Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1853-07-20
FOURTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

trict is about 2, 900. Gov Reds last majority in
the Counties composing it was 800; but we re-
peat we cannot calculate with certainty, on more
than 2Ooo-the full Wing vote being about 900,
and the full Democratic vote about {, 1000. If Mr.
Rogers should receive the full Wing vote, and if
the Democratic vote should be equally divided be-
tween Messrs. Lewis and Venable, the former WILL
of course, be elected 1t is, therefore, not merely
important but Indispensable to success that there
should be concentration of Democratic strength,
No Convention has been held, and it is too
late to hold one now. The party must therefore,
unite on the strongest man in order to defeat the
Wing candidate and the party, we take this occa-
sion to say, fortunate in having in the strongest
man, one who stands upon its platform and agrees
with it in its principles. Mr.. Venabe differs with
the Democratic party on Benefits land BILL on
the Cuban question, and on organization and this
being the case, it would be in vain to expect ma
jority of Democrats in the District to rally on him
with any degree of cordially or unanimity. To
attempt it would be to invite inevitable, disastrous
defeat The contest is between Mr. Lewis and
MIR. Rogers, the representatives of the respective
parties; and with this fact standing prominently
out it cannot be that the Democrats of the Dis
trict will permit the Wing candidate to be elected
AS we have heretofore stated, our duty in this
emergency is two-fold-frst, to stand by the State
and Baltimore platforms, and secondly. to do what
we can tc prevent the election of Wing. We
have restrained our pen as long as we could deem
it prudent or proper to do so. Sincerely anxious
for the restoration of harmony, and reluctant to
speak of Mr. Venabe as his deviation from prin-
ciple would seem to require, we have stood, to a
considerable extent, aloof; but the hour has come
when silence, the we have thus far pursu-
ed, would be justly regarded evidence that we
are disposed to favor man at the expense of prin
ciple and party victory, and have come forward
to discharge our duty with purpose deliberately
fixed, and not to be disturbed by subsequent
events. AT the close of the last Congress Mr..
Venable found himself in new District, with but
two Counties of his old District. He returned
home, and in hot haste declared himself candi-
date. He did not deign to await the action even
Of Orange and Granville, the two Counties referred
to, but announced himself at once He was met
by MIR. Lewis, who proposed Convention, and
pledged himself to abide its action. Mr.. Venable,
on the contrary, referred in rather contemptuous
terms to Conventions-said he was not to be dis
posed of or ruled off by Conventions composed of
-" bob-tailed lawyers, brokendown constables, and
beer-house debaters "-but ntimated, at the same
time, that if a fair Convention Zone that would
suit him, we suppose,) was held, he would submit
This was reflection upon the honesty and integ-
rty of the party, and it is to be regretted that it
did not result at once in Convention. A Con-
vention of the character imagined by Mr.. Venable,
would be new thing in this State. Our Con-
ventons heretofore have been fair and Mr.. Venable
had no right to presume that the Convention pro-
posed by Mr.. Lewis would be unfair one. Such
language, to say the least, comes with bad grace
from one who was brought forward and politically
made by Conventions, and who has been sustained
from the first by party effort and party organiza-
ton. But the truth is, Mr.. Venable knew he had
voted, on Benefits land bill, against his party
he knew that his views in regard to Cuba and the
acquisition of territory not entirely acceptable
to the Democracy, and he therefore feared to sub
NIT his pretensions and his conduct to the cons;d
Grafton of the Democrats of the District in Con-
vention assembled. 1t was thus for selfish purpo-
ses, that lie produced and encouraged spirit of
disorganization, which now threatens, unless speed
lily checked to throw this no bic district into Wing
hands.
In voting for Benefits land bill Mr.. Venable
voted with the Wings, and against the great mass
of his own party. He voted for bill which gave
the little State of Arkansas three millions of acres
and to North Carolina land warrants for one mil
lion five hundred thousand acres for bill which
authorized" sovereign States to do certain things
as if the general government the creature of the
States, could "authorize" the States to perform
its will fora bM which, in substance, distributes
the proceeds Of tile lands to nineteen States, in
that it authorizes them to sell the land war
rants for cash for BILL federal in its scope and
character, and which but the beginning of a
system condemned alike by Gen. Jackson, by the
Democratic party in our national and State Con-
vent1ons and which, if carried ont, would change
the nature of our federal government by making
the States dependent on it for largesses and boun
ties. Mr.. Venable was kindly warned of what the
result must be if he persisted in justifying de-
Tending this vote, but he was deaf to both advice
and warning. He might have retreated with hon
or, and reganed his position in the regards of his
friends, but for his convictions of right his self
sufhcency, or his pride. If he was satisfied that
he was right, and if he was determined to perse-