Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-12-24
CONGRESSIONAL CONVENTIONS.

the different Congressional Districts OF th'
State. Unless the policy Of Conventions il
adopted, our party must become hopelcssly di
vidcd, if not sgnally defeated. To divide IL,
ard thea conquer us, is the aim and policy o
the opposition. TO encourage i"depen'irm
candidates to oppose incumbcnts, under th'
promise that no opposition candidate shall run
is most deceptive but dsorsaniling suhtcr
fugc Of our enemies. They well know that th'
announcement next spring OF opposition cand
dates for Congress would Immediately caus,
the union Of the Democracy in every ROW diyi
ded District, and evcntIate in perfect harmo
ny, and consequently complete victory. ilenc,
they invite free fight" we'll knowing tha
when once the party is divided between men
when once acrimonious debate has broken dowl
the organization of the party, and exasperatec
the friends Of one man against those of another
an easy conquest awaits tho opposition. A
free fight makes enemies among those whC
stand and this the opposition well know
Hence their later Dig conversion to cxtraorCli
nary tairntss \ free fight" already exist,
in the seventh Congressional district between
Mr. Smith and Mr.. Shackel(ord-S fight,
with all the severity and personality Of til,
most cmhitcrcd opposition contest Mr.. Robert
f. Scott has just declined the candidacy against
these two gentlemen. well knowing that thi,
tight" il continued will become al inferno
cine warfare, destructive alike To mon and
party.
In the ,ith District We have another "rcc
fight" between Mr.. Powell and Mr. Lcakc, and
here, also. We have the assurance that no oppo
>ition candidate will be run. Both Of these
gentlemen have very numerous friends; and
;.> in the eth District. will very equally di
vide their own party.
In the nth District, the Tenth Legion Of
Democracy we are 10 he treated to another
free ii i.ht." There too, assurances are given
that no opposition candidate will run; and
every Democrat is invited to pitch in" And
,hoald the very citadel Of Democratic strength
be divided hy The quarrcl> and animositcI OF
those WHO have so long kept it the Gibraltar OF
the Virginia Democracy it, too, will fall al
easy conquest to those who are now 50 anxious
fora free fight"
These free fights are the most dangerous
paStime>a party ever enjoyed; they era>pcratc
friend againS, friend; they divide and distract
thcorsanization Of the party; they tend TO laxity
of principle. by the inducements they offer to
courting and dallyins with the Sympathes and
support Of the Opposition. To gain the votes
Of the Opposition in these free fights, one
Democrat abatcs little of Democratic principle,
and thus hcrcsics. such as Distribution. creep in
to the faith. To be equal with his competitor,
and to preserve untarnished the faith Of his
fathers, the other dcprecates the asperity Of
party and opposes the views of sparty caucus.
Now we would not be understood as discou-
raging any man from announcing himself as a
candiiate for Congress. We believe this to be
the right Of every man; and We are disposed
to lend every encouragement to the procure.
mcnt Of the hest talent the State can afford.
We are the friend both Of the incumbent"
and the "rotationist." and we are alike the
enemy Of both; we would not give any man 4
life estate" in Congress, and We would not
displacc any man merely because he had been
long time in Congress. But We demand for
the party, through its Convention, the right to
say that the incumbent" has or has not
been a faithful representative; that the
..rotationist is or is not entitled to be the par
tvs candidate; and we likewise demand for the
party, through its Convention. the right to
discard both incumbent" and "rotationist,
and select scnr third man.
We have heen led to the above remarks from
reading the subioined extract from the Wash
ington "Statc," Wedo not know what reliance
is to be placed upon it, nor do we care To en-
ouire We submit it to our readers for what
it may be worth, but would urge upon the
party not to lct the apparent strength Of De-
mocracy. in Virginia. lull them into u fatal and
suicidal policy Of permitting these free
fights" The "Washington States" says:
The Opposition Convention Of sclfdcputcd
delegates which lately met in this city, are re-
ported to have decided on an active movement
in the Congressional elections through all the
Southern States The plan is to spread, as far
as possible, dscord and d!Sscnsion in the ranks
of the Democratic party; to avail themselves
Of the Dongls feud, the slavc-tradc furor. the
opposition 10 long incnmhcncy prejudice
against the caucus system, fillibustcrlSn-in
word, every clement Of discomfort and dsaficc-
ton at the South-in the hope that these frag-
ments once banded into opposition, can he
moulded afterwards into national organlza-
ton. looking 10 the possession Of the General
Government in 1860
The experience Of the past is invoked in
aid Of this philosophy. \ chief element OF
the late Whig party in the South was composed
of dsaffcctcd Democrats who went oil from
General Jackson on the proclamation-nltra
Statc-RightS men and iire.caters-who, finding
themselves once of. cast about them for rest.
ins-p!acc. and finally fell into the embraces OF
tho old Federal party, and outherodcd licrod
in their devotion to the cause Of Mr.. Clay.
From the signs Of the times. our Southern
friends in Congress have prospect before
them Of rough weather, and stormy seas in the
approaching spring and summer campalsn-,
an eye to both lccward As well rs wndward
would not be aniss and may not prove preca'i'
ton lost Political hunger never stalked so
broadcast over the land; statesmen in quest oil
place; Starvrinss, who have been tied to the
rack for these many years without the smell ol
fodder; restless spirits. anxious for revolution
and change are on the war-path in search OF
prev. Again we say. let our Southern friends
lie on the look out
DEMOCRATIC RATIFICATION MEETINGS.