The southern press., 1852-01-08

sR Inc Richmond Ecd miner, oil Thursday,
makes the following comments on the proceed
ings of the Democratic National Committee" "
As a very influential paper among the Democ-
racy of Virginia, its expressions of opinion carry
much weight with them.
In another column the reader will find the
proceedings of what is called the Democratic
National Committee" 1t is composed of one
delegate from each State, selected by the Balti
more convention of l848, from the delegations
present at that memorable assemblage. 1t meets
under the authority of that extinct convention
that is to say, under no authority at all. What
power of selfperpetuation or of ordination
ever existed in national party convention
The men who compose such body are elected
by the people to do one thing--to nominate
candidates for a single Presidential election
When this is done, they have nothing further to
do, and their official existence is at an end. But
the last Baltimore conventon-or at leat the fng
end of it which was left when the main body
vanished after the nomination of Cass had been
effected-have constituted themselves into this
national Democratic committee, with power to
call the convention of 1852, at whatever place,
and whatever time, and in whatever numbers,
they may please.
In their very essence they constitute high de-
gree of impertinence. The very idea and first
principle of nominating party convention, is
that it comes from the people-is spontaneous-
and is expressive of the free popular voice. But
here are certain politicians who get together and
arrange the entire programme beforehand by
their sole pleasure; by their sovereign will -
consulting nOne--writing for nobody.
Thus, therefore, these proceedings alone and
by themselves, are important to the Democratic
party and to the American people. No one is
bound by them further than the convenience of
some arrangements which are proposed; and
against one of their regulations at least, we
hope there will be general rebellion. II is de-
creed thai there shall be but one delegate from each
electoral district.
A plausible reason for such arrangement is
sometimes alleged, that convention is unwield-
ly when it consists of greater numbers. Per.
haps it is. Perhaps political wre.workers find
large conventions of the people uery" unwield-
ly," indeed. 1t is not to be doubted that this
class would like party convention all the better
II it consisted of one solitary delegate from
each State in the Union But this arrangement
should be resisted by the people themselves as
an attempt to stfle their voices. 1t is move
ment which will throw the nomination of the
next Democratic President into the hands of the
old togscs of the party This fact is inevitable
The Oldest politican--he who who holds most
wires in each electoral district-wl get the nom.
ination of the district convention whenever he
chooses to do 40, and thus the national conven.
tion itself will be an unadulterated and homoge-
neous mass of these individuals. The people
will not be heard there at ALL Politicians only
can get there by this arrangement old, tho.
rough-paced, long-accustomed politicians and
these, we all know, wllbl to their own pri-
vate interests in the nomination. and be gov.
erned by the intrigues Of the place, by the co
alitions of the assemblage, and by their privat,
understandings with candidates, instead of b.
the desire of the country.
We hope this decree of the committe, at eas
will not be regarded by the people, either in the
meetings or in their presses. We hope ths
they will steadily psrsist in sending to the cor
vention at least two delegates from every ele'
toral district that the voice of more than on
class in the country may be heard at the ne'
Baltimore convention