Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-04-18
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osnsrsl SAM Hoeston on Conventions
We direct special attention 10 the able IN
patriotic letter Of Csesri Houston, which "
pskllsk elsewhere n to-day's paper. The Mem
phis Eaquirr, one Of the ablest Of the conservative
iesrnAls Ia this country, in referring to this lesc
indeless issthe sshjsined reflections the presen
systsn At making Presidents -" The Convention
tical working has been 70 place the 6estinies Of
TIE Rapnhlic in tho hands Of its worst citisens--
70 deprive tho people Of the independent right Of
chsiosto subsiitue triekery for fair dealing, and
make corruption Indispensable to success. The
fdsa Of rejecting truly the sentiments Of the
masses never enters the heads Of the wireworkcrs,
'.sins out Of tsn Of whom are looking forward to
oGfoiai appointment. and whose support is lar
gained for and purchased just clearly n. il paid
for in dollars and eeats. Whoever sets his face
against This corrupt and eorrup,ins system. is
sufe sf'sll ths encouragement We can give. Wo
believe that no higher service can be rendered to
the country than its destruction, ani we wouid
hail that result - tho dawn Of nov and better
day for rspubfican liberty. BY what means. aud
when il can be accomplished. is question sur
rounded with difficulties, and one whose solution
viii require the aid OF patriotism, frmncss. pm
thence, and sagacisy. No mode which may be
suggested WILL OF can, be entirely free from opec-
tions. Obstacles, moro or less Formidable. will
present themselves TO the execution Of any plan
which may be conceived. and rerhcrs the best
rule is 70 lend helping hand to all, in thc hope
that some one may prove eAectual
We think il clear that, If there should I've any
thing like general expression OF opinion in his
favor, General Houston is. himself, prepared to
make the experiment Of becoming candidate ''on
his own hook" and. in that contingency he will
have cur best wishes for his success.
The Baltimore Convention has been called
under circumstances which FREQ il from the worst
objections to the Convention system. 1t will rcI-
resent the people truly and empla'ically. because
trading politicians neser attach themselves to the
fortunes. or trouble themselves TO manage tho
affairs of party which begins its career under
such uufavorable auspices. Wcexpect, therefore.
to abide by tho action of that Convention. what
ever it may be, and support it's nominees; but We
do not mean by 90 doing to Surrender cur oboc-
tons to the system, or bind ourselves to conform
to it hereafter. We do not know, aud we presume
no one else does, what course that Convention
may deem it wise and prudent to pursue. We
not know whether they will make nomination at
ALL If they do, OF even adopt resolution re-
some one as suitable candidate, We
presume that it will be universally acqaiesced in
by those who are determined not to be swallowed
up by either the Democratic or Republican
organizations.
We need not state our own preference, or that
Of the people Of Tennessee, as to who the candi-
date shall be. That has already been done in
terms Sufficiently unequvocal. Nor need We
say. that We will most chcerfully sup
port any one whose we'll known patriotism and
political soundness is likely TO secure for him n
nomination or recommendation. and that Leiorc
it 10 made, we shall deal fairly. and even kindly
by oil. Indeed, we have no motive to deal other
wise with any one whose name has been men
toned in this connection. and no inclination u
pluck one leaf from tho wreath which ndorns
their brows.
The policy Of making a nomination directly, ~
Of merely passing q recommendatory resolution,
will necessarily attract Abe attention OF the Con.
vention. With the lights now before us, We are
not prepared to express positive opinion as t.
how it should be decided Some evils must DO
eradicated by slow degrees-somc require sharp
aud sudden remedies. and it will he for the Con-
vention TO determine whether il is better to make
q direct nomination this time. and ooncurrently
Herewith premulgase pian by which, hercat-
ter. the intervention Of traders and jobbers be-
tween the people and the Chief Magistrate may
be avoided; or whether it is better to lay the axe
at once to tho root Of the evil, and while giving
expression to their preference, distinctly dis
avow any other authority than that possessed by
an equal number Of citizens, of equal ntcli.
genoe and public virtue, assembled in any part Of
the Republic. The latter course commends itself
alike to our feelings and our judgment. as most in
accordance with the genius Of American institu
tions, but we have no such fixed preiudces in t'
favor as wsuld prevent us from cuncurring in any
other plan, which holds out the hope Of destroy
ing the rotten and corrupt system under whcl,
venal impudence has assumed tho direction Of
public affairs, and life Of obscurity has bee ,mr
the strongest Recommendation for the highest pub
lie trust. Under the first, or constitutional sys
tenn. as Tom Benton forcibly called it, we had for
our Presidents men whose names will live as Ions
as the history Of America is read. Men who has
done sonething-who were the representatives o
principles--and whose opinions were too wei
known to induce the necessity of searching 70
them among tho mysterious resolves Of plat
form, framed in exact accordance with the teach
ings Of that interruptions minister who declare
that words were invented for the purpose Of COZ
cealing ideas. Under that system we had VAST
ington. John Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe
John Qnincu Adams and .Iankson In an ey