The Van Buren press., 1859-12-30
Our Next Governor.

| A State Democratic Convention will be
held in Little Rock early next Spring, to
nominate candidates for Governor and
Presidential Electors and the public
mind is already becoming agitated on the
subject of q Gubernatorial candidate. Sew
eral gentlemen have been put forward by
their friends all of whom, to Judge by
the encomiums Of their advocates, are prop
er men, and either Of whom. SO far as we
have IN opinion, will make us an excellent
Governor. Each is commended for his
talents. integrity, experience and sound de-
mocracy. Our confidence in the Conven-
tion justifies us in the belief that an accep-
table man will be selected, and we feel safe
in pledging our support of the nominee
We trust that the eager anxiety of the
friends of the several aspirants will not
betray them into acrimonious controversy
or lead them into spirit of hostility to-
wards the successful sr.rant Weapprove
Of temperate description of the merits Of
those who aspire to political honors. tits
the right of the people who are called upon
and who have the election to make. to in
quire into the qualifications of those to
whom they call to office and power yet
this can be done without unfriendly criti-
cism, elimination or ill-tempered discus
sion.
The selection of the Executive of our
rapidly improving State is an important
matter. We want man at the helm of
affairs whose wisdom. talents and energy
will be devoted to the development of the
resources of our young commonwealth
one whose mind and care can embrace all
the varied interests of the State; one whose
wisdom can point out. lead and direct leg
islation to the enactment of measures that
will rebound to the welfare of the State,
and who possesses the energy to carry them
out
A wide field is open in Arkansas for
statesman. There is much to be done a
great deal that can be performed for the
benefit of the State Our incipient railroad
projects; our undeveloped mines our
swamp lands salt lands forfeited lands
each and all are subjects worthy of states
man. Our broken banks. State debt, the
subject of education, the full enforcement
of the laws, are all important matters, and
require the attention of an honest, wise,
energetic Chief Magistrate
We should have a man at the head of
our State Government who will be capable
and ready to meet the danger that threat
ems cur institutions. He should be as
as lion. and as cunning as a
serpent. While we would not commend
" ire-eateT, we are decidedly in favor of
placing at the head of affairs in our State.
a man who has the wisdom to prepare in
peace. and the courage to combat danger
when it comes to our doors. We need
man at this crisis who is thorough advo-
cate of State right. and who will be keen
ly alive to the rights of the State, who will
not sleep on his post in a time of danger,
or desert it at the first demonstration. We
want a Governor that will organize the mi
litia, arm the volunteer scldiery of the
State, and prepare for the worst emergency !
Patience, gentle reader these are not
our Individual wants; and numerous rs
they are, they are the wants Of the people
of Arkansas. Neither one is extrar agant
in our expectations or demands we do
not expect all these to be supplied in one
man yet being reminded Of our necessi-
ties, we can and ought t. select the man
who will come nearest this measure.
AS We have before intimated. our indi-
vidual choice. should we have one, shall
not dlvest us of our imrartiality. We are
for the nominee, whoever he may be and
in the meantime our columns shall be free
to the friends of any aspirant So long as
our rules of moderation are not violated