Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-08-19
The Result In the First District

May be briefly summed up in the announcement that
VIM. n. H. Smith, Esq, the Opposition candidate for
Congress- has been elected by majority Of about five
hundred votes. Hon. II. III. Shaw of course has been
defeated by the same majority.
Under ordinary circumstances we should bow in ST.
lent acquiesence to what might to persons at dis
lance to be the imperial will of the people OF the First
District fairly and deliberately expressed. But
gard the issue of the just ended with such
sentiment of satisfaction We believe that this election
has been carried by fraud and intimidation. purga
ton Of the polls would show that Scores if not hundreds
Of illegal votes were thrown for Mr.. Smith. Besides
this we believe that many honest but iiterate Demo-
cratic voters imp, sed upon with spurious tickets
To our knowledge several Democrats voted, in a single
precinct, On last Thursday, for Mr.. Smith, under the
supposition that they were voting for DR.. Shaw
The menace Of violence, thrown out in the Winton
Convention OF last May, although it seemed at one time
unlikely to be carried into effect has nevertheless been
thoroughly fulfilled. The most dsgracefu scenes have
been witnessed from end OF the District to another.
The canvass has been signalZed with ARRAYS and
sin-ke attacks to which not the ann1us of murder but
only the strength the to execute wanting.
The armed assault made upon the Editor of this paper
at Edenton on Monday night week the organization
of mob to waylay and commit some unknown and
fendsh ndigniy upon him at Gainesville on tuesday fo-
lowing the free use of hickory sticks on the camp
ground the place the evening OF the Demo
cratic Mass Meeting the threats OF attack upon our
self which ensued upon the issuing Of The Citizen
Extra the abomnabe instigatng which only aban-
doned because appeared that we had too many and
too determined friends all these with other incidents
of the campaign which mig ht name, concusvey con-
firm charge, and give significant force to the sug
gestion that means, honorable dishonora L. were
left unused by the Opposition to secure the election
their candidate for Congress.
Apart from these overtures of actual violence, gen
era system of intimidation and terrorism has been
sorted to which, we doubt not kept many honest Dem
ocrats from coming to the polls constrained them tc
the support of MIR smith. With the vigorous and la
borious effrt made by the working men OF the Demo
cratic party of the District through its whole length
and BREADTH the should have been much larger thar
reported count dscoses There no lack of spirit OF
enthusiasm among the masses for gallant nominee
there was ukeWarmness in the cause and his detea
is due alone to the tactics of force and asehood adopted
by the Opposition.
We are not discouraged, however, by the result Mr.
Smith goes to Congress, next December it is true; ant
he will then and there have opportunity to show u
something of those principles which the Convention tina
nominated him had not the honesty and courage to an
nounce The Democracy of the District, temperate.
repulsed is not destroyed beaten down, but will arts
again in full and compact ranks and recreated vgo
when the tocsin of another combat shall then
to arms-MuJ reesborough IN. CO. Citizen.