Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-06-18

MEssRs ELLIS AND McRAE.-We are pleased to learn
that the difficulty between these gentlemen has been ad
used through the intervention of mutual friends and
that their former friendly relations have been restored
Had nothing been said calculated, and, we must sup
pose, intended to operate against Judge Ellis in this
connection, we should have taken pleasure in making
this announcement and thus closing all reference to what
we have already characterized untoWard accident.
But such has not been the course pursued and sense
Of justice compels to add few explanatory remarks,
not with any view to cast censure upon Mr. McRae but
to enable proper understanding of the matter to be
arrived at.
So far as Judge Ellis charging Mr. McRae with en-
couragng abotonists is concerned, the same ground
gone at Clinton and we took especial note of
it. Mr. McRae there took substantially the same grounds
in opposition to the admission of Kansas that had been
taken by Mr. Gilmer and Others Judge Ellis in his
reply or rather rejonder spoke of the effect of Mr..
Gilmers position at the North reading from leading
Free Soil papers, to show that then had considered
the failure of the Lecompton bill as an antisavery
triumph, and had hailed the position Of the few
southern men whose votes had contributed to this
result, as aordng the highest encouragement being,
as they asserted, symptom of disunion among
southern Now, continued Judge Ellis, my COM
petitOr occupies the same ground thus lauded by
these Free Soil organs and however much these organs
may do injustice to the feelings Of my competitor there
by, and feel convinced that they will do that injustice
it is still certain that his election should he be elected in
August next, will be hailed by them triumph for
their sde and proclaimed to their friends as ground of
encouragement. This was simply argument from
facts stated and documents read and could not be wis
ted into personal mputaton That it was thus regar
ded was evidenced by Mr. McRae's so accepting it.
Well, now at Beaufort, taking the account furnish
ed by an opponent OF Judge Ellis-the Editor of the
Knson American Advocate-the case appears to stand
thus: Judge Ellis had led of-he had made this point
among others-Mr. McRae in his reply, brought for
ward the question Of distribution to Offset this. He
said that Judge Ellis was for pouring millions Of
acres of public lands into the laps of abolition
lists, while he talked about his (AIr. McRaes election
encouraging abolitionists Encouraging Abolition
lists, indeed HoW? This was said turning directly and
vehemently to Judge Ellis where he sat, in
which Judge Ellis says in his subsequent remarks to the
audience he regarded insulting. The Judge replied
to the question in his seat say it would encourage
them rising the Advocate says, in excited
and advancing making some remark to Mr. McRae which
was not heard to which Mr.. McRae replied it is false"
blow given and returned and then friends inter-
fered.
The thing would appear thus The Judge made the
argument alluded to, which contains personal impu
tation. Mr.. McRae replies to it, turning to Judge Ellis
at the same time in manner which the latter regards
as insulting, and he replies in his seat rising under the
sense of insult-somc words pass and Mr.. McRae pro-
nounces remark Of Judge Ellis false and the natural
consequence ensues Now it is easy to how all this
may have occurred without imputng wrong intentions
to either gentleman They the best judges, and
feel convinced that when joint publication comes to be
made they will fully acquit each other Of anything
graVer than misunderstanding.
We do not wish to turn this matter to the injury of
Mr.. McRae's prospects, and the opposition cannot
torture it so to prejudice Judge Ellis, who did only
what any man would have done under the circumstan-
ces No doubt Mr.. McRaes natural vehemence of man
betrayed him into what the appearance of in
suit without it being intended Let justice be done
if the heavens should fall.