Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-12-16

FhursdAy Morning .....-...... Dsc'r. le. 1855.
Ths.Board Of Public worka-A Proposi-
ton.
We - it anassncsd thai Col JcnatAan r. Sto-
vall Of Halifax has declared himself candidate
II ~ Board II Public Works upon his own hook
snd 1T ~ proposes 10 stump The whole District
hssvssa tAis time and election day with view Of
urging HI claims before the people i" prepria per-
seaa. 80
Il b ilso eoajsctared that Mr.. Pendleton OF
HaysA Win b. brought upon the course by his
ftisadk sna tAsE hs will make splendid run in
all ~ SsatAwesaeru counties Of the State.
II oGhsr portions Of the District from the At
lansic % he Ohie there are other gentlemen who
are aubsiosa of serving the State in the Board of
Public wuvks-a very lasdahe ambition, and We
take no offence at any one who chooses to cherish
il Az the District comprises ane-ihird Of the
State, there are probably not less than 6fty gen.
tlenen In is amply qualified to All the otace, who
would have no objection to being invested with
its honors it, responsibilities its dgnt'cs and its
emolsments-
Nov, a. The ofIce h in no respect 20 litcal
one, and has little or no patronage, we propose
THAI for this time we return to the good old Vir-
ginia custom, which Col. Stovall has re-naugura-
ted, of each candidate announcing himself before
the people upon his own responsibility. What
objection can there be TO itY Is it not plain that
the wider the Geld 10 for sslcction. much great
er will be the chance for the people 60 select tho
right man IL . dozen or tive candidates are all
before the people, 10 it not more likely that they
would select better man than packed Conyen-
ton would do, made up Of professional politicians.
and representatives ofsCourt House clqacs' We
think so, and We doubt not the people en- masse
vin agree with u.s.
The Democracy will not object to This arrange
ment We suppose, unless they are willing to adj
init that their name s misnomer. Democracy
means - government Of the people, and it is
precisely in the inseres. of the people that we
make this proposition We wish to take the cleo
ton Of member Of the Board Of Public Works
out Of the hands Of few intriguing politicians.
and let it 70 before the High Chaneery Of popular
arbitrament In short propose 10 bring
back the good old Virginia CUSTOM when Democ-
racy meant what it profsssed, and lot the people,
of their own free will and without tae interven-
sonof caucuses and cliques pronounce at tho polls
their unbiased choice Of man 10 serve the Com
monwsalth in the Board Of Public Works.
Wesuggest, therefore, to the Democracy --charg-
ing nothing for the suggestion-that, in tho inter
est Of popular rights and true Democratic rrinci-
pies, they abandon the idea Of holding Conyen-
ton to nominate a candidate, and that they let
each aspirant enter the feld upon his own person
al merits and responsibility. IN imitation of Gen.
StovaI, let each candidate declare himself before
the people, and stand the hazard Of the die" Of
the popular choice. Let Mr.. Peudlcton. Mr.. Dan
iel, Mr. Wallace Gen. Clay. Gen. Storal, Mr..
Burwsll of Bedford, and all the others, start fair
at the tap Of the drum, the first day of January
next, snd dash nroand tho course, in the fashion
of grand sweepstakes on iour-mile day. We
will thus have an snimating and exciting race, in
which the people will, once again, have the inesti-
mabls privilege. in reality and not merely in form
of designating tie man Of their choice for the Of
6os in question
We shall look fos this proposition to he cheer
fully and readily accepted by the Democracy
but, 10 provide against every contingency, aud CO.
yer the whole ground, We have an alternative sug-
gestiOn to make, in the barely possible event that
the other shall be declined. We propose that,
instead Of holding Democratic Convention to
nominate a candidate. we bold o general convcn-
ton Of the people without distraction Of party
We cay "a general convention of the people" and
we mean what We say. The idea is II good one
an excellent one-the next best to our first
proposition that all the candidates take the field.
The Office is nota political one at all, but belongs
to the people en- masse, without distinction of par
ty or sect. OF course then, it is the appropriate
province Of the psopleto designate the man. No
mel. party has the right to dictate to the people
Who shall ell an Office that is not strictly political
and we call upon the people of the District, if
the attempt be made to impose party candidate
upon them. to repudiate the whole proceeding and
rebuke the attempt by an inglorious defeat Of the
nominee.