Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-06-03
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL.
This DlstrIot.---A Review of the Facts.

This DIstrict.---A Review of the Facts.
Some little experience in political affairs has led us
almost insnctVey to dread anything like splits or d.
visions in the Democratic party because we have felt
that such splits or divisions only to the bene
fit OF those who seek their advantages real sup
posed, in the injury, if not defeat, of the party.
This feeling has operated during the last few months
to restrain the expression of opinions upon
points, and to moderate that expression upon Others
We felt that we, at least had no new name to make
we trusted that we were too well known to the Demo
Gratis of the district to permit of any misconstructon
ofOur motives herpar and we were willing be silent
where justice to ourselves might given us the right if
did not actually demand of to speak emphaticay
This right have been content to waVe-ths possible
duty we have neglected for the sake of peace and in the
exercise of an option belonging to us where we only
were concerned. But certain matters have arisen
certain circumstances have occurred which give to
affairs different tone and character-which remove
them from the bounds Of personal interest per-
sonal feeling, and place them in such a position we
cannot fail to notice without derection of duty not
simply to ourselves, but to the Democratic party, to
whose interests public journalists we have devoted
the best abors of years. doing battle for its principles
when they were in minority supposed be hopeless in
this State and abating not ot little of our zeal
Or energy in that dark hour when Know Nothingism
threatened to overshadoW Or still later, when our
Democratic Congressional delegation faered and voted
for distribution disguised under the specious but msey
disguise of deposit"
The interests of the party-the harmony of the party
have always been of value to than any merely
personal considerations could be- for have had
any merely personal interests to subserve by pot-
cal course We think that harmony hardly be pur-
chased at too high price, unless that price involve the
abnegaton of principle or the sacrifice of personal hon
or and independence- it does, then indeed it is not
worth the price paid for it, even not deceptive
which in the nature of things it must be.
Let us come down from the past to the present. from
speculative reasonings to existing facts. Let
Der that is pretty nearly always the case there WERE
when Congress last broke up numbers ogood Democrats
in this district, who were anxious to have District
Convention that time rolled on and all the surround
ing districts prepared to hold Conventions this desire
increased that, perhaps originally springing from a
preference to some other than the former incumbent it
grew under the stimulus of opposition and denuncation
and that at last it to be shared in by many whose
only object was to defend and uphold the right of the
Democratic people to be heard.
We dislike to quote from our own columns, but may
find it necessary to do in order to present fair view
of our own position and that of large number of Dem
ocrats who think with u.s. that conventions may be dis
pensed with when there is already such unanimity aud
concentration as amounts to nomination. but not 9th
erWise and further that when any respectable number
of Democrats call for convention that very fact ind
Gates the existence of such state Of things renders
the holding of convention not only expedent but ne
cessary for healing divisions and preventing their further
growth. In the Weekly Journal of April LIST, we re
marked
In regard to district, position is delicate
though not at al doubtful one P9ThaPs we can pest ex
of New Hanover County, Hon. VIM. s. Ashe, represented
this district for Congress- felt satisfied that he the
first choice of this County, thought it unnecessary per
haps ungracious for his County to take any lead in
calling for Convention at the same time that stood
ready respond to and acquesce in action that the
other of the district might think proper to
mend and adopto be represented in any Convention that
Now when the incumbent is citizen of another county
feel that courtesy requires us to pursue similar
we neither recommend object to a Convention, but
shall act in concert with the district in any which
may be deemed proper and expedient We think this IS the
position of the Democratic party of this county.
That such was and is the position Of New Hanover
County, and that her is perfectly consistent with
that which she pursued in 1853 when Mr.. Ashe, one
her own citizens was the nominee WILL we Think be rem
dered apparent by comparison of the resolutions adopt
ed by the New Hanover County meeting of 1853 and
1862 We quote those having reference to the Conyen
ton:
1853,
WHEREAS, meeting lately held in the County of Du
pin, series of resolutions adopted calling for Con
Venon of the Democratic party of the Third Congressional
District to meet at Clinton the first Thursday Of june
Resol0ed That should it be the will of the District
in County meetings that said should be
and will be represented in that Convention.
ReSOI0ed That believe in the right Of the Democratic
People of the district hold Conventions any time thai
the holding such Conventions may be deemed promotv
Of the harmony or interests Of the party.
ReSoEUed That should it be deemed proper to hold
Democratic Convention for the purpose ofnomnang can
dae to represent this district in the next Congress of the
United States New Hanover county will be represented
such Conventions and the chairman of this meeting here
by authorized to appoint at his leisure two delegates from
each Captains district in the county, and three from eacl
Captains district in the town of Wilmington to represen
New Hanover county such Convention to be held at sucl
time and place may be designated by majority of the
counties OF the district
In presenting these last resolutions the present write
felt that the first resolution could require no argumen
to commend it to Democratic meeting, and that TIN
second followed as its logical sequence Both were il
accordance with the course adopted by New Hanove
when Mr.. Ashe was the incumbent and we were not
little surprised to find some few gentlemen voting agains
the last who went very strongly for the resolutions
1853 for we were secretary of that meeting and reco
lect it very well.
However we commended, in support Of the resolutions
adopted in 1859, that where our felowDemocrats il
other parts of the district asked for convention
courteous and proper that should be represented
such convention if held. We also contended that th
was precisely one of the times when the holding OF