Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-07-29
The WILMINGTON JOURNAL
WILMINGTON. N. g.. FRIDAY. JULY 90, 1859.
The Election this Day Week.

people will go to the polls and vote. We trust all who
have right to do So will exercise that right, for we
take it that the possession of any such right implies the
corresponding obligation to exercise for the best in
terests of the community We dislike to see undue ex
cement that is to say such excitement tends to bit
terness but apathy and indifference are equally to be
regretted perhaps they ought to be regarded even
more dangerous.
There is alarge portion of our readers whom
not again address before the day OF election We do
not know that this really amounts to anything for there
is little that we could now say with which readers
are not already acquainted especially those of the Cape
Fear District.
We mot wish torevive the differences which have
arisen out of discussion of question of Convention
no Convention at this time. Our opinions upon that
subject have undergone no change-our confidence in
their soundness has been strengthened rather than
weakened, and we know that many who at the begin
ming differed from u.s. would now, if the thing were to do
over again, pursue a different course.
However, the time for all this has passed. and we
trust that its aperties have also passed. and that no
unpleasant feelings will remain to the future har
mony of the Democratic party We must view things
as they are-take them as we find them.
We find two Democratic Candidates in the field
Hon. Warren Winslow, representative in the last
Congress of the United States and Malcolm j. McDufe
ESQ. Both gentlemen are citizens of Cumberland
County, are lawyers by profession and claim to be Dem
ocrats in principle and practice appealing as such for
the support of their fellow citizens.
Mr. Winslow has already represented this district four
years in Congress. He possesses high and deserved
reputation for learning and ability, and remarked
in former ISSUE his votes in the last Congress will
bear the most rigid scrutiny. We confined our endorse
ment to the last Congress- because of dissenting from
his vote in the preceding Congress in favour of the De-
post Bill. This Mr.. Winslow fully understands, and
we think that on this point there is very little diff
ference of opinion between u.s. This is indeed q dead
ISSUE and one in which Mr. Winslow's mistake was
shared by the whole delegation.
AS for the points urged Or referred to between
Messr8. Wnslow and McDufie, we would refer to the
report of the discussion in this place last week given
in the Journal. We think all essential matters are
therein stated.
There being no Convention Mr. McDuf1ie, so far as
party organization is concerned stands precisely Mr.
Winsow does. He has the right to look for re-
specul consideration of his claims or pretensOns He
is gentleman of talent and education. He has spoken
about and been heard by the people who form their
own opinions and act in accordance with their own udg
ments
We WISH in this connection, and without desiring to
take part against either Of the gentlemen for they
both friends of ours to offer some remarks for the con-
sderaton Of friends whose good opinions value more
and whose interests we feel more bound to consult than
we do those of any individual candidates friends who
have sustained better perhaps than have deserved
in plain terms, of the public in general and the Demo
cratic public in particular.
First then of Conventions AN must see that wher
number of Democratic candidates run, all claiming tc
stand upon the same political platform and having few
or no political issues to be raised between Them Som
issues will be sought for and they will 5e personal issues
in time more or less bitterness will be certain to spring
out of this-t will spread from the candidates to the
friends and the seeds of future difficulties will be sown
We trust and feel that little or nothing of this kind will
follow the present canvass but is always best to guart
against contingencies. We know that there are obec
Ons to conventions for nothing can be perfect in thi
world and even if it were it doubtful whether the wo
would recognise its perfections-stil experience ma
shown that the advantages of conventions far outweigh
their disadvantages and trust sincerely that no diff
Guilty ofa character similar to those against which w
have had to contend this time will occur hereafter.
AS to another matter Of policy, the length of time dur
ing which any one man should hold any particular pub
lie position 1T is evident that rule could be la
down fixing this definitely in regard to Representative
stations although positive law equally positive Gus
tom has actually stepped in to impose bounds to tn
tenure Of executive Office. The example of Washington
has established precedent with all the force of law
stricting the time that may be President to tw
terms amounting to eight years. and even that seems
be still farther restricted, for hardly any of tn
present generation has had chance to assist the cleo
ton of President to a second term of service. After
man has been Governor of North Carolina two terms
he submits to interval by law The same thing in othe
States, with good many notifications.
There are two things to be regarded in connection
with representative thing is the gettin
of laws promotve of the greatest good of the creates
number the other is the energy and pride of characte
infused into people, each Of whom feels himself entite
to aspire to any honor position that the State tn
nation can coner-who sees all the avenues of promo
ton open to him as to any other man.
Now it stands to reason that experience is a grea
teacher and have always thought that the constar
changes which the Northern people make in their reg
resentatives is the result of a mistaken policy. Bu
some at the South would to the opposite extreme The
would by the creation of official perpetuities cut off
hope aspiration among the people -deaden the enc
ges of those who ought to be useful men-parayze an
bition however laudabe and dignity this by the nan
of conservatism
We think proper mean ought to be adopted. Chang
ought not to be made for the sake of change nor
frequently in accordance with the dictates of caprc
To get good sound legislation, re think right that the
should be fair prospect of retaining the legislative pos
ton long enough to induce men of talent to aspire to