienced persons in all the
varied operations Of practical life. Unless the same
rule be applied in matters Of government laundering
and confusion will be the certain consequence. We
aDDV 10 Tue UOCtO> NttS 9'SN' '''AN NV w Wv AV"
yer or blacksmith; when our horse needs shoeiug,
or our locks, watches or guns repairing, we 60 to
the smith, aud not to the doctor or lawyer, Each
suits and deserves we'll in his place, but all boch it
when out of their places.
The most difficult problem ever submitted to man
for solution, is that of government The demagogue
would have the people believe it to be all chd's
play. Both know better. Try it who may, the
science of government will be found abstruse and its
adjustment to the wants and genius of people no
easy task, The difficulty lies in the perverseness
and fabiitv of the race. The rants and rhapsodies
which proclaim that the dear people never err, are
well understood By the dear people themselves who
happen to be a little sensible witha They have
not yet to learn that
'Ia Adams fall, siuned ALL
Thanks to the Bible, 20 the Ministers ofReligion and
to fre-side instruction, the people know something
OF the depravty of the heart, and of themselves, as
frail, fallen beings. They feel the necessity of re-
strains by laws both human and divine They are
aware of the wholesome influences Of courts of JUS
tce of fearless and independent law officers, Of pr-
sons, peniteutiares and the gallows. They know,
too, the limited extent of human knowledge-that in
the great field of human pursuits, whether demand
ING intellectual or physical effort, whether referring
to literature sceuce, arts, trades or professions, the
true policy is division of labor. Each one cannot
know every thing, and yet may know great deal
about some things One is skilled in this, and ano
Their in that, and thus mutual and beneficial depen
dence is created and kept up, binding man to man in
the bonds of brotherhood. True it is, may
change places by giving ~ one trade or profession
and learning another, which is often done; and just
here lies the potential intellectual equality of man
kind. That it exists in fact, no one pretends. Few
persons can excel in two distinct caIngs, CuiL6et
in sua arte credeadum est, is time-honored maxim,
and although Latin, not the less to be listened to,
when accompanied by translation into our own
tongue. We venture one after the fashion Of john
RANDOLPH, of Roanoke-rely upon experts There
is one excepdon-i is that Of the demagogue-the .
more expert he becomes the less reliable.
We add a word or two upon instructions and
pledges as referred to in the commencement of these
remarks. In an editorial Of last week may be found
the following sentment-"We freely grant the alb
surdity of appointing persons to such duty Service
in Convenion) opposed to the just obligations
which the duty imposes" We supposed every one
would at once, that the folly Of committing The
work Of reform TO an-reiormerS, was fully admitted
Some surprise has been again excited, in finding the
indicator striving TO convince us Of this very alb
surdity. 1t was the doctrine Of pledges we were
driving at, founded upon instruction to sail the
reforms which have been suggested" as we quoted
from that paper. If "bush Instructions be not re-
ferred to, then we should like to see people assem-
oled TO make out instructions in due form. Admit.
ting the diversity Of opinion some points TO exist,
as the Yindicator says does exist-would not the
breaches multiply and widen as mind came in con-
tact with mind in the shock Of argument? Try it,
if you doubt. But suppose the point gained-in-
structlons made out and solemn pledges given. The
transactions Of this district let be remembered,
would have to be laid side by side, in general con
vention with the transactions of all the other dis
trics, all of whose delegates may have received like
specific instructions and given like solemn pledges
We will not consume ink in telling the result. No
back out, no deliberations, no discretion or compro-
mise, no constitution and no reform.
constitution ought to be the product OF the COM
bned wisdom of vigorous and lar-seeug minds, calm
ly deliberatiug and deeply impressed with the re-
sponsi6ily Of tue trust committed TO them, as
nected with the best interests ofhe people of whom
they form part We gyieve at the heats, asperities
and misrepresentation growing out of such grave
questions, ominous of any thing else than harmony:
More deeply still do we dePlore the aggravaon of
feelings which must eusue, ifhe suggestion ola me-
tropOian paper be generally adopted-that the COM
ing Convention must be a Democratic Convention.
q. More thnn n ,rnnl. nnn ,hn Intimidation had ri.