Massachusetts Spy And Worcester Advertiser

Worcester:

Wednesday, December 29, 1824.

Nominations for Representatives to Congress.

For Worcester South District,

JOHN DAVIS, Esq. of Worcester.

Hon. JONAS SIBLEY.

SUMNER BASTOW, Esq.

REPRESENTATIVE ELECTION.

In a few days, the Electors of the Worcester South Congressional District will be called upon to give their suffrages for a suitable person to represent them in the next Congress of the United States. This is a duty which ought never to be performed without due deliberation, and always with an eye to the public welfare, rather than to the gratification of personal or local feelings.

There are some considerations which ought, on the present occasion, to impress the minds of the electors with peculiar force. Massachusetts has formerly stood the second State in the Union in point of population, and, in the amount of her business and the revenue she paid, the first. These could not fail to place her conspicuously forward among her sister States, and it is believed that no one has exercised a greater influence in the management of public affairs. But times have changed, and we have changed with them. Owing to the suicidal dismemberment of this State, and to the rapid advances of some of the others, we do not now rank higher, in point of population, than the sixth or seventh, and are destined from the operation of causes beyond our controul, before the lapse of many years, to fall still lower. Shall we, then, sit down satisfied with the loss of our relative rank, to give up also that weight and influence which has been so beneficially exercised in the affairs of the nation, or shall we not, rather, by a wise and judicious use of the means with which heaven has blessed us, endeavour to retain at least a portion of it.

Knowledge, it is said, is power, and the aphorism is unquestionably true; but of what use is the possession of power without the exercise of it? Of what use to Sampson would have been his strength, if, when occasion required, he did not put it forth? The State of Massachusetts is rich in intellectual wealth, the proper application and direction of which could not fail to sustain her in the possession of the vantage ground she has heretofore held. although curtailed in her dimensions, and outstripped in population by her neighbours. It is well known that the members of Congress are of two classes, those who lead and those who do not, and that the former bear but a small proportion to the latter: and it lies with us to determine whether we will choose one of the former class, who will unite with such men as Webster and Everett and Baylies and Lathrop and Dwight in causing the influence of the State to be felt, and her character to be respected; or whether we shall select one of the latter kind, who will sit unnoticed and unknown, except when the yeas and nays are called, one who perhaps will become a nose of wax to be turned and fashioned, by some ambitious leader, in opposition to the interests of his constituents, and who, finally, when his time has expired, will again sink into his native insignificance, and be forgotten, with the almost countless number of the same character, who have preceded him.

If we are wise, we shall profit by the example of other States, who have disregarded minor considerations in order to put forward their ablest men. Rufus King, one of the most distinguished federalists in the Union, has twice been chosen Senator from the State of New-York by democratic legislatures, and his influence, in that body, is perhaps greater than that of any other member. Recently Judge Berrian in Georgia, and Judge Rowan in Kentucky have been chosen Senators, although both were obnoxious to the charge of political heterodoxy. In Virginia, L. W. Tazewell, Esq. has also been elected to the Senate, and, when his former political opinions were urged against him, it was replied, that now was a time when the State required the service of her ablest men, and that she ought to make use of such without reference to the opinions which they might heretofore have held.

Let us then follow these examples, looking only at the talents & qualifications of the candidates; and if we feel any thing like an opposition, growing out of any minor consideration, either local, personal, or political, let it be merged in our paramount regard to public good.

We have been more free in our remarks than we otherwise should have been, because they can have no personal application. Major Davis is now the only candidate: and if any counter nomination is to be made, we know not on whom it is to fall. Indeed, as the time is so near, and none other has yet been announced, we are led to hope that none will be made, as it must be of no avail, or only serve to prevent a choice.