Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-02-23
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL.
WILMINGTON. N. c., FRIDAY, FEB. 20. 1855.
The congrssslona1 elections In North Carolina.

THE Conversational Elections n North Carolina.
All cur readers are, we presume aware of the fact
that the election of eight congressman to represent
the eight congressional districts Of North Carolina
will take place Oh the first Thursday in August next
The term of service of the present congressional
DELEGATION will expire on the fourth of next month
In view of the approach of the day OF election
the subject naturally and properly begins to attract
measure of public attention, which will increase az
the season advances and be rendered more than
usually absorbing by the peculiar and interesting
position of national affairs, especially in relation to
matters nearly connected with the peace and safety
of the Southern States arising from the unparalleled
increase and greatly heightened tone OF aggression
adopted by the abolition party at the North, IN view
of its vast accessons of strength In recent elections
in that section of the Union, occurring simultaneously
with tbs rapid development of new power IN the
State which has advanced step for step with the
triumphs of abolitiOnism sweeping the same states
which it has swept, and obtaining victories on the
fields and over the same opponent-the Ma
tional Democratic party. or the actual connecuon
between the two movements we have only facts and
results to guide US in forming an opinion but these
are decisive if we admit the force of the scrptural
axiom which says that by their fruits we shall
know them" At any rate, the fact of large aboll-
ton increase of power is. unfortunately. 100 true
and as a consequence, the critical nature OF the
position in which the Southern States are pacel
and the necessity for caution, and careful regard 10
the standing and qualifications of the men sent to
guard her interests and maintain her honor on the
floor of Congress, who should not only be known
and devoted friends of the South, but free from en-
olli
with movements of Northern growth, whereby their
independent action, as Southern representatives.
might be cIogged or their efficiency destroyed
We take ii for granted, as a matter from which no
good democrat will dissent, that IN the ensuing cleo
tion as in all past political contests, the Democratic
party of North Carolina will 60 into the struggle re-
lying upon the strength of the great conservative
principles which it has so often proclaimed 10 the
world and which have often received the enthusl-
nstio approval of the American people. In this sign
it will conquer and in none other. In barring its
broad breast TO stem the torrent of isms and excite
ments and to fight once more the battles of the con-
htiuton and of the principles of constitutional con-
btruclion which have come down from the days of
Jefferson, the party will give another evidence Of its
pure and unselfsh devotion to princ pie, and show
how far it stands above the temporary but not
harmless excements of the day. In refusing TO join
in any secret crusade against any classes of citizens
upon grounds of exclusion not recognised in the
sttution, it is simply defending principle and Meth
er making itself the champion peculiar friend Of
any class classes. II knows classes class
Legislation, but goes for the amplest rights and priv
iIeges Of all under the constitution Neither foreign
ers nor catholics, have any vote to be counted in n
&c C;, 10 oF ham
knowledge that either holds or seeks for office of any
kind in he State al least the democratic side
The only members of the Catholic denomination ee7a-
ted tOconspicuous position in North Carolina have al
tanned that position through the votes of the opposite
party. We allude to a gentleman whose name and
reputation is an honor TO his State-the late Judge
CASTOR, and another highly respectable and worthy
gentleman, now on the bench of the Superior Court
Judge Manly. The whole vote of the classes alluded
to-naturalzed citizens aud members of the catholic
church would not amount to four hundred in an ag
gregae Of ninety thousand 1t is Democracy,
the liberal principles of the constitutions that the par
ty would defend, not the vote or influence of mere
handful But let the thing once be started-et extra
constitutional exclusions and prescriptions be started
and successfully carried out against class re-
igous denomination, no matter how insignificant in
numbers. and the practice once established, who can
tell where ii is to stop-what class denomination
may next be put under the ban-what ri ghts priv
ileges may or may not be sacred-wha interests may
be sacrificed by the operations OF secret Concaves.
1t is question that should arrest the attention of
cry citizen and cause him TO ponder long and deeply
and ponder still longer and more deeply when this
movement comes from section where it's progress has
-,5 Nv,
of an association which aims its blows directly at the
interest which lies most Immediately at the foundation
Of the whole social system of the South, and is entwn
ed with the very existence Of Southern institutions
The amount of the impression which this new
movement may have made in North Carolina, can, O.
course only be proximately arrived at. That it ha
made an impression admits of no manner Of question
and that such impression must tend mainly to tn,
injury of the Democratic party admits of little
nor can there remain even the shadow of a doub
that it is designed to tend. While the unvaryny
of its acts has shown that the practical opera
ton of knowNothingsm is strongly onti-Southerl
and anti Democratic, we are not foolish enough Il
suppose for moment that the mass of Know No
things at the South have joined the association witt
any such views, at least so far the anti-Souther
element is concerned. But events must by this tim
have begun TO open the eyes even of the mos
bigoted the fact that they only roped in by tn
Northern managers to act the pioneers, or rattle
as the sappers and miners, to undermine and weake
the defences of the South and prepare the way fo
the final onslaught which is TO end in the absolut
triumph of anti slavery, for which the defeat of tn
Democratic party can offer but slight consolation
those who pushing the movement for thu
purpose and certainly those Democrats in nam