Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1856-02-23
A DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION.

publican is out in an article in favor of
Democratic State Convention to appoint
delegates to the National Convention to
be held at Cincinnati in June next
Hitherto the representatives of the party
in the Legislature have been accustomed
to fulfil this duty with, We think, at least
doubtful propriety. But especially now
do we think that this precedent ought to
be broken, and that the people ahould
take back into their own hands the power
which, for years, has been exercised by
their representatives. The writer to
whom werefer has reduced his reasons
for this change to the following three;
g LIST. The fewness of the Democratic
members, being only about twelve, affords
a reason for this change. 1t is too much
power to place in the hands of so few
representatives.
ID. These individuals do not repre-
sent directly more than probably one
tenth of the Democratic vote of the
State, and therefore ought not to decide,
on their own responsibility, a matter
which belongs to the whole people.
"3d. The Importance of the occasion,
the next Presidential contest being the
most important which has ever in our
experience as nation occurred and
consequently great vigilance and wisdom
Of counsel should be exercised in choosing
delegates to nominate standard bearer
for the conflict; and regarding the small
ness of the number Of their representa-
tives in the Legislature, and an INSULT
cient representation of the Democracy of
the whole State, the people, through
delegates directly chosen by themselves
for the special purpose, composed of a
proper representation from every county
in the State, are more competent to ex-
erciso this important and, as we conceive,
their peculiar right and duty"
Whilst, however, we assume these
grounds, we do not wish to reflect in the
least on the wisdom and honest motives
of our representatives Indeed, we can
not believe that they, conscious of the
circumstances which we have briefly al
luded to, will wish to maintain the pre-
cedent and assume the great responsibility
which it viii devolye upon them.
We will, however, add one more reason
which we think is entitled to considcra-
ton. It's the duty of the conservative
people Of the Union and of this state, in
these dark days of fanaticism and dan
gerous revolution, to meet in council, as
did the patriots of the Revolution, and
proclaim to the country the principles foi
/ which they are willing to battle, and
show to the world their disapprobation Of
these dangerous isms, which threaten
the safety of the country, and condemn
their odious principles. 1t is good fol
: the friends of the constitutional rights OF
the whole country-and Of every Amer
lean citizen, whether native or natural
izod-without distinction of religious
faith, to meet together and publicly con
: denim the actions of these secret foes O
the Constitution. The Democratic party
of this State owes it to itself it owes i
to the thousands Of patriotic Wings 0
the State, who have aided in assisting
this ungrateful and dangerous faction
into power, and who are waiting for al
: appropriate time to unite with the Ma
! tional Democratic party as brothers il
i the great cause of open and manly action
= of civil and religious liberty it owes i
to the thousands Of those who sacrifice,
their prejudices on the altar of thei
. country in the last election and unite
e with it then; it owes it to the friends 0
: the Constitution of our favored land, b
: meet in council and proclaim aloud it
condemnation Of the disgraceful bigotr
I and fanaticism ", hich aflicts our State
> Let them do this, and their actions vii
receive the response of the lovers Of th'
= Union from Maine to Florida, and
: shout of welcome and congratulatiol
$ raised on the shores Of the Atlantic will
u only cease when it mingles with tn
c murmurings of the Pacific Let ther
n acts udiciously in sending wise, patriotic
y and honorable delegates to the nationa
Il convention, who will vote for a prone
+ nominee for President in eighteen hun
bred and fifty-six, and the Democracy {
II Maryland, though now stricken down b
: a secret foe, will enroll the good oil
}, State under the banner of the Constitu
: ton, and add another to the victoric
c which will render the Democratic trump
If complete.
TIE WnEAr.-A report is prevalon
= that the wheat crop is greatly injured b.