Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-01-26
Tor Ire EHy9ircr.
PARTY nEJIG tTION,

Mcssrs. Editors Il have considered nitcnli%ry
your very able article on Party Ohieation:' The
views YOU present sound, nnd the appeal which
you make will be responded 10 BY every true Demo-
crat in Virginia.
a generous adherence to party organization is cs-
scnt:al to success Next to sound principles there
is nothing more necessary tu party, than organizations
Without either, party never did mud never VIII sue
coed. One Is almost ns necessary ns the other.
The success ui the Democratic purity. III times past
ia attributable to devotion I" principle. nhd a,lIc-
renee to organization. What saved the STATE i'll lSiO
AMI in 1919 Orsnnizninn!-tle . observance "f the
time chnn"rcd usagcS Of the party. lncucac the doc
trinc thu; Il man can be u consistent member ot
party, and oppose lis organization, and You destroy
the party 1t isas proper 10 call thHt nun democrat
who opposes thr organization of the party rs il l. to
pronounce one IN orthodox christian who dcn"mncc.
all Church organization. As Is the test ol CHRIS
tan for the professor 10 nvow and act rs such, III
the face Of the snsers of scotling worlds" ii is
test uf membership in tn" Democratic party, !" abide
by and observe n fnir and honorable organization
OF the party II the principles entertained una av"w.
ed by the party are sound, they at ono" commend
themselves to support and confidence: n!so should
the nominations, made fairly and III accordance
with the respective nsngcs "a III" party.
y" fraud was prrpciraic,l, no oinprorcrc"mhinat"nS
formed in the Staintnm Convention procure the
nomination of Henry 4. Wise. The deep conviction
"f his eminent qualifications for the position, nnd "i
his availability for the purpose, produced the result
M established rule usagc "i III" pnrtywns rcpcnl"d
ed was ng greater than at any previous State Con-
vrnton ol the party. Mr.. Wise received Il MINORITY
of the Eastern, well of the Western Democratic
vote. Having participated in the proceedings, nm
conviccd, that while Mr.. Wise received majority he
was the second choice Of more than twn-ihIrds u the
Democratic strength represented III the t"mrenii"n
Objection has been made 10 the alternate, ar ns II l.
sometimes called. the pr"Nv>y.tcin THIS objection Is
made now for the fr, time III III" history t" The party.
Ii has been recognised III every State ar CunGrc--
the delegate system. Indeed, the system l. th" SANE
What IL the representative system but III" proxy syS-
| TEN The people, III II representative" g"v"rnm"ht
delegate their power a.nt- who bound 10 re-
fleet their will. The selection Of these is limited only
by rules which he people alone adopt They posses
this right 10 delegate their power. The right i m
lcicnt and cannot brqucs!iomcd by Democrats. The
appointing power i the same. and those wh" opp"a"
it. exercise, nircr /" thcrrpubcun features of II rep
rrsrntalivc government An examination at ih"
proxy vn,c' in the Convention demonstrates that
when 1t wns bestowed ~ Mr.. Wise. il WAS sanctioned
by Instructions in The primary meetings, ~ by nniii'N-
tax able evidence nf ihr will uf the constituent body.
More altcrnaeS appeared I" represent d!sian; conn
ties from the Nnrt!wrs; than from ANY other portion
of the State. Who doubts that Mr.. Wise i h" first
choice nt the democracy of Nurth-Wcs,crn NIr9imn,
and that the vote properly Gust But, '':h" de-
mncr;lrv OF tlIat section nugl, not tn have had any
voice in the ConvCnti"n' lfths proposition had been
seriously urged il would Lave bc"n rejected with sc"rn
u,srrt therefore, that VI. Wise waS fairly and hon
| uraby recommended 10 the people "i virginia, ana
that ii there be any force in party obligation, "r at
tachmcnt 10 the organization Of the party, the sup
port Oi III" nominees Ot the Convention the test :"
membership in the party. Acknowledged "r sclt-c"n
s,ucd leaders may desert. nr throw up their com.
miss,,ls but the rank aud fc will stand firm, n'lj
march 10 victory under arAdcr wortIyot their conf
,.nc. a!rl selected by themselves. A> dcm"cra;, W.
ARE STRUGGLING not irr the elevation Of Henry y
Wise, not alone ior The {" the party III thi,
State, but for the D,n"cra;ic party "t the Union, nIid
to save the Union. Dark ii~nnS and .lG> have rear
ed their horrd front or.rnIrim arknc,. /" pull d"wii
or n,>aSsnk" I" stab tn heart the institutions :"
the South. iruimin is the lng-ship, and if she goes
down it requires nu prophet In tell the fate "i Demo-
crary and "f tho South. Every thn= for the rnus"
nothing for men, OLD LINE.