Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1852-12-22
CITY Elections.

Quite a c1mmendable degree ofpatriotiSm seems
to be manifesting itself in the aspirants for Office
under our new or amended city charter. We have
some right boast Of the disneTesed spirit of our
citizens as all appear ready to saerafce them
selves for tie good Of the public, every office, we
believe, from City Clerk to Master of the Chain
gang Undergraduates. There being no difficulty
in finding gentlemen who will consent to serDe,
the question presents itself the voters,
avho are qualified to server" There are various
Offices to be filed, and many of them important
ones. The most important one, in our Judgement
for the city aud the one in which we are most in
tmately concerned, is that of City Sergeant. In
the rapid advancement of our city. crime and dis
order kept pace with other progression, and it
has hence bscspe impeTiously necessary that our
whole system Of city police and watch should be
rIe-organizsd ald conducted in future on the most
active and stringent principles. II the execution
Of this organization is hereafterto be entrusted to
the Sergeant citizens will at once perceive the
importance Of making iudicious selection at the
eopiug. election, and no man SD ould receive our
support foF this important Office, constituting as it
does the pillar on which must rest the peace and
good order,Of our city; who does not possess the
requistesfoc the duties imposed upon him by his
-ofice. Ibis much to be regretted that Police Off
'ee, dependant upon the people for their election
hage.in many of the Eastern cities proven them
selves whSily iLcompetent, and whether from fear
favor, hare neglected. the duties of their Office
There can be question but that the next cleo
ttion Win be too often before the minds Of the peo
ple.' but IL they will but look rightly at the mat
tier good must result from this rather than evil.
Let the officer but ask hi nself whether the people
hwilL prefer an officer who does his duty and his
wkoIeduty without looking TO the right OF the left;
bone who shifts his sails to suit what he may
conceive to be the popular course, and if he has
proper appreciation of the integrity and purity of
the constituent, he will have no difficulty in de-
iterHiuing his course. Let US then in the coming
selection look forthe competent candidates, of
character and integrity, who will do their duty,
come what will, who will look TO nothing bnt
.their duty, and we will escape the opprobium so
Justly cast upon some recent police elections, and
protect ourselves and the interests of the city. The
same may be said of every office. Let competent
amen be selected and we will see the effect of it
hereafter. II on the contrary we neglect these
considerations and vote for private considerations
merely, we maye ere year shall have elapsed, wit
ness the enactment Of those scenes, so recently
held in baltimore and other cities. This is our
FIRST election, Let us commence night if We would
continue "Just the twig is bent the trees
inclined,' and Il we but act in this election with
due regard to the interests involved, not only
wi" see the cool effects during the first
year, but the example will continue its influence
aud it will be felt for years in the coutinuinggood
u orGer and proper administration of our city con-
lcerhs. odd .4u sa