Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-07-25
The state Canvass.

MANNERS Of The Legislature and Sheriffs, will take
place on Thursday, the 7th day OF August next be-
ing the very latest day upon which Stale election
can come. The first Thursday in August OF next
wear will be also the first day of the month.
AS the canvass thus draws to close, its
character becomes definitely fixed, and the summing
up matter of comparative Let us, therefore,
look at it for short time.
Early in ATiI last the Conventions of the respec-
tive parties were held. tina of the Know Nothing or
American pary converting at Geensbt o' on the 10th,
while the Democratic Convention met al Raleigh on
the 18th Of that month.
Upon every question of State and national policy,
the Democratic Convention came out fully and falry
before the people 1t met the issues without reserve
or hesitation, it expressed its continued adhesion to
the great measure Of justice known as Free Suffrage,
and lis determination to press it to its final triumph
1t stood up fairly and squarey upon every question
likely engage the public attention or enter serious
" into the Canvass Turning to national politics II
planted itself upon the platform of the pertec: equa-
ty CT the citizens of every section OF the country, as
secured by the Kansas Nebraska Act, by which the
Missouri restriction was repealed, and the people OF
the South let in with their property, equally with
those OF the North, to the territories OF the
Union 1t took broad national ground, such as a
Southern State Convention might be expected 10 take.
and it nominated for re election to the chief Office in
the State, gentleman above reproach either as an
officer or as man. And more than this. full and
pIicit were the resolutions adopted at Raleigh
strongly as they asserted the rights of the States, and
of the South, they stronger than the resou-
tons adopted six weeks after ut Cincinnati in Ma
ticC of do atas
from every district in the Union-adopted without
single dissenting voice,
How does the action of the opposing party compare
with this ? The resolutions adopted at Greensboro
are silent upon the question of Equal Suffrage, if in
deed they do not go directly against the measure
The preamble and first resolution of their State plat
form are follow
"WHEREAs, There have heretofore existed vari
Gus and conflicting views both among Wings and
Democrats 10 the proprety Of amending the State
Constitution, and to the manner and extent of
amendment and in order that the grand principles
OF Americanism may not be trammeled in the ensu-
ing by veXed State questions raised by the
former political organizations Therefore, be it
Resolved That the American party eschewng
ti0nal issues III the State well in the Union:
hereby declare their intention of abiding by and
maintaining the basis of the preFen Constitution of
North Carolina
Now, this either something it means
nothing Ii it means any thing, it includes Free
Suffrage, which is question of the amending the
State Constitution in the category of those evoked
State questions raised by the former political organi
cations" by which the grand principles of Amer.
ic snism are not to be trammelled in the ensu-
ing canvass " 1t that the American party
in the ensuing canvass" will abide by and maintain
the present basis OF the constitution of North Car
DINA. This is not aft ne" the result of conviction
laid down Il measure of settled policy, but
only temporary lodging OF responsibility, fear to
meet the issue lest it mi ght tramme the grand prin-
ciples of Amercanism in the ensuing canvass, that
is, lest it might interfere with their e!ectioneering
moves. huS question Of deep import to the State
is blinked, measure for the extension of full polit-
cal rights to at eas, forty thousand native sons of
North Carolina, is either directly opposed or con-
empuously ignored, in order that nothing may tram
mel the grand onslaught to be made upon some four
or five hundred Catholics and foreigners within the
State, for there are not more than that number of
voters of both classas-c tainy not more than six
hundred.
And the Candidate of the American party is gen.
tleman who may ell desire not to be rammelled with
his former record, either the question of the basis
or of Free Suffrage He may we'll ask that this re-
cord should be ignored, for he has VI ted for every
kind Of proposition to disturb the basis He has voted
for the white basis 10 the House and the Federal
basis IN the Senate. He has done worse. He has
voted for the white basis in the Senate, going
far to deny the influence of our Federal pop.
ulaon in either branch of the Legislature. He has
gone for the distribution of the School Fund according
to white population instead OF Federal population, in
even as matters stand, many very many western
counties receive from the School Fund larger sum
per annum than the whole annual amount of their
taxes. He has uniformly voted against Free Suffrage
he voted against it, when but for that vote of his
it would have finally passed. But for Mr. Gilmer
Free Suffrage would now be portion of the Consti
tuition of North Carolina, and the tax payer would nc
longer be subjected To- taxation without representa-.
ton, with only half representation, as is now the
with the large class who not holding fifty acres
of land, deprived of all voice in one half of the
law, making power OF the State. Mr. Gilmer, it is
ruG goes beyond the permission of his party Conven-
ton, aud talks though he, the persevering oppo.
nent of Free Suffrage was its strong advocate, in face
of his recorded votes in opposition to it, and of the
further fact XII own to ali who understand the achn
cry of legslaon that he has not only voted steadily
against it directly, but fought Indirectly by all sorts
OF parliamentary man@uvres, impractcabe amend
ments, inconsistent propositions, and other means o.
embarrassment and detention. He even went so fa1
here as to accuse Gov Bragg of having been opposed
S,,4r 1914 l.. A..