Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-03-08

fore, from time 10 tiue. continue the scraps
for The campaign" especially shall We continue
our labor, in the dusty files OF the "W..ig,
since il has mo objection whatever
THE HENRIco AND HANOVER SENATORIAL
DISTRICT
The controversy wiic;. has lately engaged
the attention Of scmc Of the Democracy in
these two counties, with regard 10 the proposal
for Senatorial Convention. Seems to Us alto
gcthcr unnecessary.
VIA, is the state OF facts Mr.. Chastain
White, cuilsnt and un;iinching Democrat,
just tested by worthy service n the Senate,
stands forward rs candidate for reelection. -
Not whisper is uttered against mis- entire eff
cjenc, and loyalty; and the fact that, at the
last election. he successfully led torlorn hope,
especially marks. him ss the candidatc at the
present moment. when the Opposition through
on, the State are urging unprecedented efforts
in grasp for power.
II Is true that Mr. Robert \. Mayo vas ls,c.
ly brought forward by a portion Of the Demo
cracy =, a competitor for the Senatorial posi-
ton Bu, il is also true that Mr. MAYO In,
frankly ani masnanimously borne witness 20
Mr Whites competence and efficiency ior the
POSITION and absolutely declined 10 risk the
harmony ci the party in the present crisis Of
State politics. by permitting his name 10 be
Used in competition with that Of Mr.. White
Thus, Mr. White has no longer an ayewci com
pcliior III the ranks Of the Democracy. Why,
then, persist III the call for Convention:
We ::oi now. ~ ever. ;hat when two OF
morc respectable candidates come forward
openly To compete for the honors ot the party,
il is dne To each gentleman, aud nc; less 10 the
interests of the party. that the claims Of I'll
concerned shall be submitted :" fairly organ
lied Convention.
Bu; ;iicre il another species NJ ordea. 10
which no party .as the right {" subject = tried
and faithful leader and that is the or'lca; Of
/ chlace Mr. White is already candidate
The nomination Of any other luan wiii be his
defeat. II i. due to him that his competitor,
whoever ne NAV be, shall first be- obliged 20
assume position Of equal responsibility aud
risk before hc shall he entitled to place his
claims before nomratins Con:cntion. II
there is n Democrat in ;ho district who desires
10 supercedc Mr.. White, or % sec him super
cede,l. lei ,ucn person announce himself or
some one else i candidate for the position
Til, will at ouce otli;r The coll g: a Conven-
ton And this is the only fair manner Of pro
ccrilrc The only mode which j, fair. no; only
TO Mr. White. but 10 the whole Democracy Of
tnc district. We a-c nell assured tina, lie
t-uc.l,earted Democracy Of Henrico and l!ano.
ycr are unwilling To permit any man to act the
unfair part Of taking all t,.c chances Of veto.
ry. without incurrinS equally with his compcti-
tor the risk of defeat. Snch acourse OF action
wuui n, orcc open t:Ir door 10 every species Of
bai .a;.h aad ncloricus chlcanerr. and tend 20
render tlic delegates 10 4 Convention altogether
irresponsible to the vii Of the party.
Moreover. 50 Ear a. wc are informed ;hcN
present call for convention :es;S upon an as
sumption. which sc d. rot hesitate to charac
tr,isc &. altogether AZ variance with the usaGcs
and the integrity o' Virginia Democracy. Il "a
pr. .'f.}c:! .ic' ci IA. las, aomiaHtirg c0Ert.-
,io;;, ~ agrses'a.! .-t- ta',reJ ir!9, pIt'igi"q
Z n, par.y I? a,tsrac,s the Senatorial taadi}c-
ey ,t.e.ct Ic r:yee:itt ei'isens q Tic t'-o
eoaaG:S. Let u, see what this amounts 10.
lr the frs, place. We aro we'll assured tia;
.ir White himself neg"r did become as.par'y
% any such agreement. AMI II he c:er hsd
consented TO purchase nomination by pro
mise Of rotation, sc are bold to say ii, he would
have forfeited the high respect which wc have
consistently entertained fnr his mau'r ;"'rgri-
" of csracte:.
Secondly. W. have inc assurance Of the
oh,irnan oi tho las, convention. and .! nu-
,ncrous .cntcncu who ..,tcndci as delegates,
that they gave no countcnancc 90. ana many
cf them were entirely ignorant ol any such
proposal Of agreement. We do not doubt that
some perhaps large number "f dcl"gatr:, did
enter into sucn an understanding. Blu; the
facts We have just mentioned are Sufficient TO
show that tn" agrg~ncl!' ~a> neither formal
Tor conclusive.
Third Ii every delegate in the Convention
had signel and sealed such an agreement. II
would in no manner bc binding upon the De
mncracv Of Ucnriro and Hanover. The dele
gates were sent to the Convention TO nominate
a candidate. and for no other purpose. 80 snor
n. the nomination was made. their functions
were exhausted They had no right, power,
or authority. OF which to presume TO bind thf
action Of future convention They could not
pcrpctiatc their own powars. nor enlars" th@'r
, own functions.
Finally, by whatever power % authority
such an agreement should be proclaimed, ~
would no, only disregard its dctstcs, hu
we would y; once ienouncc i, a7 tending Il
corrup. ,ha people and t" icmorali1c the party
, l. would Operate 10 introduce new qualities
ton for office. fr which there is no authort!
in the Constitution OF the STATE. itwonld Ger
q, ,ain,v o;.cra;c At one ;i,nc or another. 20 cX
c'udc the man of superior. to give place 20 on
Of inferior efficiency. Il would educate In
people iY regard public office in tho light 0
+, partisan '.roi,s. ami not as nigh trust to b
ronfded by the people cnly tc the g9ritif'i.
Ii. then. there are ~ good men as Chsstail
:, White in the tistric, able and willing 10 sery
the people. let their names he placed with his
in fl;. ard open competition. If better maj
can be found among his competitors. by Al
means let that better man receive the nomina
ton. But. for the sake Of the party, wc iTus
= that Mr.. White will nc, be obliged TO stan'
r alone TO encounter the busi,-ighting shots o
concealed competitors nor yet be ruled o" ..
reason OF any supposed agreement wh'cn rest
On anti. Democratic assumption and presump