Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-10-21
Congregational Candidates.

" IN OCSAcIbH hOb uiS EsiSS " FtoNS'N
against "life estates" and "iee sim pie" interest
in Congressional honors aud rewards. Our
remark then was made for q particular locali-
ty; but We think proper now to announce the
same protest for every district in the State
Length of service gives no claim to perpetua-
ton 10 Office. Faithful and efficient discharge
Of duty, alone recommends re.nominatiOn.-
Upon the manner in which that duty has
been discharged the party have the right
first TO pronounce, and after the party has
declared its satisfaction. the people may or
nav not accept the endorsation. The system
that an announcement Of candidacy by the
incumbent is to ~silence opposition, denies the
party its right of judgement, and only refers
the matter to the ordeal of popular election,
where the fear Of the success OF the opp0sl.
ton often compe!s the party to vote Tor the
man whom a convention never would have
nominated. We hold it to be the dnty of
every member of the delegation to tender to
the party an opportunity to hold q conVen-
tien aud pronounce upon bis Stewardship
When the incumbent announces himself q
candidate, this right Of tho party must often
he claimed by some other man, and thus dis
s~enslons arc bred, aud often animos!:Ies are
excited which widen until defeat again coz
sOlidates the party.
We hold that any Democrat who feels with
in himself the talents, power and points fitted
to represent Virginia in the Congress OF the
United States, has Il righ. to test bis opinions
of his own powers by the ordeal OF a party
Convention. lncumbency gives no right; The
party alone can confer the right of candida
cy upon any of its members. ANY Democrat
who would run against the nominee OF Coz
~vention of his party, deserves 10 DC no longer
recognized as q member or that party; aud
any Democrat who refuses TO submit to q
Convention merits the same condemnation
Let the incumbent offer q Convention; if the
party are satisfied with his past service, and
approve his course, he will DO nominated by
the Convention, and he will again be the
candidate with the endorsement Of his party
as Il good and faithful servant" l! any az
pirant desires to contest the question OF can
didacy, be has as much right to be heard as
tho incumbent had when first selected, and
tdus they stand upon an equal footing. Ii
tho services of the incumbent have been Of
such o nature as to win the affections and
secure the approval of his constituency, he
has nothing to fear from any asplTant. Ills
nomination is secure from a Convention.
But adop. the principle coutended for that,
ipcumbcncy gives the right of candidacy,
and ''i!fe estates" are entailed upon the peo-
pie, and, in many cases, lazy inefIclency is
verpetuatoj 10 an honorable position. The
exigencics Of the party may often drive men
to vote at the polls for q man they never
would have advocated IN a Convention.
This great defect Of popular elections can
only he fomeGied by recognizing The party's
right TO canvass TIC Incumbent ami other u.s.
~pirauts, il Convention. We care not what
abuse may be- heaped upon Conventions; they
may be derided az cauc0ses, they may Ge
styled necessary evils" yet they guard the
party against be!ng driven, through lear OF
opposition success, to support a men the pa:-
ty really does not want. They ere necessa-
ry to healthy organizations; they are the NEST
efficient instruments TO success; they prevent
divisions and dissenSi0ns; they consolidate
the action ut the party and they secure vlctU-
~. Conventions are the right OF the party:
they are due to competing talents and hohor-
able rivalry. 10 be defeated in Convention Is
no disgrace: to succeed over the Convention,
is treason TO party.
Ii is vain to inyeieh against Conventions;
their evils are inherent IN parties. As 1893
as the diversity OF the human mind exists, IN
every free country, the people will divide into
parties, aud the existence ot parties render
Conventions necessary.
We know Conventions DO not always make
the bcs; nominations; that oftcn chicanely
and infringement win tae victory over hon
est merit and uudyubtcd talent. We know
that often some CLUMSY, busy, bunel!ng child
of fortune" is elevated over tho bold, tie al.
ted and the talented. But these are the e.
centricities Of Conventions, and soon work
their own correction. But no Democrat de-
mics the usefulness of Conventions, and We
will not further argue their necessity.
We 20 for giving every Gsp'rant . chance;
yes for Inausurating a wild scramble Tor the
honors Of the people. II these honors are
worthy IF the time and Efforts Of one maa,
they are equally open TO the exertions OF 9TH
ers. No man has q right to seek MS private
by opposing lis party's good. Every
man has q right to be heard, gnt We are Tor
hearing every man. We address not the pas
sions; tut appeal to the reason OF our party.
We particuIarze 10 district; we announce o
I4IIC!p!c, hub tbC pCOPiJ iiucb "fp-N
the principle or GOT as tley think best. But
protest, that ne cry OF rotation IN Cfice"
shall he made against this great principle OF
the party's right to hold a Convention when
ever one is desired By any man or his friend-.
TIE party's right to CANVASS the claims of
is iuestimable; let us prize it As We
let US not have a worse opinion OF the
tblDg itself because IL may, IL some luetan-
ces, be abused; let us remember how much
Conventions have done for the success of the
party, and let the party resolve TO persevere
the right TO hold them uptainsed by any 81.
periur claims Of the Incumbent, and ~iovi0ia-
BILE from the cry Of rotation in Office
Thus sball VI tru, ' serve cur party, do our
luty to the people, aud preserve ourselves
the condition, tor which all men we're
originally designed: that is OF a Tree people,
Rich. Eng.
MAiS;sIED.
On Thursday 18th INST bv tnp Rev y y War !