Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-05-20

Ono week from to-day, and The elections
for Judges and the various county officers will
take place throughout Virginia. The result
of those elections is Of vast moment to the
State. The ratification Of the new Cons,itu-
ton by the popular vote was the signal for the
announcement Of an unprecedented number Of
candidates for all grades Of public Offices
Among This multitude of aspirants. we fear.
many may be found, who have no sort Of quail
i6caiion, to enlitle them to public confidence
and support. Forgetting that Offices are high
trusts to be exercised for tire benefit Of the pub
lie. and not mere gratuies bestowed upon the
individuals who hold them, many have sought
them with the same eager and persevenng ef-
fortswth " ZACH the miners of California delve
for the shining treasures which lie embedded
in the earth. As few Of the gsld-seekers re-
alizc the fortunes for which they toll, SO also.
will it be with the candidates. large MAORI
~ of them must incur the modification Of de-
feat. Their earnest longings for the spoils of
office can only end in disappointment Their
brief dreams of power and authority. viii fak,
like 'the baseless fabric of Il visiop,"
We have said that these elections. in their
results, were Of high moment to the State We
know Of no greater curse wl,ich could befal
our peope, than that important public affairs
land oil pubic affairs important, should
be entrusted to the hands of faithless in
competent agents: confusion. error, and pecu-
mary suffering viii be lis everyday and con-
q L
feet operations Of the ordinary machinery of
Government will diminish the attachment of
the citizen, for the institutions under which he
lives, and thus impair the authority Of the laws,
and loosen the boRds Of society.
In view of results, so disastrous as these, it
b6hoovcs every voter, tocons;der well the ma
turc Of the privilege Ire will be called upon to
exercise. Let him remember that his right to
vote is political privilege to be exercised for
the benefit of the society Of which heis a men,
Der. Let not then his vote be influenced by
merely private or personal considerations, but
let it be cast in cconformiiy with his sense of
public duty.
Regarding the right ofsuifrage thusproper-
~, it will then be the duty Of the voter to can
vass thoroughly the claims Of every candidate
for public -favors Honesty, capacity and
fidelity, should be made the great tests Of quail
ifcaon. They should be insisted on as of
cardinal and Indispensable importance, how
ever our choice between rival candidates, who
each possessed them in the requisite degree.
might be determined by other and secondary
considerations.
We believe that if every citizen will act in
the spirit and upon the principles, which we
here now indicate, she elections viii result
most happily for the State. We shall not only
have competent officers, but the manner Of
their election will infuse into them an energy
aand vitality, which Twill result from no other
mode of appointment. They will have pow
erfal motives TO exercise the trusts reposed in
them purely for the public go 'd,-'and we be-
lieve they will do so.
Should the voters Of the State, or a. majority
OF them, however, be actuated by different
spirit, or be governed by different principles,
tlfen we fear much both Of public lnconveni-
ence and personal---very..
We have not the ken to foresee it, to its full
lest extent. We perhaps cannot de6neit more
palpably, than it will be limited to every man
by the suggestions of his own mind. Wehave
therefore discharged duty as journalists,
when We have called public attention Ito this
grave and important subject and exbcrted
aall. as We now do, to consider well what
public tyrequires, and then faithfully perform
M