"I hear of a convention to be held in Baltimore, or elsewhere, for the selection of a canidate for Presidency, made up of cheifly editors, and men who are politicians by profession, but I think, what is it to any independent, intelligent, and respectable man what decision they may come to, shall we not have the advantage of his wisdom and honestt nevertheless? Can we not counr upon some independent votes? Are there not many men in this country that do not attend conventions?But no: I find that the respectable man, so called, has immediately drifted from his position, and despairs of his country, when his country has more reason to despair of him. He forthwith adopts one of the canidates thus selected as the only *available*, thus proving that he himself *available* for any purpose of tbe memagogue. His vote is of no more worth than that of anyunprincipled foreigner or hireling native, who may have been bought."

Henry David Thoreau, *Civil Disobedience*