The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-07-16
A call for District Conventions to Rat
ify Action of Executive Committees.

The call made by the Portsmouth Club for
a State Convention, has failed, and for OBJ
vlous reasons. Ii was impracticable on such
short notice as was given, to assemble so
large body; and, even if there had been
ample time to arrange the necessary prelim-
naries, the impoverished condition of our
people renders it exceedingly predetermined
whether the attendance of full representa-
ton could have been effected Still. the call
made by the Portsmouth Club had. at least
the merit of suggesting a plan of action
That plan has given place to another. The
scheme substituted for that put forth by our
friends across the river is, for the Executive
Committees of the three old parties which
existed in Virginia at the last Presidential
election, to assemble in Richmond, and ap-
point representatives to the Philadelphia
Convention, To this end, the BELL and
EVERETT Committee has been called to meet
in the Capitol to-day, in order to decide upon
some course of action. We presume the
DOUGLASS and BRECKENRIDGE Committees
will follow this example, and that the three
will unite in common effort to meet the ex-
igencies Of the situation
This seems to be the only practicable mode
left for the appointment of delegates to Phil
adelphia; and, as the only method LETT, it re.
eeives very general approval. 1t would,
however, "be Infinitely preferable" as the
Richmond Dispatch says go have delegates
appointed by, ano fresh from the people"
But, as this seems impracticable, for the rea-
sous we have assigned-want of time, and
general poverty-we can suggest simple
plan to our contemporary, which, if adopted,
will give to the proceedings of the commit
tees the force and emphasis of popular ap-
proval. When these bodies, acting as one,
have made these appointments, and set
forth such declarations of opinion and prin-
clpes as they may deem it necessary to lay
before the electors Of Virginia, them in each
district, let the people call Convention in
order to ratify the action of the central body.
10 show that we believe this to be entirely
practicable-and not only practicable, but
AL pOl eaut-"e oeS ieaVS 10 suggest tho
assembling of Convention in this city early
in August, for the purpose Of considering the
action of the central cop1mittees-assun,in
that these bodies, in accordance with what
appears to be the general wish, appoint dele
gates to the Philadelphia Convention.
The officers of the johnson meeting which
assembled in the Opera House in this city to
endorse the restoration policy of the Presi-
dent, can with great propriety act as the
Executive Committee in this matter, and we
suggest this mode of proceeding as one we'll
calculated to combine with the CELEBRITY Of
action on the part of the central co committees.
acting in Richmond, tie popular approval
which our contemporary, the Dispatch, rightly
considers to be SO important We eheerfully
accorded our support to the call fer the meet
ing of the Convention in Petersburg; but that
having failed, We now suggest this second
method Of obtaining for our district public
expression of opinion, and trust that the
gentlemen 10 whom We have referred this
matter will indorse our call for Convention
to assemble in this city, say Oh the u day Of
August next. With their concurrence the
voice u the district can be fully heard; and
the plan of action herein recommended, will
if adopted throughout the Stae, either BY
counties, OF districts, the latter mode being
preferable give the full force of popular APP
prevail, or disapproval, as the case may be
to the action taken in Richmond In addi
ton to this it viii relieve the gentlemen
composing the Executive Committees of the
old parties of much embarrassment inasmucf
as decision on the part of the people tc
hold conventions to ratify their nomination.
will be a sufficient authorty-if indeed an,
be needed, for them to proceed at once to thu
delicate and responsible duties which it seem
they are expected to discharge
For the reasons We have here assigned. w
now call for a District Convention, t. as
sembe in this city. on the date indicate,
above, We shall watch the proceedings o
the Executive Committees and as soon a.
these bodies have acted, We shall expec
our views to receive such an authoritative
sanction from the people themselves, as Il
assure the expression of the voice of this dis
trct in the manner We have suggested