Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-06-02
TIE srATE CoNvENTION-Irs DuTY

Ou 1NoSSiAAyy hhNOA Wiz SoN VI WY
State Executive Committee, primary |
county meetings were held throughout |
the State, to appoint delegates to com
pose the Democratic State Convention
which is to assemble in this city on
Tuesday, the 9Th inst That held in this
city was wen attended by solid men from
various portions of the county, and its
action was harmonious, and character
lied by sober earnestness which indi-
Gates the deep sense Of the importance of
the contest about to commence. In an
other column we publish the resolutions
which were adopted, and the list of dele
gates chosen. The latter are men truly
representative Of the conservative senti-
ment Of this section. The former are ably
drawn, temperate and digniied in tone,
and comprehensive in their scope. They
forcibly state the issues to be madeagainst
the revolutionary tendencies and pure
poses Of Radicaiism, aud met with the
unanimous assent Of the meeting They
embody principles inseparable from the
preservation OF civil liberty, and suggest
practical measures Of relief which, under
the guidance Of the able administration
which the Democracy seek toplace in con-
troll Of the government, win arrest the mis-
chievous career we are now running, and
restore security to its institutions and
prosperity to the people.
Wisely and iudiciously, we think, there
was no expression made Of preference as
a candidate Cor the Presidency, Of any of
the distinguished names which have
been canvassed in that connection. 1t
was thought proper to await the assem-
bling Of the State Convention, and by
general interchange and comparison of
views, to ascertain the sentiment Of the
people Of the State The delegates will
come mp fully informed on this inn
pOrtant matter, and be prepared to
give instructions to the delegates TO the
National Convention After no little ex-
perience in matters of this nature, we
have arrived at the conclusion that the
people should always instruct their dele-
gates to such a body how to cast their
vote. This is the true and original reps
resentatiye idea, and when it is adhered
TO, it tends TO prevent much of the evil
which has caused some of the best men
/ in the nation to abstain altogether from
participation in such conventions. Mr..
Benton in his latter years, having seen
much of the workings of these bodies
boosted that there were three places he
had never visited-a brothel, a gambling
hell, and national nominating cOnven-
ton. If delegates 90 with directions from
the people, there is much less Oppor~
tunity Cor trickery and lOgrOlling, and
that sort Of management which oftener
than otherwise, defeats the popular
choice, and foists forward the nominee of a
clique of time.scrving and Oficeoseek-
ing politicians. In this view then,
we hold that the State Convention
next week should Indicate the man
whom the Democratic and Conservative
people of this State think best fitted in
personal qualities and by the principles |
which have illustrated public career,
to take the helm of State and guide the |
vessel back to the highway pointed out
in the chart of the Constitution.
COncoiying this to be the duty of the |
convention, we shall, during the current |
week, endeavor to inform the public and
the delegates to the body, Of the senti-
ment on this important question prevails
ing in other States, and take occasion to
discuss in frank and unreserved style, |
the qualifications and merits and de- |
merits on the score of availability Of the |
leading statesmen whose names have
been connected with the nomination. 1t
is due that the body should be fully en-
Egbtened, and that its decision should |
not be warped by personal sympathies or
antipathies, but that it should express
deliberate judgment formed under
full knowledge, and a sense of the high |
responsibility that will be cast upon its
representatives at New York. 1t may
be only proper to say this morning that
since the announcement of the Chicago
nominees, public opinion appears to have
been concen trating, and that the name
of GEORGE II. PENDLETON, of Ohio now
stands foremost on the roll as the choice
of large majority of the Democratic
party. As to him as our candidate, no
word of commentator is needed Pos
sessed of a high order of abilities, shining
as well as solid, of extensive culture
large experience, and unstained integrity,
ho would be fit leader Of the people in
the noble work Of rescuing the country
from the clutches of the vandals who now
hold it.
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