Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-07-08
From the North Caroliniaa.

- =
The Land Question ana some Of the AUTHORITIES |
Thereon.
Tn Nav 1852 Convention of the Democratic
Party of North Carolina assembled in Raleigh for
the nurnose of nominating candidate for Governor
of the State. The Convention was full-more than
forty counties being represented-and contained
some of the best talent in the State. Among the
more prominent delegates were Hon. X. NJ. Haun'
ders of Wake, Hon. Abram Rencher, of Chatham,
Hon James C. Dobbin, of Cumberland, Duncan n. |
McRae, of New Hanover, Perrin Busbee, James b.
Shepard and VIM. w. Holden. of Wake and Robert
P. Dick, of Guilford The Convention having pass
ed resolutions embodying platform of principles
proceeded to nominate for Governor David s. Reid,
of Rockingham. Among the resolutions paSseo' we
find the following: ga |
the Pu are the psoPe @s all
fund for the payment Of the p"61c de0t ana otneT
upon the public treasury
ground occupied by the Democratic Party in May:
| 1852, ON the question of distributing the public
lands? Could opposition to the policy OF dstrnu-
ton be expressed in language more exphclt up
on this Platform David S. Reid was elected Cover
nor of the State-a clear indication that the Demo-
cratic party approved the princ piles which 1t EN-
bodied. Of late, however, we find several promi-
nent democrats repud;ating the policy thus clearly
set FORTH and among these, surprising as IL may
seem. are some who were members OF the very Con-
vention whose authority we have quoted, and one or
two who were on the very committee which report
ed the resolutions. The views of these gentlemen
are cited in favor of dstrbution-they are held up
as good democratic authority, and the question is
asked with an air of triumph, whether Saunders
and McRae are not competent to say what are DEM
ocratic doctrines!
We shall proceed now to give the reasons upon
which is founded our conviction that these gentle
men are not competent authorities on the question
] in dispute. If in doing we shall say anything
which may sound harsh, we ask pardon in advance.
We do not intend to do anybody injustice Yet the
subject is difficult and delicate one, and We have
H. Ill hal lo 70 IaOIn
body.
An interested person cannot be proper witness IN
his orn favor. The opposite doctrine is repugnant
alike to law. and reason Now rs regards Mr. Saun-
ders it is known that at the time he out for the
distribution of the public lands, he aspirant
to the U. S. Senaorship. 1t is also we'll known that
Mr. Dobbn was then the favorite of the democratic
party for that Office. How then could Mr.. Saun.
ders be elected but by whig votes =! and how could
thew be courted more successfully than by avow
al of one of the doctrines of the whig party! And
> because gentleman of Mr. Saunders known pro-
clivities for Office should g i've way under tempa-
ton this, is his authority to be used a.
gainst that of the Democratic State Convention =
YEA against himself. for he one of the commit
tee resolutions and reported the identical resolu
ton above quoted. If under the circumstances by
y which he found himself surrounded, Mr.. Saunders
chose in the legislature last winter to repudiate his
" own avowed doctrines, then we submit that his au
thority is entitled to consideration whatever at
q the hands OF the Democratic Party.
Another authority quoted by the advocates of
{ distribution, is that of Duncan K. McRae, Esq,
who was the President of the Convention by which
Is the resolution we have been commenting on was
= passed. Mr. McRae did not fit at the time of
its passage to express any dissent from the doctrine
t embodied in that resolution. 1t was not until he
came out for Congress that we heard of any public
Il advocacy by him of the policy of distributing the
public lands. Now, if MIR. McRae had not become
l. Il candidate, would he have taken the position he
did this question? Take his and judge it by
= the rules which ordinarily govern politicians in
their actions, and what is the result! The Hon
VIM S. Ashe in the field with the prospect oil
J. getting the great body of the Democratic voters
"a How could opposing candidate hope in strongly
10 Democratic district to defeat him Could it be
y, done without the aid of Wing votes? And how
III could Wing votes be better concated than BY
a. Ginning in with their views the land question
," We do not pretend to judge of Mr.. McRaes mo-
n tives, but we do affirm that the authority of gen
l. tleman situated he was,-his sole chance of sue
l. cess depending on the Wing support he would re-
y ceve-ought not to be received in opposition to the
H. authority of convention of the party, which hac
assembled but few months previous and in which
u" he, being member expressed no dissent from the
ne policy embodied in its pat form
ID Let it not be said that in the foregoing remark
- we have gone out of our way to attack gentlemen
y whose merits not the proper subject of dis
cussion. We grant that they would not be, but fo
the fact that their views have been quoted agains
the Democratic party. We have felt justified there
fore in gong thus far to show that the circumstan
ia ces by which they have been surrounded complete
he y invalidates any authority 10 which their position
ok light otherwise have entitled them on this ques
ton.
RS AS to Mr.. Leak he is situated as Mr.. McRae was
or with the temptation to adopt views calculate
pit to conclate the opposition. His we'll known ambi
ton for distinguished position 1--WE imply no censure
- is quite sufficient to account for his being in tn
field at this time. In point of view his presen
ar position seems to be somewhat worthy of note.
Ike supported 1--WE take it for granted Gov Reid at tn
last election. Governor Reid then before tn
ed people on the very platform from which we hav
quoted the resolution in relation to the public land
Now, Mr.. Leak is in favor of distribution and say
u he will support candidate for Governor who is OF
in posed to him the question. He could not there
fore, again support Governor Reid on the same pla
ew form on which he elected. If Mr.. Leak intend
then, to repudiate David S. Reid and the Democra
We ic party advise him to drop the name of Demo
OF crat and at 60 over to the enemy We sha
then know better where to count him, and he wi
at gain this advantage, viz: of being almost certaa
of of the 1000 Wing votes in the district whereas
on now has only strong probabilities to calculate upon
:, TIE CELESTIAL EMP1RE,-The Washington Unic
oe in abiding to events in China, says if the ports
IN that country thrown open to the world no oil
er nation could compete with the United States f
u.s. the commerce of the Chinese Empire and it r
'u- CARDS the present moment as suspicious for I'll
overthrow OF that system of exclusion which has
ice long shut out all foreign nations. 1t saws:
sa- 8 territory of more than five millions of soua
YES miles, four thousand walled cities population
three hundred and fifty millions an army of near
nth two millions of soldiers, feet of thousand sa
de- and an annual revenue of two hundred millions
dollars are some of the evidences of its mmeasur
rs; bic wealth Among the productions of its SOIL ev
0f YAH = Il