Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-09-13

after made, nor to execute them after ju-
dcially expounded. How then can the
idea that the people govern, be made practi-
cAIy true? BY representation. And how
can representation be made to reflect their
will? By Conventions-(c oaUentio, from
con and renio, to come together.) The
people come .ogether from every locality
and appoint their delegates to speak for
them in convention called to select their
agents as Legislators, or Judges or
Governors, or Executive eff
GERS Of any kind. They do not always
make the best selections-nor would the
people, if every man were present, until hu-
man nature becomes more perfect. There
is no reason why conventions should not
reflect the absolute will of the people {
they choose to take the matter in their own
hands. If public notice be given, as it
usually is, that meeting viii be held on
certain day, in certain ward or district to
appoint delegates to a convention to nomi-
nate candidates for the Legislature, or for
any other purpose, no one has right to COM
plain that bis wishes were not consulted if
he DO not got there. He had as much right
to attend and be heard as any one else, and
his refusal to do so was a waiver of his
rights and preferences to those who chose to
go and assert theirs. Whenever conven-
tions do Eot reflect the popular will it is be-
cause the people neglect to select their own
agents. There is no remedy until the agri-
cultural, the mechanical, the commercial
and the professional men of the country
take an interest in how it
shall be governed. Let them
occasionally leave their fields and their
workshops and their Offices TO purify the
political atmosphere of these meetings by
their presence and put forward some Of
heir best men fer the public offices, and
not snarl at what their neighbors do when
their cooperation has been solicited.
Conventions may become So perfect in
practice as in theory when men become
less absorbed in their private affairs, and
sacrifice portion of their time for the pub
lie welfare. Good men may thoughtlessly
sometime abuse conventions; but who are
they who generally I'll the air like pesti-
lence, with their complaints? They are
those men who cannot control their party
EoTeheads and grumblers, who have been
beaten for party misunderstanding
men who have not sufficient popularity in
their own party to risk getting a nomiDs-
ton, but look over to the enemy for help
in their fights. These gentlemen become
very ffectionate-they are sweet on the
people-they clamor for the peoples rights,
which have never been assailed by conven-
tions, but clamor most loudly when
they are to De made the agents
to redress their wTongs-when they are the
candidates, at great sacrifice, to battle in
behalf of the people and for their good
alone. When they are TO get the Offices
they shed tears over the peoples wrongs.
They suddenly fall In love with the people.
This love epidemic for the people prevails
extensively about election times-sn efier-
vescence Of affection gushes forth like
soda fount, from every stump.
We have seen what the theory Of con-
ventions is. Let US lock into their history.
In the beginning of our Government, uD-
der the first two administrations, it SEEM
ed to be the policy for the Vice President
to succeed to the Presidency, &C
cording to the English theory that officials
are educated up to the position they occu-
py By degrees. But when Mr. Jefferson
came into power this policy was changed,
and the President, tor several terms, virtu-
ally appointed his successor by puttiBg
his Secretary of State in lie line
of succession. This becoming
too glaring an exercise Of The one-man
power for Republic, it was thought best
10 popIllsrize this plan by Congressional
conference, Or caucus, to ratify the Presi-
Dental choice. This was always done, ex-
cept partial bolt under Mr.. Madison,
when Dewitt Clinton ran for President,
and, when Mr.. Monroe was going out,
Congress set up for Itself and nominated
VIM. 81. Crawford in opposition to the pre-
sumed Presidential candidate, John Quincy
Adams; Gen. Jackson and Henry Clay
running upon nominations made by their
own and other State Legislatures. This is
the way Gen. jackson was brought for
ward by the people; he neither nominated
himself or procured it TO be done. This
Congressional, or King Caucus, system
was an improvement upon the manner OF
selecting Presidential candidates which had
prevailed before that time, as there were
greater number of persons acting upon q
nomination. When Gen. jackson got
into power he smashed abuses gener-
ally, and this among them, and
apolicy was adopted, more in consonance
with democratic and representative gov
ernment in selecting candidates for office.
This was the convention system-a going
back to the people for all power, whenceit
emanates and where it is lodged by our
general ard fundamental laws. This poll
CO is so nearly perfect and so much in ac-
cord with the theory on which the govern
ment is founded, that it has prevailed ever
stree, not only with the Democratic, but
with every Other party in this county which
has risen or fallen in tie last forty years.
Its long standing and adoption by all par
ties show its wisdom. How else shall ma
jorities govern? There are hundreds of
men, in every county in Tennessee, capable
of filing its Offices; but, if there is no con-
cert of action, if there is no agreement
among brethren of tie same party, to Sc
lect among themselves, candidates viii mul
tiply, and the minority, which is always