Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-05-11
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HOLDEN WILSON, STATE PRINTERS,
PUBLISHERS OF THE LAWS OF THE UNITED
The Campaign for Congress in North-Carolina.


The Campaign for Congress in North Carolina.
North Carolina is entitled to eight representatives
in Congress. Of these eight representatives in the
last Congress, six were Democrats, the representa-
tives of the fifth and eighth Districts being Know
Nothings or Wings.
The Hon. Henry NJ. Shaw represented the first
District in the last Congress. \ Convention of the
Democratic party will be held in Edenton on the 2Gth
instant, to nominate candidate. DR.. Shaw seems
to have given entire satisfaction to the party, and we
presume he will be nominated for reelection. No
stronger man could be presented whether Mr. Smith
or Mr. Pool should be the opposition canddate.-
Dr. Shaw is quite the equal of either OF these gen.
tlemen on the stump; and though the District is
close, and was formerly Whig, yet we entertain no
doubt of his success.
1ne second District was represented in the last
Congress by the Hon. Thomas Ruifn. \ Convcn-
ton of the party is to be held in Newbern early in
June, to nominate candidate. Col. Ruffin also
seems to have given entire satisfaction to the party,
and we presume he will again be nominated. The
probability is that he will have no opposition This
District is largely Democratic but in addition to this
Col Rufin enjoys personal popularity, every way
deserved, which would render him formidable can
didate even in minority
The third District represented in the last Con-
gress by the Hon. Warren Winsow The party in
this District seems to be undetermined to Con-
venton, some of the Counties favoring Conven-
ton, and others thinking it unnecessary. We pre-
sumo however, that Mr.. Winslow will again he in
the field. lie has acquitted himself well a repre-
sentative and his course is generally approved by
his constituents This District like that represent
ed by Col. Ruffin, is largely Democratic
In the fourth District the Hon. L. O'B. Branch,
the late representative, has been nominated for re-
election. Opposition is talked of in the person of
Cn, Edwards, of Granville; but the District is Dem
ocratic by from $500 to 1900 majority, and Mr.:
Branchs success is, therefore, certain. We confess
Indifferent as to the course of the opposition
in the District, as we presume Mr.. Branch is. If
they bring forward candidate, well if not, we'll
it is all the same to U.s. Mr. Branch has served four
years in Congress, and during this brief period he
has established an enviable reputation We look
forward to his future service with the expectation
that he will increase his reputation and acquire
still stronger hold on the esteem and confidence of
his constituents
The fifth Distrc. was represented in the last Con-
gress by the Hon. John A. Gilmer. Mr.. Gilmer's
majority two years ago, over Mr. Williams, the De-
mocratic candidate, only s47, in District gen.
orally regarded as Whg or Know Nothing by 1900
majority The Democrats will hold Convention at
Graham on the 3lst instant to nominate candi-
date That they will make good nomination we
~
exceedingly Objectionable to true Southern Ri ghts
men; and though we esteem him as a man, we trust
for the sake OF the South and Constitutional In
ion that he will be defeated WI North Carolina ex-
poets to maintain her honor and her rights in the
Union, she must present an undivided front to her
Northern assailants. Her representatives in Con-
gress must not be allowed to act with the black Re-
publcans and thus strengthen the power which is
meditating the destruction of her institutions. No
one supposes for a moment, or charges, that Mr.
Gilmer and Mr. Vance are black Republicans; or that
they would not if the issue plainly and finally
presented stand firmly with their fellow citizens in
defence of the vital interests of the State. But the
great danger is, that the rights, the independence,
the equality of the slaveholdng States will be
sapped by slow degrees and that when the final is
sue does come, as come we fear it must we will be
Shorn of that moral power and that oneness of spirit
and determination so indispensable to successful re-
sistance. That is the point and just here is the
great gulf" between Messvs. Gilmer and Vance and
the great body of our people. The people of the
fifth and eighth Districts, without regard to party,
have right to expect that their representatives will
act with the only national party in the country on
question so important and vital as that of slavery
Mr.. Buchanan has shown as much regard the
Constitutional rights of North Carolina on this ques-
ton as he could have exhibited if he had been one OF
her own sons; and yet it seems to have been set
tied point in the eof Messrs Gilmer and Vance,
and such course seems to have given them leculi-
arpleasure, to oppose and embarrass in every way
IN their power the administration Of Mr. Buchanan.
They have acted as if they had been sent to Wash
nston, not to assist in carrying the government
But to arrest it and break it down. Upon almost
every vote they have been with the black Republi-
cans; and should they unfortunately be returned to
congress, instead of changing their course and CO.
operating with the friends of Southern rights they
"il give still further and greater countenance, by
'nelr votes, and by their implied sympathies at least