Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-11-25
THE CONyEyTIoN

VIM. LOwndes, of South Carolina, one
Of the ablest, purest, and most unselfishpa-
triots who ever filed public station in this
or any other country contemporary
half 6 century age. Of Clay, Webster and
Calhoun had so secured the pulDhe conf
depce at an early age, that his name was
suggested in connection with the Presi-
dency of the United States. Tie promptly
wrote to repress the movements and in The
course of hisletter gaveutteTance to a senti-
mentwhich, though specially applied to the
highest Office in the government, is appliea-
dictionary others, and should be heldas an
automatic truth in the American mind.
After enumerating the qualifications de-
rived from natural endoyments, and in
sisting that long and varied experience
should be united with them, however
great, in order to fit one TO I'LL that august
Office, he said Il 1cdS station neither to
be sought for nor declined.
The people Of this State are about TO
elect members OF q Convention to revise
the organic law, a duty fortunately sell
dom required TO be performed, but as i'm
nortant and difficult as il is infrequent;
and il presents 10 them an occasion when
the sentiment aud example of Mr.. Lowndes
should be regarded. This journal has no
candidates; nor has il spreference for any
class of individuals, young, middle-aged,
or old, from which they should be chosen;
nor, that they should be selected from the
ranks of any special vocation.
A word, however, is, at the present
juncture, duty; for notwithstanding
is a species of service for which every
man is not adapted. Mere personal popu-
larity is not a qualification, while pruri-
ent desire to be engaged in if, may be
justly regarded as a disqualification. 1t
is emphat;cally a service which should not
be sought after The requisite quail
fcations consist in a more or less thorough
knowledge of the history of the foma-
ton Of constitutions, as well as general
| political history; an acquaintance with the
defects Of the instrument proposed TO he
remodeled; and an understanding of the
temper and condition of the people who
are to be governed by it. The hall of the
Convention when assembled, should be a
| chamber for mutual consultation and de-
| Liberation, not an arena for the ventila-
ton of crude, experimental propositions,
or the championship of anymeasure which
the member may, in canvass
for his place, have discussed be,
fore the people. The work OF
the body is to he submitted 70 the people,
and they can accept or reject II as they
see fit II is safe to say That no man moi
single constituency is wise enough now tC
say what should and what should
not be done 1t is only by g
comparison of. views and a careful
survey, retrospectively and prospectively,
that salutary and durable alterations car
be devised And, if this be a proper de
scription of the character of the dut!
in hand, we have net erred in the slletcl
of the character of men who Should b.
called to perform it.
The Convention should have a prepon
dcraiing element of acknowledged learn
ing, sagacity and experience in its compost
ton, or it viii be calamity, and all o
every age and condition win in time com
| TO know il.