The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-01-10
Letter from the Chairman OF the State
Executive Committee.
To the Editor of the Dispatch:
suor1DA CONVENTION BE HELD?

To the Editor OF me D'Spdtcb:
SHOULD A CONVENTION BE HELD?
The almost unanimous expression OF
opinion, so far az already given, fayors the
early on immediate calling Of state Con-
yention Of our party, and if ask space for
brief presentation OF the opposite view, 1t
is because | am convinced that we are in
danga. Of drifting into conclusion for
want OF discussion which maturer reilec-
ton might, aud think would, condemn.
Ipresumc this is the first time that ii
was ever proposed to hold q party cOnven-
ton, State or national, unless candidates
for public office were to be nominated ;
and while that fact is Of course not con-
elusive objection, it must be conceded TO
be very persuasive. Experience seems TO
have shown that only the interest which
candidacy and the desire 20 affect the adj
ministraton OF government awaken will
Justify the summOning OF the people in this
form.
In the next place, we are just through,
if indeed we can be said to be yet through,
with political contest OF great acrimOny-
one which for months stirred the pHblic
heart and required an expenditure OF time
and labor which many could i'll afford to
spare from their private affairs. The peo-
pie now want rest. In couple OF months
local conventions will, in many counties,
be held to propose tickets for local offices ;
then the May elections; then State Con-
yention to arrange for the fall campaign ;
then the contest for the Assembly-the
most important since 1869. Is il well or
wise to add to these another election, and
the excitement which is likely to accom-
pany another Convention?
In the next place q convention in mid
winter would impose both upon the voters
and upon the delegates an amount OF dis
comfort which only an eXigent public need
would Justify. The great probability is
that it would neither be representative in
the vote which chose its membership nor
in the delegation itself.
In a State the facilities, or rather the
want OF whose facilities, for comfortable
travel arc such as they are in Virginia, a
midwinter convention would demand I'M
usual sacrifices, and would therefore be
peculiarly apt to be failure. Should we
run this risk9
Again, the assumed purposes Of such a
gathering do not seem to justify ITS assem-
bling. Ii is well known that no question OF
public office can come before il. What
thens Bit proposed to formulate plat
form of principles and announce party
policy. State or national? Surely not. No
State question at this time demands the inn
mediate alignment of parties; and as to
Federal questions, either Of principle or
policy, think it clear we should await the
conclusion OF the session OF Congress,
even II there would be any appropriateness
then in such action.
| Nowhere have seen a suggestion OF a
practical duty for such convention, ex-
cept one based on the claim that an imme-
diatc Reorganization Of our party machinery
is necessary. Surely this is an error.
Tho personnel of our party organization
consists OF State Committee, whose menu
beis are never chosen by State eonyen-
ton, but invariably by district delegzes,
and OF county and city committees, always
chosen In local meetings and by the local
constituency. But II the assembling OF a
state convention were necessary for this
purpose, why call it nowi
In the elections OF the spring there uill
De no ned or duty TOR the Stote Committee.
II is well known that these elections in
many counties are not conducted on party
lines-nlmost everywhere. indeed, cleo
lions Tor county offices turn as much on
personal as on political considerations
and Che effort through convention To
make the tight uniformly q party fight
would be regarded unwise In many quar-.
ters--fatal In some. There will be abso-
lutely no duty Of any sort for the State
Committee to discharge until the fall cleo
ton Is TO be provided for: and until the
usual 6tate Convention Is held their single
Office will be TO issue the call for it and II
II DO said that local Reorganization IS need
|ful, ! reply that the local machinery Il Am.
ple for that purpose.