Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-04-18
EIector for this District.

ic Executive Committee for this District will assem-
BILE at Franklinton on the 9th instant for the pur-
pose of nominating an Elector in place of Mr.. Cam
eron, who has declined. u Pa, - s-.s.,sa....f mi 7
We stated, in announcing Mr.. Cameron's declen-
sion, that we took it for granted the Committee
would re-assemble the Convention for the purpose
Of filling this vacancy. Having expressed our opin-
ion, we had right to do, as to the proper mode
of filling the vacancy, we should not have pursued
the subject further but for an article in the last
Register in which it is assumed that the Franklin
the Committee have the right to appoint and should
appoint The Elcctor. Now, the Franklinton Con-
vention charged by the people with the duty Of
appointing delegates to Charleston and nominating
an Elector an Assistant Elcctor, and Sub Electors
for the District That Convention has not complct-
ed its duties for the plain reason that the Eector
ship for the District is cdcant A case precisely
similar occurred in 1885, when Mr.. Thompson was
nominated for Congress and declined. The same
Convention not having completed the work which
the people had commissioned it to do, was reassem-
bled, and the result was the nomination of Mr..
Branch in place of Mr.. Thompson. In addition to
this, it is within the recollection Of every citizen
who has observed such things, that District Con-
vcntons have frequently been held in this State to
nominate Electors and for no other purpose. 1t is
good rule always to consult the people when at all
practicable. "Power is always stealing from the
many to the few 1t behoovcs Democrats especial
ly never to do any thing which is calculated to
evince dstrust of popular power or popular author
ty If the Chairman of the Committee had made
an effort to rc-assemble the Convention and that
body had declined to respond to the call, his power
and the power of the Committee to act in this case
would have been implicitly confirmed in the strong
est manner, and the exercise Of this power, while
it would have been unquestioncd, could not have
failed to give general satisfaction. AS it is, howev
er no matter who may be nominated, We weapprehend.
that general satisfaction will not be given.
The Register need not be concerned about the
Assistant Elector, Mr.. Saunders. Whether the
Committee shall think proper or not to tender him
the Eectorship as matter of courtesy, or on his
merits as sterling and talented Democrat, he will
no doubt so act to give his friends and the party
in the District no cause to complain. We are not
the champion or advocate Of any for the Elec.
while we would say nothing intended or calculated
to reflect in the slightest degree the Committee,
we must a: the same time be pardoncd for this frank
and explicit expression of our opinions. a--..
Union and Harmony..-No Proscription.--No
Tests among Democrats ON State Affairs.
In the Standard of the 18th of March, under the
head of the pending Campaign" we said:
TT is not for us nor for any one to attempt to die
tate to the Democratic party; but We respectfully
suggest that the true course is to know no dstinc
tions in ranks so 6tr as Democracy is concerned
between those who favor and those who oppose the
principle of ad ralorem whether considered iE a
stricted or in fully extended sense. No party in
this or any other State, for example, has been
unit State affairs. The Opposition party in this
State is divided on all ralorem, yet they will
all, or nearly all vote for John Pool Let every
Democrat who is true to his glorious principles and
who is anxious to see our excellent State admins
traton and the national Democratic party sustained
profit by the example thus set them by our oppo-
ncnts. Let them remember that in 1S4S and in
1850 we had troubles and divisions on the question
of internal improvement; that Wayne and Edge
combe, and Martin and Halifax, for instance, could
not agree with Davidson and Rowan, or Burke and
Jackson but that this difference in opinion State
affairs had no injurious effect the for the
Legislature or for Governor. Are We less united,
less loyal to the cause or less determined on defeat
ing our opponents than we were in 1850? Let US
show by our action that We are not"
In the same issue We said:
T. "Bear in mind also, that the paramount issue is
the preservation of Constitutional Union; that
this only he done by defeating the black Repub-
lican party; and that the only party which de.
! feat the black Republicans is the national Demo-
( cratic party. Let unite as heretofore on all our
md of 10 fhos
FORE for our opponents 1t is not for them to die
tate in this respect to the majority. Let US meet
! them on our own ground and in our own way. Let
us stand as one man around candidate for Gov
ernor. Let US sustain him and re-clect him, be-
cause he has acquitted himself we'll in the position
in which he was placed in 1868, and because he is
I the State embodiment of the paramount ISSUE to
wit the preservation of the Union on Constitution
al basis and let at the time determine that
the Opposition shall obtain advantage over us in
the County campaigns by their "cunnngly devised
fables on State issues. Let unite and do this,
and all will be well. Let our watchword be unity
oneness Of purpose and Of action in the campaign,
and oicto7y at the POLLS" .s
In the Standard of the 2sth of March we said:
"If Seward is defeated, Democracy must do it.
1t can do it. it be not crippled and embarrsssedby
| new issues. What then? Shall we divide on
| State issue when the State itself is to BE saved?-
ohai! we rush lnto the burning mouse 10 save tne
furniture when the wife and children are in danger
of the flames? Shall we open ranks and change the
order Of battle Just as the enemy is charging? Shall
we stop to change our Constitution when the threat
is hanging over that if we do not submit to abo
tion rule that Constitution itself will be rampled
under foot, and the State dragooned into mere
province? Whatever may be our opinions on the
subject Of taxation, let us remain united. The Dem
ocratic party is LIBERAL enlightened, tolerant party.
1t proscrbes none of its members on account Of their
opinions on State affairs; it erects no Procrustean
bed to cut off or draw out according to the whm or
caprice of the moment. We have our own opinions
on this subject but we intend to subordinate them
this and all other questions to the great issue be-
tween abolition and Constitutional Union The
only question shall ask will be, who are the DEM
ocratic candidates? We cannot trust Know Moth
ing leaders to egsate for u.s. to represent us in the
United States Senate in the Governors chair, or