Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1854-10-04
The Gubernatorial conyention-.When
and Where Shall it Meet!

The Gubernatorial convention--when
and Where Shall it Meet!
There is reason to apprehend that the
diversity of opinion which prevails in re-
spect to the time when the Democratic
State Convention shall assemble, may
lead to irreparable confusion and to some
dePlorable result. One advises the post
ponement of the Convention until the
spring another purposes 20 hold it in
midwinter, while many county meetings
have designated a particular day in Octo-
Der. = It is manifest that no Convention
can be held, or none adequately reprssen-
ting the Democracy of the State, unless,
by common consent, some particular day
be selected for the occasion. There is
not moment to be lost in settling the dis
pute about this matter, for the delegates
appointed by the counties which have de-
signated the 18th of October for the NEE
ting of the Convention, will repair to
Staunton at the time indicated, and the
campaign will begin with an abortion and
perhaps end in defeat.
We cannot perceive in what manner the
interests Of competing aspirants can be
affected by the settlement of the dispute
in regard to the time of holding the Con-
vention. We are persuaded that the
people are Indifferent about the matter,
except in so far as they may suppose the
welfare Of the party to be involved.
Consulting only the interests Of the par
ty, and banishing all concern about the,
fortunes of particular individuals, we have
determined to yield to the suggestions of
persons from different portions of the State
and to propose time and place for the
meeting of the Convention.
1t is essential, in the first place, that
the party should give fair expression Of
of popular sentiment. Then, sufficient
time must be allowed for thorough can.
vass of the State. If the Convention be
postponed until the Spring, full delega-
ton might be present, but the candidates
would have no time for a canvass. If
tho Convention be held in the winter there
would be ample time for r canvass, but
few delegates would attend. IT, however.
the Convention be held at some late pc
Rod in the Fall, both full representation
and sufficient time for canvass will be
secured. We propose. therefore. that the
Convention meet IN StauntOn on Thursday
the 3OM Of November.
Some object to an early meeting Of the
Convention on the plea that the people
should have time to scrutinize the char
acter and claims Of different candidates.
Now, we suspect the people are sufficient.
~ familiar with the public men of the
State and that they are not in the least
instructed by either the extravagant
panegyric or the equally extravagant and
undeserved abuse of newspaper nomina
tons. Other suggest again that if our can
didatcs be too long exposed to public gaze,
defects Of character will be discovered
which will insure their defeat. This OBJ
lection is unworthy of serious refutation,
and We dismiss it with the simple remark,
that it is scarcely probable that the Demo
cratic party will nominate men Of such
frail and vulnerable character for the
| highest offices in the State. On the con-
trary, we venture to affirm that the char
acter and tho claims of our candidates
will be all the more conspicuous from
| close and constant scrutiny.
While the objections to all early con-
vention are thus futile, the reasons for a
long and thorough canvass are manifest
some ill-feeling between rival aspirants
and their friends, is beginning to exhibit
itself, and to disturb the harmony SO es-
sential to the success the party. This is
always the case. The claims Of candi-
dates are urged with excessive and in.
dicreet zeal, and jealOusies and antago-
nisms are provoked :; but a nomination
invariably harmonizes the warning elc-
ments and subdues every disposition to
INSTRUMENTATION. The longer we postpone
the convention the fiercer will grow the
struggle between the rival aspirants, I'M
til possibly. the passions of Jealousy and
ambition will tester into irreparable feud.
Better then that the party should at once
determine the dispute, than that it be suf-
fered to go on until it cngender hopeless
scism. A nomination once made, and all
true Democrats will rally to the support
of the chosen candidates of the party.
But, apart from this consideration, there
is special and most urgent necessity for
an early nomination and thorough can
vass Of the State. Within the last year
the relations of parties have been some
what affected by the introduction of new
political issues A new and arlo-
giant. if not formidable faction, has
usurped position in the political
world, and aspires to the exercise of de
cisivo power in the struggle of parties
The Democratic party stands in irrecon,
cilable antagonism to the damnable here
sy of KnowNothingism. Between the
one and the other there can be no more
sympathy than between light and dark
ness. The war between US and it is a
war OF determination, in which no quarter
will be given, to which no truce can sue
coed. Our candidates should meet it
boldly and promptly. They should fight
it whenever its serpent head is seen
should expose and denounco it in every
county of the State. For this, ample time