The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-03-29
TLe Congressional I'icId.


Surface indications of an interest in tho
coming election for Congress, in this dis.
trict, begin to show. Though nothing has
bccn said on thcsubjcCt until quite recent.
ly, it should not be inferred that the in.
terest Is just beginning TO awaken. On
the contrary, much quiet plpe-layilg has
been going on for several months. PNtri-
oliC gcntlemcnwhO arc willing TO sacrifice
themselves on the altar Of their country
have Ind time by the lOrclock for many
months; ind If Mrs. JARLEY's CXlorIatiOn
to "BC in timer Is Of any avail, they
ought to succeed. Just 10 illhstHltc The
zeal with which quiet work has
been going on: VIC learn that one aspiranL
las occupied q good deal Of Ills leisure
time writing letters 10 pOstmastcrs around
tic district, advising them OF his, candi'
tlacy before tic Convention md assuring
item that II they work for him and he
should be successful, they may be sure Of
retaining their offices; nnl leaving il to be
inferred That If they oppose, the result
would he ION the contrary, quite the
reverse" Some of the pOstmastcrs thus
favored, not rclislling this kind Of thing,
anil nol entertaining realizing sense Of
! their danger from the coming man, have
declined to regard these communications
~ confidential, and have even sent them
for the pcrlSl Of proIanc eyes, which wc
are sure the writer Of them never expected
wouklsee tllcn Whether this particular
uspiant helps Ills chancs.lIy laying his
pipes so near the surface remains 10 be
seen.
The geographical argument has, thus
early made It's appearance. For example,
tht Lewis county friend Of Gen. GOFF,
whose letter VIC copy, is very clear that
tlr next Congressman Onght 10 come
from the Southeast corner Of the district.
Now, We can say for Gen. GoEF that
there arc much better reasons for his
nomination than mere geographical lOca-
ton. We do not regard the geographical
argument of the slightest value, or look
upon public positions like seat in Con-
grcss US mere spoils, to l,C divided around.
With us, the last and least qualification for
q public officer Is the particular location
Of his habitatiOn. Brains, knowledge, po-
lilical fidelity and personal integrity are
things needed in II Congressman. These
arc not peculiar to any locality; nor do
they flourish in one quarter only during n
given term and only in another locality
during another term. They may hG 80
abundant with us in this district that we
cannot goamisS; and if so, it cannot mat
ter much where Our candidate comes from.
We simply protest that in looking, for IL
nlNn who has the requisites to he Con.
gnssman, tits the height offnlly to say TINT
he must he taken from some particular
quarter of the district; tllNt the geOgaphi-
cal qualification, which Is none Nt0l, must
outweigh oll others. +'t Asa.
Aftcr tho Indispensable qualifications
mentioned, it is necessary to have due re-
gard to two other things, Our candidate
should hc u man who can take the stump,
who can understand md explain the pub
lie issues that will enter into the canvass,
anil meet in debate whOnGvCr the DcmOc-
rlcy may bring out against him. lie
should also be II man generally acceptable
70 tho prly in the district, ablcto poll its
full strength. Our margin in Tic district
this time will be close enough 10 make II
u matter Of tirst.ClasS importance IL nOmi'
ratc the strongest lnNn 10 the district, TAX
ing into consideration all the elements
that constitute strength. With u great
many, no doubt, the matter Of locality
will he one Of these elements; the candti
dates political record and general trust
worthincss must be another; his personal
qualities, his mental stature, his incorrupti'
lHIity, his ability to render reason on The
hrstings, his capacity 10 hcOl service II
elcctcl-all these will enter INTO the Ques.
tiUns OF strengths and ought to influence our
choice Of candidate. II they arc disre.
garled and n nOmipation Is made without
any reference to them, or i. II is brought
about us the result Of bargains long since
entered into, it will greatly diminish the
chances Of success.
We only mean to Indicate, for ourselves,
what we deem the leading considerations
that ought to govern nomination; we
mean further to protest agNinst having the
action of the Convention forcstAlled by the
assumption that the candidate must Of ne'
ccssitv come from one end Of tho district