Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-04-18

oplnlon ana puttng Iorwaru inc choico OF poll
ticians, has been seen and felt by good mon Of
all parties. At first something was due conven-
tions, because they to some extent represented
! the people, They have degenerated into assem-
blagcs. the majority Of which represent nobody
but tho hangers on Of towns, while tho bone and
action, under the pressure Of the sectional ques.
| tion which now divides the country.
! Nor are these evils loss apparent to host OF
| good national men, who form o minority OF con-
vcntons They cling to the hope that their
presence and action will eventuate in somo good
| that they may act rs q lenven to the lump OF
corruption and restore the days Of patriotism and
honesty; but call such TO bear mo witnoss, when
| sny that their efforts thus far have besn una
yaling. Thoy are still hoping, and though such
is not vhcir object they contribute vastly to the
porpetration of the corruptons TO which they are
| opposed. Their namcs and virtues furnish the
props upon which politicians rest. Their assoca.
| ton gives character to tho proceedings and
though their counsols are unhoedod,t tho dictum Of
conventions often wins tho respect Of the COM
munity. from their connection with them
| Many such, anxious to escape from the evils
which niiict tho country and restore harmony
md peace. yet regard this as tho only modo of
! cmbodying tho public sentiment and are ready to
| attempt tho system, void Of its abuses but they
will find that the political atmosphere must first
be purified by great uphoaving Of tho masses
Laudablc as their object may be and puro as may
be their motives. they will find that tho oorrup-
tons aud ohicancry. which have characterized tho
proceedings Of conventions, have so Disguised tho
people, that tho moral forco Of their resolves will
be lost. The popular chord. when touched Alright,
will vibrate In harmony with tho Consultation and
| tho Union. | have faith enough In tho masses, TO
believe, that thoy will appreciate u confidence In
their power Of self government and that ere the
fatal hour to liberties shall come, thoy will.
moved by sense Of danger, take tho control Of
tho nation from the hands Of designing roliti.
cnns
The fact is current that tho people are ignored
entirely by politicians, when tho chances Of
| Presidential candidates. nre summed up, and ho
who has Mt his command the greatest number Of
cliques leaders, Is regarded as certain Of
| nomination.
This is not to be attributed either to the failure
of republican principles of government, or want
of patriotism. on the part Of tho people. The
principles maintained by jackson and his com
| peers are eternal. They may slumber while the
war of factions is going on. Tho serpent of
scconnlism may crawl stealthily toward tho altar
| Of our liberties; but when its head IL raised 10
strike the Constitution and perhaps, alas not
until then. tho patriotism of jackson, will, even
| from his grave. awaken and arouse tho people to
n Of their danger. Troublous times arc
coming, when, unless tho people, In the majesty
of their nationality, 90 forth to battle against
corrupt cliques and ambitious agitators, the duys
Of tho Republic will soon be numbered.
Had | for n moment supposed that tho Conyen-
ton system would ever have dcceneratcd to its
present condition, | certainly never would have
entered one. They are now inconsistent with the
genius of our government If it IL TO bo conducted
upon principles OF self government. il pre-supposes
capacity sufficient Tor that purpose, and TINT there
| is public sentiment, which, when properly
expressed, is to form rule Of action. There
must be mode by which that public scnti-
mcnt shall BIO expressed, it is true; but Conyen-
tons having failed to express it, wo must look to
| thn hnl llut-b bpx In ho firm Of cDn
public sentiment is not regarded, nor expressed;
| but ciques and management and chicancry are
resored to substitutes for it. II is declared by
the advocates of Conventions, that their object is
t, give expression to tho popula will; but the
effect well tho design, is TO control tho
popular action. Hence it is, that the highest
privileges of freeman, is consigned to the keep
ing of u few crafty ard designing politicians.
| Thus. nominations aro made and platforms origi-
nate, and are declared tho only orthodox scnti-
ments and he who docs not submit to this
| dictntion is to be prescribed.
| In tho construction Of platforms, tho first thing
considered is, how can they best contrive to gull
the people. secure party success and distribute tho
"spos;" :" and in their arrangement, the effort is
not to announce in bold and unmistakenblc terms,
doctrines, which will touch the hearts Of the
masses and convince their reason, but to express
! in ambiguous language, idcas subject to different
constructions in various parts Of tho Union, and
calculated to deceive.
| The qualifications of candidate arc not con-
sidercd. nor whether he is known to the nation,
or has done aught to advance its interests; but is
he apaitdbe If he is, the end OF party is secured
and there always on the spot, the leading men
of delegations, friendly to him, ready to give
pledges, who united nominate o candidate and
endorse him. Pledging all the delegates who
enter the Convention, to support the nominee,
that Independent action 30 essential to freedom is
destroyed.
No independent man ought to accept n nomina-
tion. accompanied by any platform, which bis
previously entertained opinions arc in conflict. IL
his feelings are national, and ho has claims upon
the confidence of the country, the nation must
know what his principles are. and II they are
proper, they surely do not require the endorse
ment Of Convention to make them pass current
with the people, but their intelligence will enable
them to judge. And again. Il an individual
accepts the nomination OF n party, under these
circumstances, he could not be President of the
nation. He must select oil his prominent ap-
| pointments from the party, and allow the party
leaders to select them No matter what the mt rts,
| no matter how patriotic and intelligent an
| individual may be, unless he has !" voted the
ticket" he is to be exclnded from Office, and his
| merits and claims disregarded. man who would
| consent to be u mere tool because it secured to
| him the Presidency, does not deserve to be the
| head of nation Unless he reserves to himself
| the right of remaining free and untrammeled
from all pledges, except his official obligations, he
will never be able to control the destinies OF this
| great nation; and il he would give single pledge
to secure the Presidency, it is conclusive OF bis
want Of merit. and he deserves to BIO repudated.
Though tho nation might accidentally flourish
under his administration, by its mere self sustain
| ing powers and the onward spirit of people,
| he would ever feel that be was degrading the
post he occupied, and the adulation OF parasites
would o poor recompenso tor the forfeiture OF
| sef-respect.