Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-03-30
From the Goldsboro' Tribune.


of the 18th inst, on the Hon. Thos. Rufin, over the
signature of Justice" ask your permission to Of
fer few remarks in reply; but first let us hear the
points which Mr.. Justice" makes:
He thinks that, "the term of Hon. Thos. Rufin,
as member from this Congressional District having
expired the Democratic party should direct their at
tention to his successor! He also thinks that ro-
taton in Office should not be departed from, unless
the incumbent has made or is likely to make, his
mark in the councils of the nation"
He " has high regard for Col. Rufin as gen.
tleman and sound reliable Democrat" but thinks
"when there are SO many equally able and reliable
men in the District, who would confer honor on
their party, the principle of rotation should be car
ried out" and therefore that some one from some
other county should receive the nomination"
"Justice" then suggests the names of the follow
ing most estimable gentlemen, with each of whom l
am personally acquainted and every one of whom
would on proper OCCASIONS delight to honor and
see honored, namely, Messrs. Stevenson, Selby.
Blow, Singeltary, Bridgers, Dancy, and Geo. How
ard, Jr.
have been thus careful, Mr. Editor, to lay down
the several propositions contained in the communi,
cation of Justice" as WELL that no injustice might
be done him, by any remarks Of mine as to show
the animus with which he penned them.
When first read the communication of "Justice,"
friend who was present remarked that, when the
dogs begin to growl there's bone about;" and,
verify, it appears to me that Justice" has bone
in view, the claim to pick which, he, himself, would
contest with any and all the above named gentle
men, his special hvorites though they be-.
have characterized this attack, of Justice" on
the Hon. Thos Ruflin, as insidious and unwarranta-
ble 1t is nsidious in that the writer processes to
have "a high regard for Col. Ruffn, as gentleman
and sound reliable Democrat" and still charges him
with neither having made his mark, and with not
being likely to make his mark, in the councils of
the nation-hercin it is also unwarrantable
But this is not the only charge which "Justtce"
prefers against Col Ruffin, notwithstanding the self
contradiction which it involves. In his extreme
selfconfdence he arrogantly insinuates that the
Hon. Thos. Ruffin the object of his illdsgused ma
levoence has conferred no honor on his party; and
yet forsooth, according to his logic there are many
men in the District equally able and reliable as Col.
Rutfin, "who could confer honor on their party !"
Strange that the wild chase after Office" should
cause men to fall into such absurdities and stultfy
themselves!
Did it not occur to this rotation patriot-this
ofice-loving Justice" when he was penning what
he, doubt, regarded as the political exequhs Of
the Hon. Thos. Ruffn, that he was contradicting
himself in almost every sentence which he uttered,
and, at the same time, paying but very doubtful
compliment to the very worthy gentlemen whom he
indicates as proper persons from whom to select
COL Rufiin's successor" For instance: If COL
Ruffin has not made and is not likely to make his
mark in the councils of the nation, nor conferred
honor on his party, how would any Of those gentle
men. whom "Jusficc" pronounces-not superior
to-but only equally able and reliable as Col Ruff
fin, make their mark in the councils Of the nation,
or confer honor on their party? Well may those
gentlemen, whom "Justice" has condescended to
mention in connection with future Congressional
honors-well, I say, may they exclaim "save me
from my fricuds"
"Justice" may pirate till doomsday about men
making their "mark in the councils of the nation
and comforting honor on their party, "but he will
thereby simply expose his own ignorance and thirst
for Office, without incting the slightest injury on
Col. Rutfn. The people-the intelligent freemen Of
the second Congressional District are not Ignorant
of the fact that there wirepullers malcontents
and soreheads in the democratic party and will not
be slow nor abashed to classify ".Justice" and 9TH
crs of his lk among Them The faithful and honor
able editor of the Southerner in introducing the
municatOn of "Justice" to his readers boldly re-
marks, like good Democrat as he is that as far
| he has heard mo objections have been suggest
ed in that part of the District (Edgecombe) as to
the acceptability of Col Rufin, as our representa-
tive in Congress" And to the testimony of the
So@therner, will add my own-having travelled
large portion of this District and having con-
verscd with gentlemen of distinguished influence
from different portions of the District within the
last twelve months have never heard murmur
|
of Col. Ruffn, nor heard word spoken of him but
what was pregnant with praise; excepting always
the dark and malevolent insinuations of those who
would wish to displace him, for their own personal
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. And l will add here, without feal
Of successful contradiction that Representative
in Congress, from any District in any State of this
| Union, has given more satisfaction to, or is more
popular with his constituents, as mass, than Col
| Ruin. The only malcontents in this District now
thOcn m hnvn hnpr II
office for themselves or their friends and those who
wish to supplant Col. Rufin.
Moreover, is not Justice" mistaken, when hi
says that "rotaton in Office has ever been a cher
ished principle of the Democratic party!" so far as
Representatives in the Legislature whether State Of
National, are concerned? So far from it, l have
never heard of member of Congress or of the Leg
slature being repudiated turned out Of office, by
his constituents except for some violation, by his
VOTE or other mode of action, of the principles o
that party, to whose suffrages he was indebted fo
Office and the honors incident thereto In my opin
ion, and think the experience of all will sustain mi
in that opinion it has ever been cherished princi
pie Of the Democratic party, to change their Repre-
sentatves in Congress as seldom as possible; know
ing that it takes time and experience, on the part
those Representatives to acquire that character ant
influence which are indispensable to the interests o
his immediate constituents and those of the countr.
at large-these, it is we'll known, no new member
from the very nature Of things possibly possess
and hence the necessity of rejoicing Col. Ruthn
Judging from "Justices" communication, if h
estimates his influence over the Democratic part
in proportion to the selfesteem which that commu
nication indicates, he certainly regards himself n
small potatoes IN political point Of view-he lay
Hon. Thos Ruffin on the shelf and issues his ukas
to the Democratic party to "direct their attentio
to his SUCCESSOR" with as much sang troid as eve
characterized the imperial head Of Russia when OF
dering the decapitation of dozen of his serfs 70
some imaginary offence 1t remains to be see
whether the Democratic freemen of the second Cor
gressional District will yield obedience to his qUas
imperial order.
do not mean, now, to combat the ungenerou
insinuation that Col. Rufin has reflected no hone
on his party. With those who are, at all CONVEX
SAINT with the general routine Of Congressional bus
ness, and with the working men in Congress- no d
fence Of Col. Ruffn, against such charge, is nece
sary. He can proudly point to the record Of h
brio md doGo obolle