New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-01-19
DELEGATES TO CHICAGO.

Within few weeks at furthest, the Republicans
of the several States and Districts will be summoned
to choose Delegates to represent them in their Ma
tional Nominating Convention at Chicago; and it
behooyes them even now to be considering and COM
pairing notes with reference TO that choice.
We regret that the National Committee did not
see ct to direct that the State Delegates should be
chosen by the Republican Members of State Legis-
latures respectively, wherever such Legislatures
now are or soon will be in session, and the District
Delegates by the Republicans of the several Dis
tIicts expressly. We apprehend that attempts will
be made in some States to choose entire Delegations
by State Convention, with view to furthering the
nomination of A, b, or C. There is little danger
that any personal advantage will thus be gained, but
great peril that the party may be distracted and
good men soured and alienated. Had the Commit
tee clearly prescribed that District Delegates should
be chosen in and by the several Districts all trouble
would have been precluded. Aud had it gone astep
further, and prescribed that Districts which give but
nominal support to Republican candidates should
send but one Delegate, while those which seyeraly
give us clear Ten thousand votes at their respective
elections to the present Congress should send two,
and those which gave Twenty or over should
send three they would have done an act of obvious
proprety and Justice 1t is not right that the Cairo
District of Illinois, which gives but three thousand
Republican votes, should have an equal voice in our
Councils with the Chicago, the Galena, or the OF
tawa District which give each over Twenty Thousand
Republican votes. 1t is not right that the Sixth
Ward District in this City should have an equal
voice in making our ticket with the st. Lawrence
or Cayuga District, either of which gives from Four
TO Seven thousand Republican majority. A thou
sand Republicans in District should have equal
weight with like number in any other. This is
genuine Democracy; the other is the roten-borough
system which all abstractly condemn. We trust the
Chicago Convention will establish basis of equal
ity for all future COnventions-an equality not be
tween Districts, but between Republican voters
unless it should decide to do still better thing, by
resolving that there shall be no more Republican
National Conventions, but that each voter may in
dorse on bis ballot the names of the men of hi
choice for President and Vice President, and tina
whoever is thus commended by the largest numbe
of voters shall receive the votes of all the Repub
can Electors. This would be genuine Popular
Sovereignty; but it would so diminish the import
ance of party fuglemen and the packers of Conven-
tons that we despair of seeing it adopted very soon.
We have strong faith, however, in its ultimate tri
umph
We entreat the Republicans of each State and
every District to look about them for such men as
will represent them at Chicago with dignity, Wis
dom, and unselfsh patriotsm-men of eminent
integrity, experience, and discernment. Let none
be sent who have axes to grind or who will subor
dinate the triumph Of Republican principles to the
advancement of any man. Let US send Delegates
who have deserved and who command the public
confidence, instructed to do their utmost to secure
Republican triumph next Eoyember-men who
apprehend that such triumph must be worked for,
and who esteem it worth working for. If there be
any who fancy the enemy's ranks irretrievaby
broken and our victory already as good as won, we
may better keep them to do cur hurrahing next No
vember. But let the highest wisdom sway our cOun-
sells and determined energy inspire our efforts and
We moy in due season rejoice over q triumph nobly
achieved and worth all its cost.