The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1876-07-05
NO CONVENTION.
4 SENSIBLE AND TIMELY LET
TER FROM M. LANGRORNE.

TER FROM NM. .LANGHORNE.
NEWPORT, Tenn, June 26. 1876.
To the Editor OF the Morristown Gazette:
In the Greeueville intelligencer of
June 16, my attention was directed
to an Editorial entitled 'Shall we
have a Congressional Convention
Mr.. Reeves aud Mr.. Watterson Chair
men of the respective Congressional
Committees, are requested therein
to unite in a call for holding a Con-
vention, to make a suitable nomina-
ton for Congress. AS it seems by
some accident, my name appears as
a member of both of the Democratic
Congressional Committees for this
District. will take it for granted
that my Democracy is unquestioned,
and being therefore so Thoroughly
recognized as a Democrat, my mo-
tives will not be misinterpreted |
hope, while l hereby enter my pro-
test against holding any Convention
for making a Congressional nomina-
ton for this District. How does it
happen that it has SO recently been
discovered, that Convention is nee
essary? 1t is little singular to say
the least of it. II | mistake not,
every Democratic paper in this Dis
trict, has heretofore opposed a Con-
vention, and none more persistently,
than the Inteltigencer, and this oppo-
sition has been based upon the fact
that the prevailing public sentiment
was in favor Of the reelection of our
present Representative = and that
this endorsement of Mcfarland, by
the people, rendered the calling of a
Convention unnecessary. venture
to affirm that there has been no
change in the minds Of the party,
throughout the District, in this res
pect, then why this change of tac-
tics on the part of the s. Intelligent
GER? What are Conventions for?
1t cannot be that they are created
simply for the purpose of making an
official announcement of the choice of
the people. Nor do / conceive that
political etiquette demands that q
candidate must obtain his creden-
tiats at the hands of 3 Convention
before he can be recognised at the
polls, Or appear before the people for
their SURFACES.
The formality of a coronation /
believe is deemed necessary in some
of the European empires to confer
sovereignty and authority to him
who receives the crown. But have
yet to learn that political parties in
this country are become so pune
tilious and ceremonious as to require
Representation for Congress to ap-
pear before August Conventions, and
in solemn form receive commission.
to entitle him to go before the peo-
pie as a candidate for their Suffrages.
If this be the object for which Con-
ventions are created l must confess
I have heretofore been mistaken as
to their true object. / had formed
the idea that the purpose of holding
Conventions was to make selection
of candidates when there had been
no previously expressed choice by
the people at large. That its object
was to promote harmony, reconcile
conflicting claims, and to represent
above all things, the acisheS of the
party, by making a nomination, in
accordance with the expressed SEN
timents of the people, when nomi-
nation is deemed advisable by them.
But where there is a unanimity of
sentiment on the part of the people
when there is a tacit acquies-
cence as to the concession of a con-
test, to this or that individual, there
is an endorsement which does away
with the necessity of a Convention,
and renders its action unnecessary.
The people do not seem to recognize
now the necessity of a Convention,
and it certainly does occur to me
that if the Chairman of the respect
i've Committees were to call Con-
vention. that it would look under all
the circumstances, as If tue party
was the creature Of the Convention,
and not the Convention creature of
the party. 1t has been said what
harm can grow out of calling Con-
vention This is not the way to put
the question-It should be asked
what is the necessity of calling one.
If the people endorse Mcfarland, |
why call Convention. to endorse by |
Of the people, man
whom they directly endorse? Can
it be commended that q single vote
more will be gained by such pro-
ceeding? Ihave in my life read that
too much strength buried Sampson
Agonistes beneath the temple of |
Dagon, An endorsement by Con-
vention upon the strength of an en-.
dorsement by the people might
prove the political death of the De-
mocraey of the District in the CON-
ing contest. And just in this con-
nection some of my Democratic
friends who are 80 DESTROYS for a
Convention might suffer the fate po-
IiLically that befell the Philistines
in the temple. They may suffer in
the wreck which thaiF misguided
Judgment might occasion. The IN.
in the article here refer.
red to asks, Does he (meaning.
suppose. either he who opposes a
or he who seeks TO run
The race without a nomination ia
"seek to avoid oar ptat-
form Of principles 2" Permit me to
ask when have mere Congressional
District Conventions arrogated to
the right to declare a
platform OF principles for the guild
lnce of the party? | have always
been of the impression that the can
lidate for Congress stood upon the
,Intfnrrn of nrincinlas as set forth