The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-04-29
From the Cincinnati Enquirer,
The Presidential Nom q tion--The In.
nfrucfiona of the Reonle.


From the Cincinnati Enquirerl,
The Presidential Nomiaation-The a I'm.
structions Of the People.
We will make no apology for again
introducing the subject of the Presi-
dency. The selection of a candidate is
for the Democracy at this time the most
momentous one ever before contem-
plated by the American people. Upon
this question is involved not only our
welfare but tho continuance of the Re-
public, for generations to come. In less
than ninety days the Convention is to
meet in New York for nominating pur-
poses. Nearly every State in the Ohio
and Mississippi Valleys has already, and
the balance will soon instruct their del
egates to the Convention to vote for
George II. Pendleton for President.
While State after State has pronounced
for him with an Inanimity and enthu-
siasm almost unknown IN the history of
politics. not single State, yea, rot q
single county nor single township, in
the whole country, from Maine to Ore
gon, has expressed a preference for any
other man. Plenty of candidates have
been suggested by the politicians, but
they have not strength enough
with the people to receive an ,ex-
preston from even township. This
is Significant as we'll as a remark
able circumstance. In the press, too,
we observe the same thing. Hundreds
of papers have declared for Mr.. Pendle-
ton, while only here and there is to be
seen the name of any one else for the
Presidential position floating from, any
editorial masthead. Yet there are some
who tell us that Mr.. Pendleton is not
the most available candidate we eau
bring into the field. They are fearful
that the man whom the people instruct
for is not popular with the people
They would rather trust few politi-
clans to select man, whom the people
don't know, for whom they have ex-
pressed no preference, as the candidate
to win the election Now, we believe
the people know what they want, and
that the candidate for whom they ex-
press preference will receive far more
votes than one who has not been able
to get that preference. Delegates to
National Conventions are like Presiden-
tial Electors, who are not legally, but
in honor, bound to vote fer that man
whom the people, in their primary as
semblies, have indicated as their choice.
If it were possible, all the Democratic
pesple of the country wOHld attend the
National Convention, and nominate
their candidates, without the instru.
mentality of delegates. But this being
impracticable, they have to select agents
to perform that duty for them. Those
agents ought, and must, in all things,
carry ont the views and wishes of their
principals,
"a The people would not delegate TO any
six hundred men, no matter how dis
tinguished or up:ight, the privilege of
absolutely selecting the men for whom
they are to vote. That would be an
abdication ef their sovereignty which
would show that they were unfit to ex-
ercise the right of suffrage. But this
doctrine, man;festly sound us it is, is
not palatable to many of the politicians.
They don't like to 90 to Nationa! Con-
ventions bound by instructions or pre-
ferences from the people. 1t is some
what inconvenieHt. 1t loses them pow
er and prestige. Those who desire can't
gamble away their States for this or
that man quite so well. Those who
are corrupt can't sell their votes as
readily OF easily. Hence, in the local
assemblies and conventions of the peo-
pie, we find politicians who oppose
popular Presidential instructions, and
who modestly ask the former to give
them carte blanche to go to New York,
and there to absolutely and with""t
previous impression. SOLICIT candidates.
Would not the people be foolish to ac-
commodate these gentlemen in that
manner!
When the Democratic Convention as
sembles in New York, it will be found
that neatly or quite ene-half of the
delegates will be under instructions, or
recommendations from the people,
which amounts to the same thing, to
vote for Mr.. Pendleton. The ether half
have gone there without instructions.
We have a right to infer that the people
whom these latter delegates represent
are Indifferent as to whe is selected
among the candidates, and are rs favor
able to Mr.. Pendleton as any other man,
and have, therefore, given no instruc-
tions to their delegates. On the other
hand, the delegates for Mr.. Pendleton
reflect the wish of those people who are
not Indifferent, but are strongly in ia
vor of that gentleman. In this event,
who ought to give way, the in
structed or the uninstructed dele
gatesi The delegates whose people
have expressed preference, or those
whose constituents have no preference,
and are Indifferent on the question?
Mauifestly the latter. We may here
say, most emphatically, that these are
not times when the people will be tritied
with in that which concerns their dear
est interest. These are not times when
politician-made Presidents can be elec-
ted. The peoples wishes must be re-
spected. 1t will not do to spring, by
intrigue, candidates upon conventions
who are only the choice of few indi-
viduals, and who are not able to obtain
any respectable popular expression in
their favor. The plain and manifest
duty of the New York Convention is to
select, and only select, those fer whom
the people have manifested more will
linsness and desire to support. No
Others will be acceptable, and no Others
will have any assurance of an election.
ARew Words 20 q Father.
Take your son for a companion when
aver yon can. IL will relieye the already