The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1852-05-26
THE APPROACHING CONVENTIONS.
The Duty Of the Citizen.

From the above notice, it will be been, that
the democratic voters nf Julien Township, are
invited tn meet in TOWNSHIP Convention, on the
2eth day ofthe present month, for thu purpose of
selecting Delegates to represent their wishes
ard Interests in the County Convention, 10 be
held at Floyds, on the 5'h day of June next -
What DAYS, the several Tawn ships Of the county
have fixed upon for their Township Conventions,
we are not advised; but presume the Township
Committee ., have been jealous and active in
calling their meetings, and providin@for gen
Ssal expression Of the Voice of the democracy
Of Dubuque county.
Important elections are before us. Radical
and sala'ary reforms are demanded in the FIX
ecutve Administration Of the Government
Intelligent, correct and practical business
men should be selected for the State Legislature
and for all other Offices TO be filled Such chan
ges must be made, if made at all, by the people I;
and such men, if they can be found, should be
bro1ght forward by the spontaneous voice oftke
people, and no, by the exercise Of a. species of
political chicanerv which is at times resorted to
BY those who aspire to Office, through the medi-
nm Of deception and packed Conventions
This kind Of imposition upon the people, is the
only active political capital that some men poss-
ess, and il is timc-high time, that the people
should take the matter in hand and correct the
evil Let it fall upon Whatever heads it may
and with all the force that an honest public in
dignation can give it, the principle is right, and
the duty paramount to all others, and should be
discharged promptly, faithfully and fearessly.-
The exercise Of a correct priaciple, never harm
ed anv one, unless it be those, who would be as
little benefited by it, as the community is by
their services There are too many office seek
ers in both parties and too little interest felt in
the selection Of officers by the people. Public
morality and political justice demands reform
and a reform the people must and will have
There are men ia our community, we are sorry
TO believe, whose constant study and sole aim
and purpose, is to excite local and personal pre-
iudice, deceive, distract and divide the people
and if they cannot secure their own elevation
or that of their special fovorites, endeavcr &c
throw the power into the h,nds Of our political
enemy And this they do, under the specion,
prere1t ofreform. tits more than probable thai
they an. even at it now, in anticipation Of the
approaching Conventions and Elections. They
20 into the country precincts, with the air o
important business on hand, and meeting ar
acquaintance, casually enquire, whether there !.
any interest felt in politics aud who the people
think Q: selecting as Delegates to the Conven
ton. The unsuspecting farmer responds, tina
he does not know. At once the spurious poll
tieian assumes the importance and gravity of
statesman, whose pride is the elevation Of hi
country and whose heart yearns for its welfare
and permanence, and soofly suggests, that suct
and such persons, in his estimation, would b
very proper men to represent the Township il
Convention
The farmer adopts the suggestion and propo
See Il 60 his neighbors, who adopt it, Eight Of
ten assemble in Convention. They cast abou
for delegates, and ten chances to one, if the
very men suggested by this bogus politician
are not the Delegates selected to attend the
Convention. This result reflects no discred,
upon those who participate in the Township
meeting, because they are innocentiy duped b,
the ,ciiey politician.
Such men are dangerous in any community
and should be put down. There is one way t.
do Il, under the present organization Of parties
and but one That 10, for the people to feel ar
interest and take part in our primary meetings
Attend the primary meetings, assume that
independence Of thought and action, which
belongs to free citizen, and act from the bes
light and the best convictions Of duty that tht
circumstances will admit Of and the evil vii
speedily and radically cured
As members of the democratic party--tha
party, which we believe to be the true conserva
tor OF the countries interest and welfare and
will be the last to yield up its liberties, we sin
cerely .rus. that this happy result may be attained