Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-03-27


The Mecklenburg Jeffersonian of the Goth in
slant. comes TO US with the name of Walter
F. Leak, of Richmond county, hoisted at it's
mast head as the Democratic candidate for
Governor. The Jeffersonian had not then
seen the nomination by the Central Commit
tee of Mr.. Shepard. Wepresume as soon as
Mr.. Leak and his friends become aware that
there is regular candidate brought out, by
the Representatives of the party, they will
feel it their duty not to throw any let in the
way. We presume, as matter Of course, that
Mr.. Leak will withdraw. Under present cir
cumstances, to have two Democratic candi-
dates in the field would be disastrous in the
extreme. We know that Mr.. Leak and his
friends will not permit any personal consid
Grafton 10 influence their conduct, so far as
to injure the cause. We forbear saying any
thing more at present.
Postscript.-Since the above paragraph was
written. we have received the Fayetteville
Observer of the 25th instant, containing long
letter from Mr.. Leak. addressed "1o the Demo-
cratic party Of North Carolina" The sum and
substance of this letter of Mr.. Leaks is, shat
he is in the field as candidate for Governor,
and that he will not now withdraw on any
terms. Mr.. Leak styles the Central Com
mittee "clique,' that wishes to dictate to
the people of the State. He says that it
has no power 10 make a nomination, and that
its doing so is merely an assumption of power.
Now we are aware, that the State Central
Committee had no power expressly conferred
upon it for the especial purpose of meeting
the contingency which Mr.. Caldwell's failure
to accept the nomination Of the Convention of
January gave rise to; but we would ask Mr..
Leak and his friends, if he has any, for what
purpose was this committee constituted and
organized ? Was it not to superintend the
interests Of the Republican party ito act for
the good of the whole, by adopting such mea-
sures as it might, in its discretion, under any
emergency that might arise, think would re.
dound to the advancement of the common
cause? Mr.. Caldwell's refusal to accep, the
nomination. placed the party in predicament
for which there was no precedent. The ques-
ton was, what is to be done1 How is can.
didate to be brought out! The natural and
almost immediate reply from every Democrat
was, let she Central Committee which has
been appointed to watch over the interests o.
the party by the late Convention, take the
> matter into consideration let it pitch upor
some individual and place his name before tn,
Democracy of the State. For our own par
: we looked upon this as the only proper ant
I feasible course to be pursued, under the cir
cumstances. We accordingly so recommen
: ded; and if we recoIect rightly, every Demo
e The Committee then, under the circumstance
}. in which the party was placed, had an impIe,
a power Of making nomination; not only i
d our opinion had it the power, but we think
1t would have been recreant to the trust repose
II in it by the Convention, had it failed to act
s We know ourself of our own knowledge wit
!. what deep and unfeigned anxiety its mem
r bers weighed the matter, before they did ac
l. Committee was consulted before the final de
e |csion was made. We know, too. that tn
i Committee adopted every means in its powe
IS to ascertain the sentiments of the party thro
IS out the State, and that it nominated Mr.. She|
Ic ard, after the most mature deliberation. M
re Leak intimates that he was in the field befol
IN the Convention acted, and that it should n
e. then have tbwarted him. Well now we ST
Tx no good reason, or good sense in this. M
n Leak, We think, had he been guided enure
be by what would best subserve the interests
as the cause, of which he boasts that he is CO
We sistent advocate, would have awaited the a
We ton of the body, to which the whole Demo
le- racy of the State looked for solution of Il
do difficulty in which we were placed. But n
De- he comes out on his own hook, as the phra
It's goes. and Tins, so far as in him lies. has do
TAT all he can to increase the already unpleasa
III difficulties under which the party labors: v
nat really cannot see what MIR. Leak can prorni
himself by such a course. Of one thing ,
on. feel certain: The Democracy Of the State VI
en- pursue the right course. 1Eey will not p
W. nit this letter of Mr.. Leaks to swerve tn,
ub- from the path of duty. They have regu
ral- candidate in the field. They will cast tn
for votes, without hesitation, for James B. Sh
Ier- ard, who has been regularly brought bef
not them by the Central Committee, on VIII
the they had called to make the nomination.
lie The Hudson Riuer Open.--We learn f.
attic Mr.. Beach, of the Northern mail line. that
raj, river is open TO Albany. The steamer Colr