Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1854-02-10
DEMOCRATIC MEETING,

Meeting OF the Democrats of New Hanover County, |
will be held at the Court House in Wilmington. on
TUESDAY, MARCH 18th, 1854-being Tuesday
OF County Court week-for the purpose of sending
Delegates to the State Convention, for the nompa-
lion of Democratic Candidate for Governor. It will
also devOve upon the meeting to consider the organ
lzatiOn of the party in this County, with reference
to the August elections for Governor and Members
of the legislature
full attendance is earnestly requested, as it is i'm
pOrant that the whole matter should fully and fairly
he considered and decided upon
January 6, 1854. 1s-tm
Party Org"nIzntIon.-The Coming Canvass In this
State.
The time is rapidly approaching, it, indeed. it
be not already here, when it will become the duty
of every Democrat in the State, who takes an inter-
est in the triumph of the party and its principles to
such active position for the success of the
one and the permanenee of the other as may seem TO
him most conducive of these results. And, indeed
the same consideration will apply to the members of
any party who may conscientousIy believe the sue
of that party to which they may have attached
themselves necessary to the prosperity and we'll
being of the country. AS Democrats, our humble
efforts shall, Of course, be given TO the Democratic
party and it is mainly with view to the harmony
and efficiency of the Democratic organization that we
have taken the liberty of Offering these remarks, by
way of suggestion rather than of controversy.
While the State Convention forms in some
ure the Legislative body of the party in the state at
large and is certainly the most important political
gathering upon the wisdom of whose deliberations
more of success depends than upon any other, still
the foundation of that must be laid IN the
primary meetgs, held in the several counties SEN
ding delegates to the convention-upon the harmony
and good feeling which may characterize such meet
ings and upon the cordial assent which their pro-
ceedngs may obtain from the party at large. With
out such harmonious action and cordial assent their
efficiency for good must be seriously impaired
Proper county organization them lays at the bottom
of general in the state. Of the effects OF
local disorganizaton the last Legislature of North
Carolina affords abundant evidence. Had every
Democratic county sent democratic Representatives,
the majority on Joint ballot would have been from
16 to 2O-qute sufficient for all practical purposes
of Legislation and also sufficient to have restrained
righteousness by demonstrating its utter futility We
need ONLY refer to the counties of Baden, Catawba
and Johnston represented in the last Legislature by
four whigs-making difference of eight in the vote
In these counties the Democratic vote outnambered
the wings by an average of about fifty per cent, as
shown by the of the elections for Governor
and for President Such results only be attrbut
ed 10 local disorganizaon. These but exam
pies others might easily be cited if, indeed, the
fact required farther proof or illustration.
Few, if any, we believe, deny the expediency and
necessity of State organization, object to the hold
ing of State conventions for that purpose. AS these
conventions must be composed of delegates from the
various counties, and State organization must be
based upon County organization, and depend upon
such for it's efficiency and success it is difficult t, I'M
derstand how any reasonable objections can be urged
against local organization by those who advocate
and support State organization or how conventions
should be recognized perfectly fair and proper IN
one case and denounced the reverse in the other
Certainly experience has demonstrated the expedIen
Cy of adopting mode for securing concert of &C
tiOn, and for preventing splits in counties; and while
demonstrating this fact, it has, far, pointed out nc
, mehed more certain and available than the conven
tOn system. But in order 10 give TO these county
conventions their just over AID weight, and TO rem
der them productive of the full measure of good o
which they capable it is essential that the party
at large, and every member of it who really feels al
interest in It's success should also feel interest in
and watch over the workings of the machinery which
may be deemed requisite to secure that success.
Of course, as good Democrats We hold ourselves
bound to acquiesce in and support the plan of opera
lions which may be determined upon by the ma ority
The main thing which would wish to impress up
on our brethren of the Democratic party, is the ne
cessity of taking active interest in the carrying
out of that plan, whatever it may be. And this, a
Democrats, in support of Democratic men and meas
ures without allowing themselves to be turned asid
or committed either as the supporters or opponent
of measures having no proper connection with part.
politics. We conscientiously believe that the Demo
cratic party is the party of safe and conservative
progresstha it's principles and is practice are sucl
as fully entitle it TO the confidence of It's member
and of The community, and that the interests of th
State may be freely committed 10 its care with TIT
assurance that all projects of reform or improvement
will receive at its hands, careful examination, ant
ON unbiased and intelligent decision. We claim 70
the party this position and cannot understand how
anv Democrat could desire to see It lowered from
by making lis action depend upon that of any organ
izalion outside of the party. In plain terms-for w
like to be plain-we sincerely desire, II possible
that the Temperance Reform should be kept out o
The arena of party poltics-that Democrats shoul'
he run as Democrats and not as Temperance Anti