The Feliciana Democrat., 1858-12-25
THE SELECTION OF DELEG ATES

II is now settled, by general concurrence, that
Democratic Convention. to nominate a candidate Tor
Associate Justice, will be held at Baton Rouge, on
the 3D. Monday in January next.
The time for the parishes of the District selecting
their delegates is now at hand. The Democracy OF
the parish of st. Martin have already, in mass con
venion, selected their delegates So far from qncs-
,oning the right of each parish to select In its own
way aud manner Its delegation, we are the strenuous
advocates of this right. We are at the same time.
however, satisfied that the iarest, most equitable,
and democratic way of asccrtaning the viii OF the
Democracy of the parishes is by popular vote In
zach parish. NJ suggested by Judge Ratl in letter
we find In the Bayou Sara Ledger and which we
publish in another column. Our business is not to
discuss interfere with the action Of other parishes
in The manner of choosing their delegates but under
standing better way Of ascertaning the democratic
wiU with reference to their choice of candidate for
Assoc late Justice, than to let the pioie democracy
speak Tor themselves by fair vote, polled in their
different wards at their respective precincts, are
the advocates o: the plan for this parish as suggested
Ivy Judge Ratlih.
We wish to he understood in this matter. Our pre-
fcre for this plan Is based upon what conceive
to be- the essential good of the Democratic party We
wish to ascertain the Democratic choice without
repetition of the of the fall of 1857 as enact
cd in the Court House Of this town We do no, wish
again to see. in primary asscmblages of Democrats
champions arraycd AZ political gadiators in behalf
Of rival chiefs We know that the most substantial
Democrats Of this parish are not inclined to take any
part in such meetings. They are no less opposed to
It, as mere matter of dccorum and taste than they
are to the principle which it involves. of permitting
the party to be absolutely governed by the machinery
Of organization. The Democratic party. as Il party.
has no organic law. 1t is competent to speak for it.
self when II chooses to speak. and to the man or
get of men who attempt to control it through the
machinery OF its organization. They may succeed
for season. but a day of reckoning will come.
| The Democratic party in this parish have. for the
last two general elections chosen their parish ticket
by direct vote. We see no reason why we should
not adopt the in the selection of delegates
to district and state conventions and more particu.
arly in the present instance. where there is the SIN
gle choice of u candidate to be made The issue il n
simple though highly important one. The constitu
tion has so fixed II that the election for Associate
Justice is Isolated from other elections We have no
less confidence in the capacity of the Democratic par
ty to select directly candidate than we have in
their numerical strength to elect one
For these reasons, endorse the spirit If not the
letter OF the suggestions of Judge Ratlif repeating
again what we have before stated ia this paper that
without urging the claims of any one wc rely upon
the Democratic Convention to nominate suitable
man for the place.
Is il consistent, ina party advocating free aud uni
versal popular suffrage popular sovereignty and pop.
ular right. to give up into the hands of few any
more power than is necessary and essential for tht
purpose of fair organization in general political
contest? Are we not in fact defeating our own prin.
ciples and our weight party. if in our indiller-
ence TO this popular influence acting directly on our
party organization. we permit political management
and manGuvering to control the Democratic party
and throu gh it the State.
After the above was in type we had left with us
for publication call for a Democratic meeting.
which our readers will find in another column. We
leave the whole question in the hands of the Demo.
| cratic party TO take whatever action they may deem
proper having given our honest opinions in the mat
ter, aid will be perfectly satisfied in leaving the
whole subject with them not knowing that we shall
refer to it again. While we claim the right of an in
dependent expression of our views we are not to be
presumed to suppose that they are entitled to any
more consideration with the party, than those of any
other good Democrat.
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