American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1858-04-30
PRIMARY ELECTIONS.

l.tctton system, by this time? 1t is
:, new thing in Old Virginia, one Of
The modern inventions OF 4" Goung ~
tucrica," not yet patcntcd--and before
.9ou 80 to the expense of taking out u
patent, it may not be amiss to exam
me- the working Of this new Machine
.'or making offers. Does it work fair
y, and smoothly, and without friction?
Does it bring into requisition the tai
eats, and energies, and sympathics, of
nc reterdns Of the party? Did YOU
see many OF the gray.haircd patriots,
CT Of the leading citizens Of the coun-
~, Of greatest moral worth and relia-
bility, taking an active part & voting
at the "primary" Was it not man
aged mainly, by young men, not fami,
liar with public affairs, and not skilled
III their management? Were any boys
under age permitted 10 vote, without
scruplc or challenger? This may not
have been the case here, but on the
other side Of Mason & Dixon's limo it
has been done, again and again. Are
the means resortcd to by candidates to
secure votes, where they is an excited
struggle, the most fair and above board
that could be devised? Are the proper
pains taken, under this system, to in
vcstignte the character and Qualifca-
lions Of candidates or is not the de-
signing, foxy intrigucr, who will SLAM
der his competitor i'll the dark, most
likely to get tho nomination
Again, look at the Object Of the pri.
mary election; and what is it but to
SUpcrccde and virtually decide before
hard, the iegal election to be held in
May, and to render the latter Il mere
farce! Is it advisable and safe, thus
to tampcr with the elective franchise
Can we, without dcrcliction Of duty,
permit portion Of our fellow citizens
to assemble in squads, outside Of any
OF the forms Of law, and without the
restraint Of an oath, and go through
some of the firms and prctenccS Of an
election, from the decision of which no
man who belongs to the party dare to
appeal, under the penalty Of being de-
nounccd as traitor?
These are questions Of considerable
interest and Importance to tho conmu-
nifty generally, and they should be full
" discussed, and deliberately weighed.
But, some Of our good friends Of the
Democracy may be ready to ask, with
emphasis, IPhat is that yoW business,
1Nr. Et1itor? lIou don't belong to our
party" Gently, friend, if you please.
1t may possibly be our business, to
certain extent, after all. In the first
place, as the Editor Of a paper bound
by "no party's arbitrary sway" it is
our business to notice, in any way We
please, SO that We do it respectfully,
the dongs Of all parties, " factions, or
the fragments of factions" throughout
the country. Secondly, it may turn
out, upon investigation, that the Ed
tor Of the Enion is Il Ucmocrot, and
oughht to be on duty as such. let us
zee. What is it that constitutes true
blue, bona file Democrat at this time ?
Who can tell ? Ii is a puzzling Quos.
ton, about which doctors Disagree
Let us turn to the Dictionary for its
solution. Webster gays:
DEMOCRAT, n. One who adhcrcs TO
government by the people, or iavors
the extension of the right Of suffrage
~ all classes Of men,"
According to this definition wo are
arcal Dictionary Democrat, as far at
least as it is wholesome for any man to
be, here in Virginia. But who cares
for the Dictionary, in a matter Of pol
tics? care you a practical Democrat,
worthy to be trusted as such ?" Let
US soc. How long have you, Sir, be-
longcd to the party? Will you com.
pare ontcccdcnts with us? Here is an
oil document to the point: -
Pennsylvania, 80. In the name and by
,,s,,ttSS,,, tho authority Of the Common
$SANs%Q:; wealth Of Pennsylvania, ID.
:Is1sgs And,'cw Mul%c, Governor Of
Tf;S;nsss' the said Commonwealth,
10 Simeon Sicgfried. Of tho county