Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-02-19
The Govern Iorsh,p.


proposition in relation TO the election of our next
Governor, which appeared in late number of a
hirelns press of this City in substance as follows
First it is proposed thatsR tho people OF the State
should stand on the resolutions of Mr.. Jones, Of
Rowan, recently unanimously adopted by the State
Convention. To this every one viii, Of course
agree. No voice has been raised anywhere in the
State far as we know, against these resolutions.
But the second proposition is that the people of
the different Counties of the State, without authority
of law, shall proceed to select number of delegates
equal to their members Of the House of Commons;
and that these delegates shall assemble and noni-
nate candidate for Governor, and that all the
people shall vote for this candidate The object of
this movement is said to be to prevent party spirit
in the election; but this object be accomplished
| in this way2 We think not, aud we will give our
reasons for so thinking.
In the first place, the newspaper which originated
the proposition has constantly declared that those
| who made the revolution in which we are engaged
| are alone entitled to conduct it" In the second
place, there would be as much if not more party
spirit exhibited in selecting electing the delegates
than there would be in a regular campaign before
! the people preceding legal election. And in the
third place, the patronage and power Of the State
| now in the hands of a certain party faction,
would be used to influence the selection of delegates
and the result would necessarily be, that the bitter
est party spirit would be engendered for the people
would not stand quietly by and the leaders of
faction their patronage and their power to
tinue themselves in Office. .-
Butwe object to this proposition, because itwould
substitute the action of an irresponsible body,
known to the Constitution the laws for the voice
of the people at the ballot-box. One hundred and
twenty men, chosen in all probability by minority
of the oters of the State and chosen too after
excited and bitter contest in every precinctin the
/ State, would virtually elect Governor and Lieu
! tenant Governor leaving to the people only the
empty privilege of going to the polls and confirming
what they had dictated should be done! What
monStrous propositionl
Again, by an Ordinance passed by the State Con-
venon, every officer and soldier from this State in
the service whether in camp in this State out Of
it is entitled, as he should be- to vote for Governor
In August next il the war should continue We will
have some forty thousand soldiers in the feld-one-
third of the vote of the State. This proposition
makes no provision for them. They could not be
represented in the Convention for they could not
be present at their various precincts in the Counties
to vote for delegates; and one we presume, will
propose that tho army shall send its delegates to sit
in political Convention to make nominations for
civil Office. This proposition, therefore, coolly dis
franchises and cuts off brave soldiers in the field,
and says to them that although the Convention has
secured TO them the light to vote for Governor yet
they shall have only the poor privilege of ratifying
the action of one hundred and twenty politicians
chosen without authority of law, who have kindly
undertaken to select for them, and for the whole
people of the State, Governor and Commander-in-
| chief!
We are as much opposed as any one to party
! spirit in the midst of war. Party spirit the
prime of present troubles and party spirit
is now seriously njuring the Confederate cause
We deplore the existence of this spirit and we ex-
hbt of it, except in selEdefence, OF in defence
of the rights of the people But the party which
makes the above proposition Lives, and moves,
and has its being" in party 1t rules out of Office all
who do not agree with it. and it monopolizes all OF
nearly all the offices for itself Like the devil when
questioning the angel of the sun as to the position
ofthc earth in space it the most beautiful
and entlcing shape carry out its purposes. If the
above proposition should be generally agreed to,
these very leaders would sec to it that 10 man who
was for the Union up to the proclamation in April
last, was returned delegate, if they could pre-
ventit; and them having secured the Convention,
they would nominate candidates of their stripe
for Governor and Lieutenant Governor and declare
themselves no-party men until the election; but
after the election they would show the coven foot,
and the people would find that the same old swarm
of flies, with many new ones of the same kind, would
still be upon them growing fat from their substance
Away, then, with irresponsible Conventions! Let
the elections and let the people be iree and let
brave soldiers have the privilege of voting for men
of their own choice, without being dictated to by
designing politicians.