The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-06-27
THE SECOND DISTRICT.

The nomination of the Hon. James III.
Plat, Jr., for Congress in the Second Dis
trict, was just tribute Of respect and
proper appreciation for his able services in
Congress during the last two years, and we
are pleased to see that, after fair and hon
orable contest for the nomination, his selec-
ton was made unanimous by the Conven-
ton. The Convention was held in Ports
mouth, on Tuesday last, agreeably to a
regular call for that purpose, the chair
man of the executive committee acting in
the prelimary organization, as is usual on
such occasions. 0.-..f a..t
But we regret to see that DR.. d. M.
Norton, of Williamsburg, has seen fit to
withdraw handful of the delegates to Sc
cure his own nomination for Congress in
the same District. This "bolt" for it is
nothing else than square jump from the
Republican ranks is unfortunate and i'll
timed in more respects than one. DR.. Nor
ton is a colored mana circumstance which
we recognize as neither qualifying nor dis
qualifying him for the nomination-and in
pushing himself for Congress in defiance of
the wishes of a majority Of the people of
that District, as fairly and unquivocally
expressed in the choice of the convention,
is one of the most foolish things that either
white man or a colored man could do
under the circumstances. ". /.
We presume that DR.. Norton has no
such exalted idea of his own qualifications
as to suppose that he could fill the position
of Congressman from that District with
any greater ability or more general accept
ance to the people than Mr.. Plat. We
presume this, for we do not know in what
estimation he holds himself, nor do we care
to know. We only know the very aceu-
rate estimate which others have formed of
his qualifications, and would say what he
himself must admit--if his bump of self
esteem does not infinitely overtop the rest
OF his faculties-thdt he Mould neyer hare
been MoHgdtof as q candidate for Congress
EXCEPT FOR HIS COLOR. lsl.alsr
And precisely here is where we wish that
both he and his friends-those who have
put him up to this bolt-should thoroug h.
ly understand as, if not the balance Of
white Republicans in the State. We have
faithfully battled for the equal rights Of the
colored man in the South, not only since
the war, but during its continuance; but
we never dreamed that we were fighting
to give him any greater rights than the
white man, nor shall we ever consent to
any such construction being given to our
acts. We repeat our statement that DR.,
Norton, though clever enough in his way
ana man of respectable qualifications and
attalnments, would find his pretensions for
a Congressional nomination universally
laughed at in the District, were he white
man. ssa ars.aa
Neither he nor his friends, then. can de.
mand his nomination for Congress on anv
other ground than that he is coloycd. We snit
upon this pretension, precisely as we would
upon that of white man who should urve
his soant of color as qualification for Con.
gress or any other position of trust or honor.
And we here say to DIR. Norton that if be
wants to run colored suffrage 50 far into
the ground that the shaft OF eternal ;udo-
ment Will never reach it, let him force mis-