Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-02-04

Democratic Congressional Conventions Again
from the Richmond Enquirer

From the Richmond Enquirer.
Notwithstanding our numbers, great eff
forts will have to be made by the party in
the approaching spring elections. divide
and conquer" is the policy of the Opposition
Votes for Congressman and members OF the
Legislature will be Strapped for votes for
Governor, and the election of Mr.. Letcher
if not defeated may be compromised, and
morally lost, under the present condition Of
affairs. in many of the Congressional dis
trcts.
Take. for example, either the 4th, 9th or
eth District-n each of these, several Demo
Gratis are already announced. Let the can
vass wax warm with personal dispute upon
the hastings. elimination will he followed 10y
recrimination, personal instead Of political
feelings will be enlisted, and, on the ap'
preach of the election, under the excitement
of animosity among the friends of each Dem
ocrat. the Guhernatorial candidate will be
Swapped of for the opposition vote for Con-
grcss. Thus Mr. Letcher's vote greatly re-
luced, will be claimed rs an opposition tri-
umph. and encouragement given to our now
divided and distracted opponents for the
Presidential contest in 1850. But let the
policy we have advocated prevail, let conven-
tons be called and nominations made and
the party thoroughly united upon both Con-
gressiunal and Gubcrnatorial candidates, and
the most overwhelming success will again
crown our party.
We are glad to see gentlemen announcing
themselves all over the State. We are OPP
posed to seeing any of the present delegation
in Congress retained. unless they are the
choice Of their party over all others; and II
they are the choice Of their party, they have
nothing Ia fear from convention. Ii Is on
" Il consciousness OF weakness that induces
men 10 stand ont against conventions. The
hope Of opposition votes is an encourage
ment 10 Democrats opposing conventions.
As between men in the different districts
before Convention Of their party. We shall
have nothing to say: but where we find disor-
ganization seeking to entrench itself behind
Opposition votes, and opposing Conven-
ton, we shall most certainly expose the in
sdior,s enemy Of the Democratic party, be
he member or aspirant, incumbent or rota-
ZIONIST.
Webrlieve that some. at least. of the Rep
rcSrntatiyes in Congress. have nothing to fear
from Conventions; and the expression of will
lingness, on their part, to acknowledge the
right Of their party To hold Convention ut
any time, and upon II call Of any respectable
number other constituents. would, mt once,
satisfy the people, and result in the return Of
the member.
Men who cannot fulfil this standard of
requirement should be displaced. to make
room for Others who would take their places
aud better discharge the duties Of represen-
tatyeS
We hope. then. 10 see Conventions called,
and nominations made i'll every district
where men boldly announce themselves As
ready Ia enter the contest. Let no sickly
fears for party uSag" or party success deter
any man from announcing himself candi-
date. That usage of party that would per
pttuate men in office is unconstitutional; for,
the Bill of Rights provides that members of
the Legislative, Executive and Federal de.
partmcnts should. at fixed periods, be reduc-
ed to private station, return into that body
from which they were originally ta&en.-
Now, the Use ofparty that would forbid the
trial by Convention, is in derogation of the
spirit of the Bill of Rights, and should be re-
sisted by every Democrat. The best preser-
yativc Of party success is the careful selection
of suitable candidates. Let. then, every
bold honest and talented man in the State, if
need be, announce himself candidate for
Congress, and let the party select by Con-
,cntion. If the present members should be
nominated. they will be returned with
double endorsement, and al the influence of
long service strengthened and increased by
the purifcation ofConvention and polls