The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-01-24
Amnmuud plspalth.
WEDNESDAY. 80. JANUARY "a 1885,
Two Conventions.

Two ICuNtbNiOho'
W. publish this morning letter from
GA gtadjuster Democrat in favor oil o
convention Of the Democratic party. nc
prescn:s his case with much force. one OF
his suggestions Is worthy OF the careiu'
attention Of the State Central Committee
and we hope tbi, committee viii not Jorge
II when IL shall assemble TO CONSIDER .ie
onestions under consideration. we refer
60 his suggestion that the proposed cohso".
tIon should not he a mob, but composeo VI
two or three fir.x-class, active, live, repre-
sen,at;ve men from each county appointed
nv county meetings Of Roadiuster ana
F,rdcr voters acting together unoer
8 cal, Of the State Central Commit'ce'
Certainly convention called to perfect tue
or0apizalion Of the party ought not to DC
nm unmanageable body incapable OF dong
husluess. A convention OF even five hum
drcd delegates would be Just that sort OF
uncomfortable body. To summon even
two or three from county would, IL every
comfy were represented, result III con-
yonijon Of two or three hundred delegates.
Look al the slow progress business makes
In The national House Of Representative
n body OF less than three hundred men,
bers--and decide for yourselves WHAT Il
nonular convention could be expected 10
do worthy OF its members or OF the occa-
sion or Of the Democratic party,
II should be made to consist OF
more than three hundred members Anu
everybody to whom this matter Is one oil
interest. and whose attention Is called 10
The suggestion aforesaid, will declare at
once that now, when no candidates ior
Office are to be nominated, and no aspirant
viii, ask his friends TO go to Richmond or
I,ynchburg TO assist him in his attempt TO
get an Office. is the best time in the world
10 secure convention OF few OF the best
men who are always concerned about
public affairs, and ready to sacrifice their
comfort and disburse their money in order
that they may do the Commonwealth some
service.
We confess, however, that we cannot
dismiss the debt question so easily as does
"a Roadiuster Democrat" II the SUI
preme Court Of the United States should
at any time next spring decide that Viz
ginia must pay her debt as she promised
In 1871 and 1879, or that she must receive
coupons in payment OF taxes, this old CON-
monwealth would lie in a bad way; and
we do not envy the party which shall be
compelled to provide the ways and means
OF carrying on the State government under
such circumstances. The next Legislature
will, the Democrats hope, be Democratic
body. II so, how will that body acquiesce
In the decision of the Supreme Court OF
the United States? Not by letting the
Commonwealth DRIFT into anarchy. OF
course we shall make no more fights
against the Roijiusters on the debt
question. But il wa are 10 have con-
troll Of the next Legislature, it might
be very well for us TO know before
the next election what the Supreme Court
has 10 say to US as the party responsible
for the proper conduct OF the State gov
eminent. But surely any decision OF that
tribunal which j. TO he made on this ques
ton this year will be announced before 4
convention can be assembled in Virginia.
We publish this morning also a letter
from Judge LYBROOK advocating both a
convention Of the Democratic party and
to frame new Constitution
for the State. This latter convention must !
be called, il at all. by the General Assem- !
bly,; and we shall not lie taken unawares
II at ITS next session that body shall con-
slider The propriety of providing for such
d convention.
Judge LYBROoK's views OH the subject Of
a convention Of the Democratic party are |
well expressed. He is very decidedly in |
favor Of holding such convention. 1t |
would not surprise us to Learn that the !
State Executive Committee had summoned |
the State Central Committee to meet in
February and decide the question without
more ado.