Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1861-03-22
District Convention.


IN Harrlsonburg on the 9Th of April. At
the suggestion Of a number of gentlemen,
the day of the meeting of the Convention
will be fixed for Thursday, the 25th Of A
pril.
We briefly stated our reasons last week
for the necessity Of this Convention. We
again allade TO it, to impress ahe propriety
OF the movement upon our readers, and a.
waken them to the importance of organic
ing thoroughly the Democrats purity. The
present incumbent, it is true, has announo
ed himself candidate for reelection, and
refused to submit his claims TO the action Of
Convention. We regard this unprcce.
peated course. on the part Of one claiming
to be Democrat, as revolutionary, and an
insulting attempt to tyrannixe over the u.
sage and the policy OF the party from time
immemorial-aa impudeat and defiant as
sumption that the party organization must
be made secondary and subvervivnt to his
bebests-that he is the master and not the
servant of The people
While We do not endorse the Congress
sional course of Mr Harris, we had no in
superable objections to his re election pro-
vided he had expressed a willingness to
aid in uniting the Desaocracy in this Dis
trict and the State, by submitting his claims
to the consideration of fairly constituted
Convention of his tellow-Democrats We
believe that he could have received the nom.
nation. had he expressed willingness to
conform to the usage Of the party. But
instead Of that, he places himself above ev-
cry consideration of party interest, and in
augurates policy which cannot fail to de-
moralize and hopelessly break up our or
ganization, aud eventuate in turning the
District over to the Opposition. Against
this course we enter our. protest, and hel e
declare that we will support no man for
Congress who is not willing to permit his
name to 60 before fairly constituted Con-
vention of the Democracy Of the District
We shall war upon him to the bitter end as
an enemy not only to Democracy, but
traitor to the best interests of the country.
and as false to every impulse Of patriotism
and honor. There is nothing so despicable
as that inordinate greed for spoils and plum
der which subordinates every other consid-
Grafton to the promotion Of self aud the at
tainment Of selfish ends.
We are thus earnest in declaring our
convictions because VIC believe the vitality
of the Democratic party Of the State depends
solely and entirely upon holding q Conven-
ton in this District. If we act indiffer-
emily III the present emergency, and permit
this last opportunity to unite the party to
pass upimproyed, it may be written down
upon the record of current events that the
sceptre has departed from Judah-the De-
mocracy have struck their colors, and be-
come the willing captives of the aiders and
abettors Of Black Republican power.
We appeal to every Democrat in the Dis
trict to rally once more under the standard
of the State Rights Democracy. We have
the strength in this District to overcome our
political foes. Let US exercise it. Never
was there period when more important
interests were suspended upon the success
Of State Rights principles. The honor of
Virginia, and the interests and prosperity
Of the country, are directly involved. If
the schemes anu devices of the Opposition
succeed we may look out for universal bank
ruptcy and universal bankrupt laws TO spread
like pail over the country. and sweep
down not only the rights Of the States, but
submerge in one grand food of ruin, the
rights Of individuals. We warn you, De-
lnocrats Of Virginia, in advance, if you do not
now unfurl tie old banner under which you
so often have marched to victory, and stand
firm to the colors you have SO frequently
borne trium rhanly a'oft, you declare your
selves for all time to come the slaves Of a
political oligarchy more intolerable than an
enthroned and jeweled tyrant's heel.
We must have Convention. That body
must fairly consider tho claims ofevery cam
aidate that is presented to it, and lie who
receives its endorsement may take the old
flag of the Democracy and fight the battles
of State Rights and the Constitution as our
fathers made it, throughout the District =
We cannot fail to succeed. 1t is impossible
f,r the Old Guard to falter and quail in
the hour of greatest peril, and fall victims
to the wles OF an insidious and unprincipled
enemy that now by stealth and stratagem
endeavors to accomplish that which hereto
fore he has ever failed to do 10 an open
aud undisguised contest
Our amiable neighbor Of the Spectator is
again disturbed about the Douglas Democ-
racy. He is awfully frightened in antici-
patton of union of the Democracy He
has been calculating on fusion between the