The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-01-25
Republican National Committee.

held in Washington city on the 18th inst.
The primary object of the meeting was to
carry into effect an order of the last Ma
tional Convention OF the party held in
Chicago, June, 1880. That was to fix a
basis on which the delegates to the Ma.
tional Convention of 1884 should be .ap-
pointed. and to secure distr let representa-
ton. These two objects were provided for
by the Committee, in ordaining that the
basis should be as it is now and has been
ever since the organ ization OF the party
twice the number OF delegates from each
State that there are Senators and Rep
resentatives in Congressional is, two
delegates at large for each Senator
and two delegates for each Congressman,
and also two for each Territory and the
District OF Columbia. The method OF ap.
pointing them is left optional with the dis.
tricts, either by separate district conven-
tiors, Or by the delegates from each district
TO che State Convention, assembled to ap-
point the four delegates at large, to meet as
separate body and choose its delegates
to the National Convention, to be accred-
tied alone by the officers of such district
meeting.
There were several plans submitted, con-
templating an enlargement of the repre-
sentation OF districts and States in the Ma
tional Convention, where Republican ma
Jorities obtained. While there would have
been no objection from any source to this
suggestion, had it been an original propo-
sition and free from the operation of the
order of the Convention of 1880 to provide
for district representation, there was no
way to reach it, without disregarding the
power deleg ated to the Committee. The
convention of 1880, by resolution. had in
structed the committee as to its duty in this
respect, and there was no plan propos ed to
carry out the instruction except that which
was adopted. 1t is not necessary here to
discuss the several conflicting plans. 1t is
enough to say that majorityof the commit
tee assumed the existing plan to be the mos
, practical, the farest and that viii would
prove the most satisfactory to all portions
OF the Union. 1t was adopted after full,
fair and able discussion by the friends of the
respective propositions, land will be accepted
by the country as the most rational and unit
Objectionable that could have been framed.
Each of the other plans would have worked
more or less discrimination against dis
| tricts. States and sections, and the adop.
| tion of either would have been followed by
| a general diccucsioo throu,rho,,t tho onun
try, which would have bred discussions,
| factions and antagonisms which might have
destroy ed all hope OF harmony in the par
ty, and threatened the success of the nomi-
nees of the next Republican National
Convention. The plan adopted is that upon
which the party has acted for the last
twenty years. Its operation has been at
| tended with success in each national cleo
| tion during that time, and commends it.
| self to the approval of the great mass of the
party.
{ The difficulties which the Chicago Con-
vention encountered, growing out OF con-
| flict between State and district representa-
ton, were provided against by the commit.
tee. as ordered by the Convention. The
district method of appointing and designat-
ing delegates operates against the unit rule,
unless all of the districts of State should
deem it polite to consent to unit vote. in
order to give weight and force to the vote
of such State. But 1t is optional with the
delegates from each district 10 break the
unit, whenever, in their judgment, it may
tNod 1od xxyoo 10 h
cd of appointing delegates was observed in
Virginia before the war, and the point we
have suggested was illustrated by the action
OF the delegates from this district in the
Charleston Convention of 1860. 1t had
been the uniform practice of the State to
observe the unit rule in National Conven-
tiOns. not by any order or resolution of
the State Convention, bat simply as mat
ter of policy, to give prominence and impor-
lance to the vote Of the State. 1t was OBJ
served in the Charleston Convention for
tifty-odd ballots and until it became the
expression of factiousness. when this
point was reached the delegates from this
district determined to break the unit, and
reflect what they believed, and which af-
forwards proved to be, the will of their con-
sttuents. Their right to do so was den led
by majority of the delegation, but plead
ing the separate action of their district in
appointing them, and recognizing no other
or higher authority, they asserted their
| right in Convention by voting for Stephen
A. Douglas, instead of R. NJ. L. Hunter,
who had been supported, as a matter of
State pride, until there was no possibility OF
his nomination, and his continued support
nothing but senseless factiousness.
Under this method, as adopted by the
| committee for the selection of delegates to
the next National Republican Convention,
each district will have the undisputed right
| to vote its own preference for the Presiden-
| tial nomination. 1t does not necessarily
preclude the unit rule, but there is no obi
CATION to observe it. and there can be no
suppression of the district by the exercise
Of authority by the united action of
the members from other Districts
The method locates responsibility sole
" upon the district delegates. and it
is for them TO discharge their duty in the
light of accountability to their immediate
| constituents. 1t recognizes the popular
| will of districts ontemplates fair and
honest representation of the constituent
| body, and interposes to arrest the operation
OF selfish or corrupt schemes, by which
sometimes State delegations are controlled
| under the unit rule.
This much it is not out Of place to state
as to the basis of representation and the
method of appointing delegates.
The discussion in the committee grew out
of the various plans as to the basis of rep
resentation, the method Of appointing del
egates adopted having 70 opposition from |
any source. Senator Logan, of Illinois, |
Representative ashburn. of Minnesota, |
and Mr.. Pierce, Of Rhode Island, were the |
principal speakers in behalf of the present |
basis of representation, and Secretary |
Chandler, of New Hampshire, Senator
Frye, of Maine, Mr.. Carey. of Michigan, Mr..
Runnels, of Iowa. and Mr.. Lodge, of Massa-
chusetts, the most prominent advocates of
an enlarged representation to Republican
districts and States. The discussion was