The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-01-24
Judge Lybrook on Che ConSe"''o"
Question.
PATRICK COURTHOUSE, NAy J
January 10, 1859. }

u
Question.
Patrick COURTHOUSE, NAy
January 10, 1859.
To the Editor Of the Dispatch: :.
The question Of calling convention OF
the Democratic party seems To be not yct
entirely determined. and there is co2eh'
reason or two I'm Mr.. Keiley's letter. Inc
question. Will NJ succeeds there being no
Candidacy pending to give 1t point ano VI
tolity. True. there are no State offices 10 DE
fiIIed: but there are hundreds OF import
ant county officers TO be elected, anu am
In favor Of making these elections stficty
Marty contests; and / do not believe they
will be unless there is State organization
az the party TO give force. point, direction,
and uniformity to the Zeal county ana
district organizations. They will not acc
in great majority OF the counties on tnc
basis OF party contest unless so directed
and encouraged by the whole party
OF the State, through convention,
formulating the plan OF action. we now
begin to hear even from Democrats lhat
the spring election is not TO be polltlcai
contest. The Mahoncites, OF course, III
counties like this, where they are IN Il MI
uoritv. favor this idea. But IN couhues
where they have majoritles they are sure
to enforce their party machinery. Can any
sound, sensible Democrat doubt l0f 4 mo-
ment that the spring elections should DC
strictly partisan Ii so, let him reject ior
second with whom we are TO strugglc|a
marty that has but one simple, pam, VIII
known purpose: TO hold the politlcal, en-
ecutive, Judicial, and ministerial power OF
the State by capturing every Office from the
Governor down 10 suD-dlstrict scnOOl
trustee. This idea was Formulated before
the meeting Of the Legislature last win
ter by General Malone and his friends
and the whole unparalleled struggle
that followed during that remarkable
and disgraceiul session OF five months had
no other actuating motive but 10 accom-
plish their purpose. See what they ana ac-
compish. The Court OF Appeals is strictly
paTtisan, and TO make II so the constitG-
tional term Of one OF the judges Lad to he
curraied by fiat Of the Legislature and
against law; every clerk in the basement
Offices TUNED out ana their places illed u!
inefficient partisan recruits; every board
OF visitors OF all The endowed INSTITUTIONS
in tbe State unseatcd for the same purpose:
every county superintcnd, mt % schools
was lawlcssly removed and replaced by
judgeships where none existed, and
where they did exist were all filled
by strict partisans without regard to
qualification, and they were ordered to
remove every commissioner in chanCery OF
their courts who were not in political ac-
cord with the Judge, it mattered not what
his ability and experience might be. The
attempt TO gcrrymandcr the judicial dis
mi IL, to vest in the Governor power to APP
point the General Commissioner OF sales,
the county school trustees, and hundreds
OF other petty local Ofliccr.--n all, amount
Ing to about five thousand in the State
the infamous railroad biil-ll were parts
OF cunningly and bOIdly-deviSed political
machine. without a parallel in ancient or
modern times, designed TO accomplish this
DurUOsc. And are we now to tcll these
people who were then, and are now
still. organized and banded together 10
yet do thi, thing if we give them the
chance, that we don't propose 10 let poll
tics interfere in the spring elections! TO
do this would I've 10 surrender the ground
already gained and virtually give up the
contest for next fall elections. We must
adolt the enemy's tactics il we expect to
succeed. II was solely for the want of
thorough organization that Nj. Massey
ard Others were defeated On the Othrr
hind, ii was such organization that carr led
the State against the honest sentiment OF a
heavy majority OF the best people OF the
State.
The convention should be held rs early
"a possible, that the local elections NAY
have the moral support OF the whole party
throughout the STATE. >
Lat winter made an effort to have the
question OF calling 4 convention TO frame u
new Constitutions submitted to the people.
| got but little support from the legislature
and none from the press. | believe the
election lat fall would have resulted more
favorably il that important question hid
been then submitted to the lcOplc. That
this - carpct-bag" Constitution should re-
main no longer the organic law OF this State
there can bc no doubt. | am certain the
grcatInasS OF the intelligence Of the cOun-
try are in favor of its abolition. | know it
l. so in this part OF The state. The vile use
made OF it ~ the last Legislature in turning
out capable and honest Cl.ictrs and filing
their places with inefficient partisans,
tho dangerous and heretofore unknown
strife about WHO are really orr constitU-
tiOnal judges all over the state, and nov in
our high Court Of Appeals. is sufficient
warning TO thinking men that this grave
matter can no longer e delayed. Not only |
II sound and economical administration Oi
the government. but HE, liberty, and title |
20 property, depend upon, in great lnea
sure. Il thorough revision OF our organic |
law. We can got rid OF the great hOrdts |
OF pe,til,nt partisan oiLce-holdcrs now |
tolsted upon us for years to come in 10 |
other way-the strife about the tenure OF |
office can in no Other way lie satisfactorily |
determined. Ii is monstrOus political |
abortion at best, put upon us by our former |
slaves and foreign political adyenturers |
and native ignorance. 1t never had |
the respect OF the intelligence OF |
the country. The fact that iL is being ,
pCrpetrllIy changed and modified TO suit |
tue partisan purposes OF bosses and dcma-
gogues is proof enough that it Is worse |
tian worthless. IL is dangerous. The !
people OF the state had no hand in framing |
it, and voted its adoption under coercion.
Let us have constitution for tie people,
and not for the benefit Of such Us may and
do secure Office OF high trust. who would
never dare to appeal to popular election for
endorsement. Let us, therefore, have Il
convention carly, and make this one OF the
questions 10 be considered. II is neccs-
sary, and therefore light, and consequently
viii nc popular to agItate this great matter
now, and on till it is accomplished.
A. n. LYBROOH.
Died for I0ve