The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1851-10-08
TUESDAY MORNING, OCTOBER q.
CONyEN,rrnyS

from our old friend, over the :
gnature of Old Democrat" lie proposes j
eform in our present convention system. We )
0 not desire to oppose this proposition, and,
therefore,, whatever we may suggest in the form
{ interrogatory, or otherwise, we trust, will be
iewed in the fight of honest investigation, with
desire to arrive at a result beneficial and sau-
= 10 the Interest and welfare of the erea,
Democratic party
Our old friend lays down the proposition, tina,
he convention system is " anti Democratic
md oppressive. If we are TO conform our go
sernment, and regulate our actions, according
% the literal construction Of the word -deu,a.-
craey, then we admit. the correctness OF our
friends proposition but we imagine tue lime
has hardly arrived for such magnificent re-
form. or that the people have become sufficiently
i,nbued with that high and holy moral impulse
which regulates the conduct of mankind upon
the principle of universal perfection. Govern
ment itself, in whatever form it may be adj
ministered, whether as a Republic, limited
Monar.hy. an Anstocracy, or Despotissn, Is
the virtuous and Furnishing the vicious, Is
system of oppression, at war with universal
democracy, but ye, absolutely necessary tor the
safety aud welfare of society, and the proiec-
ton of lie aud property. There is a vide dli-
ference between a representative Nepuoiic,
such as we are now living under, and Demo
cracY. Government under the one, is exercised
by few persons selected from, and by, the
people, and under the other, by the people
themselves. The governments OF ancient
Greece were dem0cracies, and, from the inter
! minable difficulties, confusions, disorders, and
vexations, which their legislative assemblies
produced, we certainly hope that no such mania
for liberty will, to amy extent, pervade the
people of this country. We cheerinlly &C
quiesce in the opinion, that as much power
should be exercised directly by the people, IN
the formation Of laws and administration Of 60
vernment, as may be consistent with their hoer
ties and necessities, the facility and harmony
of legislation, and the prompt, faithful, and ETH
Gent administration Of The laws. And this, lie
4 Z, Il
has for ages severely taxed the wisdom of thu
ables, statesmen and soundest philosophers.
! If you do away with he county convention
system, you may, with the same propriety, d
ava, with all conventions, the g electoral col
ege," for selecting President and Vice fres
Ident The election Of Senators by the Legs;
,ure, and the appointing power oil the 49,
tive, which, in our h"...ale opinion, "ou'1
,ed;ous and excessively troublesome 70 y
neople-after time, become uninteresting, an
superinduce ,carelessness and neglect, ana r
suit in giving countenance to men, not to 2
respected for their wisdom and integrity, Z
much a for their impudence, ingenuity, an
tact. 1t 10 with great difficulty that men ca
be persuaded to 20 TO the ballot box ~ often I
the present system requires, but how nuc
greater would be the neglect, under systeI
4 which requires double sacrifice OF time
money. and exertion. And can il be aoubte
by any rational mind, that it would afford Large
ly increased opportunities for men of insinus
ing address and tact, but without Judgment {
integrity, to impose themselves upon publ
confidence and suffrage
But. let us take another view of this subjec
1t is proposed to do away with the present COZ
! vention system, because it is not sufficient
Democratic, and to establish one which, in I'll
legitix,ate exercise of its common prlvileg,
and powers, is susceptible of being rendeFe
tenfold more eati- Democratic than the presei
system The policy recommended, is 10 allo
as many candidates in the field as choose
offer themselves, to be voted for by the Poop
in their respective townships. hundred mel
if they desired, might come before the Peep
for an Office, because there is no check ups
the aspirations Of office hunters. The o.
rule, of the people through their represent
tives selecting candidates, is reversed, and ne
) are encouraged to become aspirants for offic
Every man who might desire office, and cou
Z calculate upon his neighbours votes, even
they did not amount to bakers dozen, won
fpay his tax for inserting his name IN the pape
spend his time, money, and labor in an ele
4 pioneering tour through the county, and cont
: butte his might to the establishment of sy
!; TEN of political discipline, whichsin its bin
! devotion to men, would engender the most b
: ter personal, social. and local prejudice, and,
: nine cases out of ten, lead the people to iorg,
T or disregard, the great fundamental principl
:, ard maxims OF the party With large nut
d Der of candidates in the field, it would be next
q i'm possible to obtain majority vote for any one
them. This, then, would establish the necessity
submitting to plurality vote, or an interpr
bic repetition of the ballot box to finally deci
the issue. For instance-suppose- fhs-e-~s
!, ten candidates in this county, running Tor Cou
r ty Judge, or Sheriff-that there were twel
r hundred votes polled in the county-that
vote was so divided up, that no one man receiv
i over three hundred, and yet had plurality o,
d the other nine Now we would like to be
o formed, whether this would be fair expressi
of the vote pcllcd-whether it would be any
e idence that the party who received the thu
: hundred votes, was, or could have been t
choice of majority of the voters-and whctl
such system, would not have tendency
Q disgust, distract, disorganize and defeat the {
!. ject to be accomplished -14d III party who wo,
h hazard such change.
Again, +" Old Democrat proposes, that VIII
: tro persons receire IA equal Number Of col
for the same office, majority OF the Coun
Committee, shall decide which shall be the ca
:, didate 1t seems to us that this proposition, e
e tirely oyerthrows the ground assumed for t
y reform If it is proposed to bring about me
!. general participation by the people in The sci
ton of candidates for Office, this is certainly
n the way to bring it about.
n In the true spirit of candor and enquiry, a
after looking at the subject in all its faces,
|. ask, would this be an Acceptable change? '
). have no objection to the new plan, providing
: can be made to appear necessary and proper.
!. On the contrary we would gladly favor it, and
is to call forth an expression and canvass OF pu
: lie sentiment, that we have written this artlc
S Let us hear from the democracy upon this 81
jcct.
: Senator Douglas, in his Rochester addre'
I. has much to say about wool growing and
s profits to the farmer, and when in Congress