The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-08-14

iliSotlSs
rE". % ------4------ OF r friafN
n THE FOURTH DISTRICT BOLT
When, in the Fourth Congressional Dis
trict Convention, held for the purpose of
nominating Republican candidate for Con-
gress, a handful Of the delegates withdrew
as boilers and placed the name Of Charles
III. Porter in nomination, in defiance Of the
expressed will of the popular voice of that
district, we gave him the credit of having too
much sagacity to allow his name to be thus
used as an element of discord in the party,
or as means Of defeating the regulur nom
inee. But greatly to.our surprise, and no
less to our regret, we find Mr.. Porter ac-.
lively canyassing Mr.. Stowel's district
with a view not only to his defeat but with
manifest intent of throwing the election
in that district into Democratic hands. %
We have no wish to be censorious be-
You'd what is imperatively demanded Of us
as a just, impartial, and fearless journalist,
whose duty it is to see that the, Republican
party receives no detriment at the hands of
its enemies, much less from the stabs of
its friends. -. "a, .,,t.y.-...,,
Had Mr.. Porter been the nominee of the
convention assembled at Farmville, he
would have received, as he would have
been entitled to receive, our earnest and
cordial support. But he was not the nom
inee, and, what is more, could not have
been the nominee of that convention had
Mr.. Stowell's name been withdrawn. i, A
majority of the delegates in that body re-
garded him as an intruder in Mr. Stowell's
district, and would not have placed his
name on the ticket under any circum-
stances. No matter whether they were
right or wrong in so regarding him, the fact
is he was so regarded, and the decision Of
the majority should have been final in the
premises. .v hrIrg,a .,i,gd Ell I'D b.
As we look upon it, Mr.. Porter had per-
feet right to urge his claims for nomination
upon that convention. 1t was simply a
question of courtesy as between himself
and Mr.. Stowell, whether he should or
should not so urge his claims. He chose
to disregard the courtesy, and did what we
claim he had right to depressed his
claims for nomination before that body.
In this he failed and failing, had no longer
any right to obtrude himself upon the dis
trict. The very fact of his going before
the convention for its sutfrages, should
have estopped him from going over to any
boiling clique to defeat the objects Of the
convention He went into the convention
or if he did not, his friends went there
for him and with his assent-as a competi-
tor of Mr.. Stowell's for, the nominations.
In doing this he virtually pledged himself
to abide by the decision Of the Convention.
This is tacit understanding among all can
didates and ameng all honorable gentlemen,
when they enter nominating convention
as candidates for any position, from the
lowest municipal up to the highest state or
federal office. d. Mr.. Porter can make him
self no exception to this general rule. lie
stands before the people Of the Fourth Con-
SiSooiohai hiSti iSl uo plCoSoo W tuSil aStioh
at the Farmville Convention. That pledge
he voluntarily gave when lie solicited the
Congressional nomination at their hands. In
violating it, therefore-in setting it con-
temptuously aside by means Of a petty and
insignificant bolt-he forfeits not only all
confidence in, but all right to support from,
the electors of that district. 'a
This much we should promptly have
said of Mr.. Stowell. had the convention
nominated Mr.. Porter, and he bolted in
the same way that his competitor for this
nomination has done. We disclaim all
personal feeling in this matter, but desire
to see the utmost harmony prevail every
where in our ranks. 1t is imperatively
demanded Of us that we present no broken
font to the enemy at this time. The
country demands it of us, the State de-
mands it, the people of the Fourth district
should demand it.