Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-05-28
Our County Organization.

article with more than common reluctance. we would
avoid it if we could But we cannot do so, in accord
ance with our ideas of what is due to our party and to
ourselves
We will make no long preamble. The matter to
which we alu1e has reference to the Democratic Coun
t7 Convention to meet in Wilmington, on Tuesday OF
June County Court. What nominations should be made
by that body has been and is discussed throughout the
County and our own opinion has been asked privately
bv friends from all sections and it has always been given
honestly and with single view to the promotion of the
best interests Of the Democratic party We claim for
opinion no more weight than that which attaches to the
opinion of any other Democrat in the county but at the
same time as some misconceptions may exist calculated
to place us in a false position and we differ in
degree from the expressed views of Democratic friends
for whom we entertain the highest respect, we have
thought it right to express them simply views,
claiming for them only the merit of honesty and sincerity
The question Of the power of Conventions discuss
ed pretty freely in the meeting held here on the night
Of Tuesday the 25h instant pending a motion intro
duced by Eli w Hail. ESD, that the delegates from
this town to- the Democratic Convention should be
instructed to oppose any nomination for the Office
Of Sheriff. We are now, and always have been
convention mcn We believe i'll the propricty and the
necessity Of organization indispensable to
secure great end-the harmony and efficiency of the
Democratic party and the triumph of Democratic prn
Cipes. Conventions recognised by all parties as
among the most efficient agencies to promote organiza
ton They are adopted in State and National politics
in districts and pretty generally i'll counties. But
however efficient q MEANS they only means, not
an cndthe end is the harmony of the party and il is
for the party to say how much power is right and
pedent to give conventions that they may the better
and more fully the end of their being called into
existence. Conventions are not primary bodies-they
arc assembagcs Of delegates and exercise but dele
gated powers. 1t seems to that Conventions, being
but delegated bodies only exercise those understood
powers conferred upon them by established party usage
which established usage implies pular assent and au
thorty those further powers conferred upon them by
the people in their primary meetings calling conventions
into existence.
Now, in regard TO the Office Of Sheriff in this any
other county we cannot conceive that is above be-
meath beyond the cognzance of the Democratic party
if chooses to take that cognzance Although not
cessariy political Office will deny that, without
bringing the authority of his Office at all to BEAR which
the party will ask for trust tolerate gen
teman occupying the position of Sheriff. must from his
people of his county, egtmatey possess and be enabled
to exert large influence That this fact is understood
and it's weight appreciated will be readily seen from the
declarations of all Democrats that they will vote for
for Sheriff but good Democrat. This fact being
conceded by all Democrats it follows, think that the
Democratic party has a right matter of party pri
cipe to take cognizance of this Office But whether it
does do so or not is matter of poicy-a question to
be decided on consideration of whether it would most
conduce to the harmony the unity, and the Of
the party to do so, or not to do so.
Now, again, taking the known Democratic rule, that
all representative bodies should be strictly confined with
in the limits Of the powers conferred upon them, and
holding that Conventions derive their powers either from
such established party usage implies popular assent
from the primary meetings Of the people which Immediate
yca them into being we must confess that tappears to
very doubtful indeed whether the Convention to meet
herea June Court possesses thepower forany
Offices than those expressed in the resolutions of the
Democratic county meeting held at March Court. 1t
is true that meeting possessed no legal authority. 1t
could only recommend that Convention be held at a
certain time and place and for certain purposes But
although not recognized by any statue Of the General
Assembly it was certainly held in strict accordance with
that established Democratic usage which constitutes the
common law of the party. 1t was just such meeting
as was held at the March Court, which called the Con
Vention which nominated esteemed friend Mr.
Strange, to scat in the House of Commons 1t was
fairly called and fairly held if ten weeks notice public
time and public place amount to anything.
We have thought about this matter calmly and cooly
and, trust have expressed ourselves without feeling
or excitement. If we know own hearts, would
rather that all the gentlemen in the field, or who
have been spoken of candidates. should be defeated
than that evil should to party for whose best III
teress as we have understood thcm we have labored
not simply in vocation, but in State and District
Conventions and i'll every other way in which we thought
those interests could be honorably promoted and this
without seeking any other reward than the confidence
the Democratic party and the success Democratic prn
cipes. The proud ascendancy of the Democratic party il
n. Carolina, ascendancy which in an humble way
havebeen instrumental in promotngand securing, afford
us gratifying evidence that in one respect at least have
not been without reward and would be doing Dus
ticGto own eelngsd wet acknowledge the many
kind and atering marks of confidence and substantial
support which wehave received not simply from the
BILE Democracy of New Hanover and the Cape Fea
District but also from numbers of the best and trues
members of the Democratic party throughout the State
In conclusion then, the considerations which have
endeavored to present leave doubt in our own mind
of the right of the Democratic party to make the nomi
nation for Sheriff. for any other officer whose eelec
ton may exert influence for against the party
and to confer power for that purpose upon its Conven
ton. This as matter of principle The question
arises upon the erpedency at this time. Considering
that usage-the common law of the party-has not con
ferred the power of making that nomination upon the