Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1859-08-11
Primary Meetings.

Our Washington County contemporary, the
Herald and Torch, of last week, has some
sensible and well-timed remarks upon the
subject of Primary Meetings, which we COM
mend to the careful consideration of the OPP
position in Allcgany. As we arc told in the
Scriptures that there is a time to laugh and
time to weep, n time to work and Il time
to rest. n time to eat and time 70 sleep, in
fine, time for everything, it is not deemed
amiss TO remind our American friends and all
others opposed to the Democracy Of The pres
ent day, that the time for lighting the camp
fires of political warfare has arrived. The
friends Of Mr.. BUCHANAN are already in the
field with their nominee for State Comptrol-
Cumberland their candidate for Congress
Urged on by their wouted lust for the spoils,
they seem to be extremely anxious to re-
trieve the ground which they have lost in
Maryland, aud boastfully anticipate a success
which they do not merit 1t is our duty to
meet them at the Threshold Of the contest
and scourge them back to their dens, as wa
have SO often hitherto done and with this
view otir friends throughout the State are
holding primary meetings and selecting del
egates to the State, Congressional and Coun-
~ Conventions which are to be held during
tho present mouth.
In our County the Central Committee Of
the American party, as will be seen from its
notice at the head of this column, have re-
qucsted that primary meetings of that par
ty, aud all the other conservative elements of
opposition to the Federal Administration, be
hell in the several election districts Of the
County, by Thursday next, the 18th of Au
gust, for the purpose of appointing dele
gates, to meet in County Convention on
Saturday, the 20th inst, to select delegates
70 tho State Convention, and the Congress
ional Convention which will assemble at nm
early day, of which due notice will be given.
As their name implies, primary meetings
arc first in dignity and importance in the
machinery of modern politics, the very foun-
dation upon which it rests and relies for sue
c.ssful operation. 1t is here that the mass
q RI every party may meet, freely inter
change views and opinions upon public ques-
lions and public neu, and then select by bal
lot or otherwise such Of their number as are
known to bo honest and disintercsted, to rep
resent their sentiments and preferences in
the nominating bodies which are to follow.
Bur IL is Just hero also where 50 many mis-
takes ar. madc-mistakes which sometimes
xtend their pernicious consequences through
AL the various gradations OF those bodies,
from the County to the State and from the
latter to the National Conventions Of both or
ali parties-and these false steps are directly
and almost always ascrihabe TO the indiiler
ence ofthe people themselves with reference to
thedr political interests, as involve in primary
meetings. The theory of our Government
lodges the supreme power in their hands, but
II they entirely neglect the primary meet
inns Of the partizan organization to which
tboy may belong, they have practically no
voice at all in the administration ofthat Gov
eminent, for they are obliged either to vote
IL tickets which the few, who control these
meetings, settIe and present. for their sufIra-
-. az altogether refrain from exercising the
sSjeetive franchise. Tho latter alternative
nro-suppsscs a surrender of the most inval-
i,al,ls 81 our revolutionary legncies, and should
not b flionglIt of for moment, but the for
nc should bc met and overcome, as it SO
sasiiy mag be by proper attention to the pre-
>Sinary Arrangements of party.
IT cur American friends, in their respec-
dfsfsicts. therefore, devote couple Of
~ n these meetings at such time and
= HAY msy name by the day designa-
n IL sbove call. Let them not delay
IN snnorfaut step, but have their delegates
sr,,1E 52d1 . represent them 10 Convention
Lsrs Fl uSxt Saturday week. the goth of
Lss{heu coma in large numbers and in