Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1860-03-01
The Opposition Convention.

of the Opposition State Convention which met in Raj
eigh the 22d, and adjourned ont the Odd The Regis
ter calls it the largest State Convention when
sembled in North Carolina The Register is ShShtly
mistaken More than tcice many Delegates attended
the last Democratic State Convention at Charlotte,
and something like twenty more counties there rep
resented. But ju5iancc is, We suppose the Opposition
order of the day and these little inaccuracies are not
to be too curiousy criticised
r. c. Puryear, of Yadin, author of Puryears Wits
key" popular work bound in barrels, on taking the
chair as permanent President, made as the Register
says chasc, eloquent and very forcibe address, in
which chase address he spoke of the "dHhoaetB de-
pravHy and misrule of the Democratic partyn'
A committee on business selected, consisting of
two from each district Z. NJ. Hale and Alfred Dock
cry from this district incorrectly called the fourth
The first important operation performed on Thursday
was bringing the nose of John w. Symc Esq. Editor
and proprietor of the Raleigh Register, to the grind
stone and holding it there till it was ground Hat-in
fact ground Out OF all reasonable sembIance to nose
The Western managers having determined to force
nd uolorcm and change Of the Constitution upon their
Eastern coadjutors and the Register having freely cx-
pressed itself in opposition thereto H. G.. Jones, of
Rowan, demanded of Mr. Symc then present. if he would
cooperate with the party in carrying out its platform
After some professions Of devotion to the wing party
generally Mr. Syme walked up manully and presented
his nose. He would uphold o,y platform this convcn-
ton might lay down"
III. K. Nash and Todd r. Caldwell came in with the
grindstone Mr.. NASH peace to his ashcs) made some
chastc and eloquent remarks of the kind already
offered by the distinguished author of Puryears Whs-
key" IA popular work in barrels) Hesad the Demo
cratic party too corrupt hold the rcns of any govern
ment" Ihcy had done the mischief Mr.. Nash had no
word to say against sectional enemies at the North
He spoke very coqueny for twenty five minutes" alto
geher against the Democracy. There word of denun-
citation opposition to the schemes of the Black Republ
cans reported as coming from Mr.. Nash. 1t was all
denuncia0n OF Democracy as the sole object of his ha
tired Perhaps he spoke just as he felt Perhaps he had
no feeling Of opposition to any other party.
We have read parodes on " the Minstrel Boy" "Vil-
Iikins and his Dmah," IIiawaha" and other things
too numerous to mention" but certainly this is the
first time that we have seen or heard of grave Con
ventiOn employing itself in the amusing literary rccrca-
ton Of adopting platform rather clumsly executed
parody on the Declaration Of independence In whose
fertile brain that ingenious idea originated we cannot
say-hc deserves to be immortaized The bill of COM
Mcssrs Nash, Caldwell Il Co.; strangely enough, too.
while OF the complaints against the King of Great
Britain was that he would not encourage the emigration
Of foreigners the Raleigh travcse makes it ground of
complaint against the Democrats that they do encourage
the emigration OF foreigners.
But this affair." in taste and execution is beneath the
level of a commencement exercise at a country school,
and is only noticeable for or two things That the
sagcs of the parody would charge all manner Of wicked
ness upon the Democratic party, to have been ex-
pectcd, in spite Of all friendly admonitions but it
surely is little surprising that it should be boldly
charged as fault Of the Democracy that they refuse to
"prOtcct" at the expense of the Southern consumers
those Northern manufacturers who use their means to
aid in the purchase of arms for John Brown raids or in
helping to circulate Helpers ncendary document. 1t
is also little surprising to see Convention Of which
Geo. H. Badger appears to have been of the leading
spirits, denouncC the repeal of the Missouri Compro-
mise when stands on the record that Mr. Badger him
self voted for the Kansas Nebraska legislation which in
effect abrogated that compromise.
Most folks have read the fable of the wolf and the
lamb in which it is told how the wolf accused the lamb
of muddyng the water. How can that be said the
lamb since the water runs from you to me-" " don't
care said the WOLF I'll eat you anyway" AMI he did
Of the same character is the charge that the Democracy
by urging scctionaIsm en- the South, have fostered
sectionasm at the North until they have built up
powerful Northern party" So the parody charges as
though in every stage and at every turn the South had
not been on the defensive.
The automatic gcncralitiCs that good men ought to
be appointed to ofCehat the government ought to be
faithfully administered, ETC., we all admit. Two and
two make four But that the gentlemen who drew up
the resolutions framing the platform of the opposition
party would not take off the head of every democrat in
Office one believes for moment There are none SO
prosCrptye as your people who come in with profession
Of nOnprOScrpOn upon their lips. The past history OF
Messrs. Badger, Graham & Co. shows that
The Convention goes for prosecuting Internal I'm.
proycmcns as fast the condition of the State will per
NIT without burdcning the people with taxation or in
iuring the public credit They go also for distribution
of the public lands or their proceeds. ~
Now came ad vaioycm and Convention, thus ~
WHEREAS Great inequality exists in the present mode o.
taxation and 1t Is Just and right that all property shoult
contribute its proportion towards the burdens Of State
ReSOlCed, That recommend Convention of 3he people
Of the State be called on the federal basis early
tcabe the purpose of modifying the Constitution
cry species of property may be taxed according to i'll
value, with power discriminate only in of the native
products OF our State and the industrial pursuits of her
Swizz -Swizz went the grindstone and off wen
sundry noses-Mr. Smith OF Halifax, Mr. Ferrebee Of
Camden and Mr. Walker of Martin refused to hold tbe,
to the grndstone and protested against ad uqo
and convention, Oh behalf Of the Counties they rep
resented.
Do the Wilmington Herald and the Fayetteville o.
SerVer endorse this ad vaLorem resolution Do they
hold their noses to the same grindstone?
Mr.. Badger made speech in advocacy of the pream
bes and resolu:ions-Mr Badger who voted for Kanzas
and Nebraska. He charged everything upon the Demo
Gratis. He said that Democracy and Abolitionism