Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-06-01
DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION FOR THE GU
BERNATORIAL NOMINATION..

The Examiner" Of yesterday, refers to an article
from the "South.Side Democrat" openly decsr-
ing preference for the Hon. John Letcher as cand.
date for Governor and produces the following sem
tence from the Democrat "He has long been our
choice and we believe convention hardly necessary
to confirm it."
II this ia intended as mere expression of prefer
ence for Mr.. Le:cher, we have no comment to make
on the subject s not unusual for Democratic editors
thus to express their preference anterior to the
,embling Of convention. As for us, We shall pursue
the course which the "Eoquirer'' has hitherto con.
sstently maintained, whatever may be our indi.
vidus preference we will not throw the weight of
our editorial columns. in favor of any Of the compete
tors for the choice Of the Democracy.
But if this reference to convention indicates any
movement for the purpose of discountenancing the
assemblsgs of convention for the nomination Of
gubernatorial candidate, shall offer decided pro-
test against any such attempt to prevent formal
expression of the wishes of the party;-and this,
whether the movement is made in favor of Mr..
Letchsr any body else. 1t involves no dscourtesy
nor injustice TO Mr. Letoher to assert that there are
other prominent Democrats in the State equally euti
tied TO the support Of the party, the particular
friends of q number of these are doubtless equally
anxious for the recognition Of their claims respective
ly, are the especial advocates of Mr. Letcher for
bis nomination.
Moreover, we would regard any serious attempt TO
dispense with nominating convention as very dan.
gerous TO the party organization. Such precedent
would open the door to future ntrigues which might
the party irretrievably. We have no desire to
the party split into convention men and anti con.
venton men. Still less would We favor permanent
policy against conventional Nominations and thus
open the way for snatch game among Democratic
aspirsnts. Nothing would be easier under suoh cir.
cumstanoes than for we'll organized faction repre-.
sentng the merest minority Of the party, to nominate
sDenooratic candidate. few men scattered through
out the State would devote their time to putting,
through newspaper communications, and over every
number and variety of signatures few presses could
be- found to hoist the name at the head of their
columns, and thus, by purely factious combination,
the weakest Of all the competitors might be pulled in.
to the candidacy. Neither editors nor newspaper
correspondents have the privilege of deciding as to
nominations for office, and anti.convention sys.
tenn would certainly place the party at the mercy of
newspaper management. We believe too that We
fully represent the wishes Of the Democracy of the
whole State, by insisting the regular selection of
Democratic candidate for Governor by means of a
general nominating convention.
The particular circumstances of the late candidacy
OF the present Lieutenant Governor, marked that in.
stance out exception TO the usual policy with
regard to conventions. lie had 60 lately received
suoh an unqualified choice by the sufragea of the
representatives Of the people, and this choice had
met such universal approval that it was evident TO
all that the assemblage of a Convention would do
nothing than give formal shape to this retera-
ted sanction. There such inducements to dis
psnse with the call of a Convention, to provide for
the approaching gubernatoria election.
Moreover tho sea.a Cea-oasie~ which will neioOt I"
candidate for Governor, will also nominate candidates
tor the offices of Lieutenant Governor and Attorney
General and it is certainly important that these Of.
ices should not be left to the competition Of volun-
tser candidates.