Washington sentinel., 1856-05-20
A WORD IN SEASON.

course of the Convention.
We refer to the dangers which result from
putting aside statesmen of long experience and
commanding ability and the selection of a man
whose name had not been before the people;
OF whom, comparatively, they can know but
little and in regard to whom no portion Of the
people have expressed either preference or con-
fdence.
1t may well be deemed an arbitrary and un-
authorized proceeding of any set of men, who
are sent to make selection from well known
men, in regard to all of whom more or less
favor and confidence have been expressed,
to set aside all of them and select man who
they knew could not have a preference before
their constituents over any of those presented
by the people to the Convention for their choice.
1t is certainly the duty Of the Convention to
make choice of one of those from among
whom all the people expect the Convention to
make choice. He who has the fewest votes
there is better entitled to selection than one
not named, if his record, his present position,
and his known principles are with the Demo
cratic party and in accordance with the plat
form which may be laid down.
The Convention system has in it much that
is necessarily Objectionable, but this growing
practice of excluding every man of towering
eminence, and peering after obscurity is such
an aggravated evil, that it must soon work its
own cure.
The rivalry among the partisans of the sew
eral prominent men signalize themselves not
only by their zeal for their own favorite can
didate, but also by an opposition to all others
of eminence, and to that degree that they pride
themselves upon their success in defeating all
others, only next to success with their own.
The consequence of this is, that, in turn, each
one finds himself opposed, and borne down by
the combined action of the friends of all his
rivals.
The result is that he who is second in
strength in the Convention after putting down
his stronger rival, has in return, and that right
speedily, the poisoned chalice presented to his
own lips, and each in turn is elevated just high
enough to taste the bitter draught from his own
| chalice.
| But the evil does not end with the Conven-
ton; the succeeding Convention brings new
aspirants, and they in turn make the most
prominent taste of the chalce that he in for
mer Conventions presented to the foremost
candidate. This is system which will per-
petually work the same results. II must be
fatal to ALL
| A wiser and more patriotic system would
promise better results; certainly more disas-
trous-ones cannot follow.
II, after trial, no one should be found to
be the choice of the required number, then let
the adjustment be exclusively confined to Civ
ing preference to one of those placed by the
people before the Convention.
| False estimates as to the future mislead
many. The friends of some Northern can
didate may hesitate to vote for another North
ern one lest it leopard the chance of his favorite
at the next Convention, upon the ground that
it must then be a Southern President. The
friends of some of the Southern candidates
may be affected in the same way, and if his
favorite shall not be elected no Southern man
ought because next time Northern candidate
would claim the nomination.
These and calculations and feelings similar
in character to these, cause periodically the
slaughter Of our most deserving statesmen.
Whereas the selection Of any one would not be
so, because it would be a precedent which
would hereafter ensure the election of one Of
those who should be placed before the Conven-
ton by the people, and, as the successful one
would have four more years to earn higher
reputation and stronger claim, they would
feel that they would not be subjected to the
humiliation Of seeing raised to the Presidency
in preference to them mere neophyte, man
Of email experience, and Of still smaller service
to his country and to his party.
There is no phase rivalry can take, so suicidal
to the eminent men before Convention. as to
make it a sine qua non that if he cannot be
nominated, no man sent there by ther-people
shall be.
There is no greater bug bear than this scare
President.
The idea is contradcted by our whole his
tory. What does that history teach us2
Washington was first selected, and unan-
imously, because universal confidence in his
wisdom and integrity pointed to him.
A second election took place for the same
reason.
A third election took place; Northern man
was elected, not because he was from the North,
but because he was supposed TO be identified
with the principles and measures Of Washing.
toms administration.
A fourth election took place. In the mean.
time the alien and sedition laws had lost the
PRESIDENT much his popularity; and, although
the South had had two terms and the North
one term only, yet no objection was made TO
the Southern nominee on that accounts on the
contrary the South received the third time the
l.