Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-07-31
THE PROPOSED DEMOCRATIC STATE CON

o"''S' P1"'oheu oy u Gull recently HIdlc lVl u
Democratic Convention in this State.
We cannot allow the article to 90 before ou, read
ers without few words Of comment which we SUBJ
nit with becoming deiereuce and entire respect
1t Will be perceived that "One is utterly opposed
to "the system OF proxy or alternate voting in our
Conventions. No one has right to deny to this
writer the privilege Of entertaining such an "pinioi
and no "no ought to be offended by oil effort 10 en-
force that opnon by fair and legitimate arguncnt.-
But no goes much further than this. Alter stating
his objections to the proxy system, and giving, what
accordngto his view are satisfactory rensons for it
abolisainen he declares that he will not henceorh
consider himself bound "to any extent whatever, by
the action OF any Convention in which any portion
OF the vote shall be by ate-nates."
TIM" il taking very high aud very positive ground
for single member Of party, in advance of discus
sion "r general consultation, and is proposing plan
Of individual action which, i, seems to u.s. is fraueh,
with danger to anything like thorough and success
;ul party organization. Tho opinions of One may
be, and doubtless, arc, entitled to respect but we
are not satisfied that he has adopted the best plan
by which to impress others with like opinions or to
accomplish the main object he has in view. Argu-
by threats whom dispassiunatcy presented and whom
not coupled with illustrations or declarations tha,
tend to weaken their force. Iu this instance our
Democratic friend, "OSE," has specified what ho
| conccives to bea defect m error and Il wrong in
party machinery, and points out with much clear.
ness remedy which ne believes will effect cure
Had no stopped here, no one would have had cause
to complain. But that he docs not do. lie takes
one step moro, and, without waiting to ascertain
the views of those with whom he is po-
| litically associated "a TO the PROPOSITION he
| submits, he proceeds 10 declare that, if his
plan Is not adopted, he will "ncver henceforh" con.
slider himself bound by tho action Of any Convention
OF his party in which different ru. Of Representa-
ton is tolerated. To this doctrine we cannut sub.
scribe. We believe the penple-nnd in this cunhec-
ton, We mean the Democ' alc people-are vice enough
to attend to their affairs, and good enough to do
what 10 right and when they, in their primary assem-
blages appoint delegates from among themselves to
represent their views in any Convention, and them
under the apprehension that Of those delegates
may DO able to attend, request and empower some
other person, not resident Of their city or town or
county, TO represent them, feel compelled to re-
gard it and respect it RS s act, the uW Of tic peope
and IN Convention should have the authority to re-
pudiato that act o. 10 deny the full expression
Of that will. It is no sufficient objection to
say that slternates or proxies may be de-
sisnated and appointed by "wire.workers" or
''somc crafty manager" The same objection
applies with equal force to the appointment of dele.
gates. Why cannot ''somo crafty manager" got up,
in open meeting and nominate delegation to suit his
| own views' or, If the appointment be made by the
Pre'iden; Of the meeting, why cannot "some crafty
manager contrive TO have bis friend called pre-
side over the mee.ingl The same feeling the same
interest, the same crafrincss that would select and
have appointed tad alrra.ss woud just easily and
just as surely select aud have appointed bad delegates
The representative system has its evi!. this
we suppose, will deny; but We hunbly submit, tha,
Zone" has 10: discovered the renedy,-if We tu
! Judge by bio r---snt proposition. While We adnli
that this pruxy system has It's evils seriously doubt
whether they are as great "OsE' wouldbsve be.
ieve. Proxies nro not appointed in Ignorance. On
the contrary, the primary assemblies mlkiug the ap
poin,men:s arc Scncrolly, if not invariably, wo in
formed the views OF proxies respecting those
subjects upon which they will be required TO act
The proxies may be strangers, their faces pay be
known to mauy or all Of the persons comforting the
authority; but their opinions known their polti-
cal conduct Is famiar and their individual prefer
ences are transparent to the appointing power and
that is suilicen. to satisfy them that, in the event
contemplated, they will be truly represented. And,
If hsy are satisfied, ,cho has q righ. 10 complain =
II the Democrats of Heurco choose to select and
power citizen Of Abingdon TO represent them in u
\ hn in ,ha Snu and tho De-
| nocrats of Hanover choose 10 send delegates from
| their own county to tho convention, by what
principle OF right, justice, or respect for the will OF
the people, shall the Ienrico representative be exclu.
ded aud rhose from Hanover admitted BY what
rule of law, or party or propreiy shall any Conven.
tiun dctute to the people the locality Of tho persons
whom they shall appoint to represent them7 Con-
ventons thnt should attempt to prescribe rule Of
THE kind would not be tolerated.
Besides, if this proxy systen be such monsrous
evil, if it works 80 much injustice and results in the
selection OF candidates very obnoxious, why Is
rot the remedy applied by those, and those only who
are the sufferers! Why do not the ppSe repudats it
by tusng to appoint prOries7 1t seems to US that it
would require the ''suggestions end labors Of many
more than une 'craty manager in any county In the
Stott 10 nave pfo3teh aPpohteu, IL tue PeoPlo "clC
convinced that the principle wrong, and that it
operated to their injury. Besides, if this system was
80 nanfc,tly upus and grievous, it is highly proba
BILE that the people would have become aware Of the
fact, and, being aware Of it, would have taken soma
steps looking the assertion uud protection OF their
ieopurded rights. Where, in Virginia. have the pco-
pic held meetings and condemned the action Of their
proxiesl or expressed in mild term, their repro
baton Of suy vote given by such representa-
tivcs1 Ratification meetings we have in abundance;
but condemnation meetings. in Virginia. are noveltios
For tke Enquirer.
PROXIES IN STATE CONVENTIONS.
Now that the heart-burnings engendered by the
canvass for the nomination, aud the e1cittments AZ
eudaut upon the election of Governor, have passed
away. the me is propi,ious TO calm anu unprtudl,
ced examination OF question of grave and general
interest to the Democratic party OF Virginia One of
the most valuable Of tho past is to enable us to
improve the present and prepare Tor tie tuture; nnd
in this spirit beg to call the attention "t my brother
Democrats all over Virginia 10 one feature OF the
Convention al Stanton, last November, which, as
think. deserves animadversion, aud ought to be
guarded against in ali future conventions OF our party.
alude to the system of proxy or alternate voting.
Conventions are, at best, but necessary evils and
j, cannot be denied that they are not unfrcqnently
used as engines thwart the popular VIII lnsead OF
TO concentrate and thus give force aud efficiency 10.
public opinion. Guard and restrict them as you VIII,
tb.v nrc sl liable to great abuses; and, notwith-
sndiue tho honesty Of the masses who are represent
3D. tho in.riguer and wire-worker will generally con-
sttute this nastcr-spirits who control their debera-
,ion md mould their results. Under these circuu-
sauces it is obvious that no new avenue TO corrup-
tion mud management ought 10 be allowed and that
every means within our reach ought TO be resorted TO
to cut of those already existing.
Can there be a more fruitful source OF nnfair man
~ sv,.,n of alternate or proxy votingl A littc-a
perg little management will throw thousands Of prcx
les into the pockets OF single individual, who votes
them at Lis owu good pleasure utterly regardless ut
the wishes OF those whom he preends 10 represent;
I.t tbrre bs a little concert betweeil some central
power some active influential organ) und certain