, 1863-10-09

That the present system OF nominating candi-
dates in convention, Is satisfactory only to sehem-
ing politicians whose SUCCESS depend upon tsplpe-
lsying" and " wire +ru1Ing," Is patent to all who
arc conye1eart with TIE mode Of bat1oting- Un-
der the present system, any delegate nsy pledge
his vote to dozen OF. more different candidates
for the game nomination, get neither Of them
Knows who he finally voted for, and none hut the
delegate Is aware how he sold his vote. The rtrd
coe rule should be adopted In conventions, IS 1t IL
now in use In Congress, Legislatures, &c. t.
the only plan that will satisfy the people, and
shouldbe adopted At the forthcoming convention.
We fully endorse the following able article on
this aubjcct, from the Stats ze!tung:
From the Daily Illinois staats zeitung.1
TIE APPROACHING COUNTY ELECTIoN-TH8 con-
yES71oK aYBTKx-DELEGATEs VOTING PUBLICLY
AND ET MAZE.
officers will take place. The nominations Of can
didates will be made, as heretofore. by delegates
In patty conventions assembled. Whatever may
be ihought Of such conventions, and the corrup-
tiou not unlrequently pracsiced therein. this
much Is certafn That In the present state Of pott
cal patties another means to select candidates has
are, and likely will, continue to be necessary
evil This il II the very naturo Of things, since
or system Gf elscttng officers Requires not an ae.
to determine The election Of candidate. Now,
Nereeach caud!date to 60 before the people, rely
" tLe1c could be. IN tie case oi sny consideraSia
number Of candidates. each one Of whom would
require only . plurality ot yotes 70 be elected,
iat Managed to STns tSa fs iewsse esndidatcs iufc
the Aeld, Tould Invariably be victorious,
1t would be. however, not so much tho CONVEX
ton system, OF that nominations were to be made
BY conventions, that the people dislike, but for
the experience, that the selection Of candidates by
conventions is very frequently In opposition to
of tho party, and that he Conventions Themselves
are too often subject to the Willy macipalstions Of
political w!rep1llc1s, and are controlled By cor
mental cause Of this appears to be the sacred bal
lot sTetcm. Hitherto. the nominations Of caadl-
heca 9esp s stsa n ths
lection, however, must convince oil, that the rea-
tops for usipg the ballot at elections DO not OBJ
tain IN maklng nominations. The citizen who
accountable only to! hts conscience for the exer-
nsighbor, is entitled know how be voted. at the
counts ss much that Of the richest and most IL
duential; and It is Just because the latter shall
not hase It IN his power, to abdge the ffeedom q
influence resulting from state of accidental de-
perderce Of the one upon the other-that the law
ec!et NJ that mans vote from hts eye.,
But 1t ia far otherwise With the voting OF dele
gates In convention. These men are simply the
agentH Of the masses, and theIracts are performed
GoL 60 Ancd IN tne1f own name as In the nAne OF
those who sent them. Upon the plainegt p.inri-
pies OF right and Justice, they are accountable to
their constituents for the execution Of their truet
and the latter have clea'ly the right to knoR
whether they (the dtlegates) me,tted the cond.
dencc reposea in them, and In what manner they
discharged thcir duty.
In theory or principle. nothing can be said In
fayoT Of the secset ballot system; on the other
hard, experience has shown, In numerous in
stances, that under cover and with the aid nf ina
fecres ballot, delegates have nomi candidates.
whom the people never Tonld hare selected, and
that, as necessary consequence, their action was
The secret ballot System opens the door to cor.
Tnption aud bad faith. Professional dele
gates manage to get the most important
Tote to Tits one :ahd til tl5e ps' othes. whIa sbfls
they invariably give it to the highest bidder. No
Woncer that this beges dtettust among the cautlt-
dates, y ho find Themselves duped and BETRAYED,
ard diisdection among the people. He who &C.
cepts the Office Of Delegate should have the moral
has not that courage. he should not b. Delegate.
In that care be Is wholly unit for the position,
ror can he have any other purpose than to de.
eeIre his constituents Such men should be kept
1r q Eafe distance from Conyentiuus-they hare no
business there. Tho Delegate to a party Conyen
tton. as well ~ any other representative Of the
people, from member OF Congress to Alderman,
and from member olthc Legislature to Supervisor,
should vouch With his name for his vote
sire to put end to all wire pulling in the party,
end to prevent professional and purchasable Dele.
gates from disscEardtng and perve1ttug their WILL
should cnergetiAly lnRist that all nominations be
made rfrG rCce. Candidates nominated by secret
ballot, onght not to be supported.