The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-07-31
who Shall Represent y q

Who Shall Represent Y q,
Revolutions absorb, sooner or later all men
on one side or the other; and hence we said
some time ago that the question in regard to
the Philadelphia Convention was not SO much
whether we should be represented, as by
whom. Certainly few graver questions have
ever arisen, in which it was more necessary
for us to discard personal considerations. and
rise above contracted prejudices, than the
present.
The questions involved are of gravity
which overshadows all the common place
elements which ordinarily enter into the cleo
ton of men to high and responsible positions;
and we trust that the people Of this town
and of the district, will prove equal to the
exigencies of the hour.
In selecting our representatives to the
Philadelphia Folkmote, We should remember
which it seems proper to recur once more,
let US hope for the last time, to old party dis
tnctions in the selection of our delegates.
The proposition may, at the first blush, be
surprising to our readers, who are well aware
that we insist on all proper occasions on the
oblteration of these old party distinctions;
but our suggestion rests upon the foundation.
of solid and well considered arguments. Our
proposition is that the three delegates to be
sent by this district shall be selected from the
three parties which existed i'll Virginia at the
time of her secession.
This, too seems to have been the view ia
ken by the Central Committees; for Mr. 1Y-
LER introduced resolution to appoint four
delegates from each district which was de-
feated by the substitute providing for three
a number corresponding to that Of the party
organizations Of which we speak. But, there
is better reason in support of this suggestion
than any inference, however just, which we
may draw from the action ofthe COMMITTEES.
1t is this. The three cid parties represented
three different shades of the public opinion of
Virginia at a period when her people were
discussing both the right and the expedency
of secession, as constitutional remedy for
| the ills Of which We complained Clearly it
| is important that the men who shaped the
policy of these three parties-their fitness in
other particulars, hereafter to be indicated, be-
ing assured-should be opponents, not as
representing the original differences of opin-
ion, but, what is more to the purpose, the
transition by means of which Virginia be-
came a unit as the revolution hurried on
The history of these parties is the history of
Virginia. 50 far as her political opinions are
involved, and the men Of these parties made
that history. Our representative men, then,
| should be opponents as we have said, of the
process by which Virginia became a unit in
her action The reasons here assigned are
amply sufficient for our purpose; and having
answered our question in part, as to who
shall represent Us, we now proceed to consid-
er the additional and more important one of
personal fitness.
We need men who will address themselves
to the existing facts of the situation, not to a
supposed, or desired condition of affairs We
need men Of experience, wisdom, courage,
honor resolute in character temperate
in talk; men who understand that practical
statesm anship deals with what exists, and
comprehend that one Of it's chief functions is
to use for good ends the circumstances Of the
hour
With the constitution before them, and d
modest but firm assertion Of our rights, in
personal conference with the men who are to
meet them. we may reasonably expect some
good results But in any event. we can be
sure of having our position, in the present
crisis, represented with courage and modera-
ton; a moderation which will assert nothing
which we may not properly ask, and a cour-
age which will accept nothing degrading;
which understands loyalty to be obedience to
law, and the test oath" to be an abomina-
ton unknown to the Constitution.
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