Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1849-07-06
MR.. REID VS.. CONVENTIONS.


had their first meeting at Mr.. Rowell's store.
in Brunswick county, on Saturday last. We
learn from gentlemen who were present, that
the meeting was very small, there not being
over dozen persons upon the ground-all
told.
We have received merely verbal re-
port of the speeches upon that occasion. From
this we learn that Mr. Reid, the opposition
canddate-for such only can we regard him
took ground in opposition 10 all conventions,
cut particularly to the one held at Clinton,
which resulted in the nomination of Mr.. Ashe;
taking occasion in the course of his remarks,
TO aim sort of SIDE wipe at our humble self,
hut OF that anon We must confess that
this position of MIR. Reid has taken US quite
aback. For the life OF us, we cannot see with
what sort OF grace MIR. Reid can stand up be-
fore the people and denounce conventions
We have examined the proceedings OF the
County convention, which met in this town a
little over year since. for the purpose OF NOM
mating candidates for the Legislature, and We
find that Mr.. Reid was one of the nominees
of that convention. We find also, that this
convention, 10 which, if we mistake not, Mr..
Reid was himself delegate, and in whose
preliminary proceedings he took an active
part, adopted the two-thirds rule. we are al
most certain with the concurrence, if not at
the suggestion, of Mr.. Reid, which rule he
| now considers such obnoxious feature
in the Clinton convention. We know,
also. that on the first ballet. Mr. Reid was in
the minority, Mr.. McAuslin having received
eight votes, while he received but seven; nor
did he receive a two-thir1s vote until MIR.
McAuslin had withdrawn; so that he stood
precisely in the position as minority cand-
date, which he now charges as fault in Mr..
Ashe.
We understand that Mr.. Reid insists upon
the fact that he declined the nomination OF
the New Hanover convention, as a reason
why he should not be bound by that prece-
dent MIR. Reid must know very well achy,
and under what circumstances he declined
that nomination He must also know, that
he had acknowledged the authority of the
convention. by previously promising 10 accept
if he were nominated; and further, he must
be aware that he actually did accept, If not in
wrting,yet by such verbal assurance, that upon
The faith of his implied acceptance. his rame
was placed at the head of this paper, along with
those OF the other candidates, for full three
weeks, with MFR. Reid's own knowledge and
consent. The gentlemen nominated, it is well
known all considered themselves candidates !;
and it was only in order to avoid breach in the
party, occasioned by dissatisfaction with part
of the ticket, Il at they were induced 10 " de-
cline" Mr.. Reid, then, was the candidate of
convention from the 25th of April, till the 10th
of May, having previously promised 10 accept
its nomination. He was chosen under the OPP
Grafton of the two-thirds rule. He was orr
nally Il minority candidate. And yet, now
we find Mr.. Reid out against convention in
every way fuller than that by which he was
nominated. A cow ention which adopted the
very same two thirds rule which prevailed in
his own nomination and convention against
which, even according 10 his own showing.
far less objection could be urged than that
whose authority he himself acknowledged
There is certainly a strange contrariety
in all this; and what adds to the singuIa
rity of the affair is, that Mr.. Reid, of
all others, should have felt himself cal
led upon to appear as the opponent OF Mr..
Ashe. Certainly, even those gentlemen who
were most strongly opposed TO MIR. Ashe in
the Convention, never once placed his name
in nomination. During very protracted bal
loting, in which various names were propo
sed as compromise candidates, he never recei-
we'd a single vote. Surely, when Mr.. Dobbin
and Judge Strange have expressed themselves
fully satisfied, such movement on the part
of Mr. Reid is, 10 say the least of it, unautho-
rized and uncalled for. and his opposition can
be characterized by no milder epilhet than that
of " factious' Mr.. Reid cannot object to
Mr.. Ashes private character as man, nor 10
. his principles as Democrat. He cannot plead
any call from even part OF the Convention,
. for the Convention never thought of him.
Under any view of the subject, we do candid
4 ~ think that MIR Reds position is about as
+ untenable as It can well be, and the sooner he
abandons it. the sooner will he redeem the
high standing which he has previously held
in the Democratic ranks.
/ We have now done with what, to US. has
been most unpleasant duty-that OF oppo.
= sing gentleman whom we regard as a per,
: sonal and political friend but we have still
+ more unpleasant one 10 perfom. in alluding tc
l. a matter in which we ourself are concerned
re II is this: MIR. Reid charged that we did
n without sufficient authority, cast The vote @
:. Onslow county, and that, by our doing so
Mr.. Ashes nomination was procured. il
n explanation OF this, we will state the facts pre-
l. cisely as they occurred. Before starting II
lie Clinton on the morning preceding the con
rs venton, we called at the Office of MIR. Cant
well, and urged him TO go along, which h
m consented to do. Mr. Cantwell, as is wei
he known, was the alternate from Onslow. L
r the course of conversation, be remarked tina
rs he presumed il would make but little odd
! 18th r.