Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1860-07-19
The Closing Canvass and Its Issues.

On to-day Thursday two weeks, the people OF
North Carolina will not only enjoy the right, but will
be called upon to discharge the duty of casting their
votes for the election of members to represent their
several counties and senatorial districts in the Legisa
ture of the State and also for one to fill the Office
of Governor for two years from the LIST January 1861.
We need hardly add that there are also Shers to be
chosen in the several counties We say that need
hardly add this last from the fact that the interest
cited by the election of Sheris seems already in many
countess New Hanover among the number, to have
absorbed an undue share of public attention. to the
cuson, measurably, of other equally important if not
more important issues
Let us look back little, and see how things have
stood and how they now stand Two years ago John
W. Ellis was elected by large ma ory, and with the
first day of 1859 entered upon the discharge of the du
ties of his high Office Governor of North Carolina.
These duties he has discharged in a that may
fairly challenge criticism and defy Two years
ago Legislature was also chosen. In that Legislature
there was large majority of Democrats it is true, but
there were also there many of the leading and most
prominent members of the Opposition party of the State
and among these was John Pool of Pasquotank before
whose vision the prospect Of Gubenatoria honors had
not then begun to open circumstances well COM
mon rumor pointed to seat in Congress from the First
District or at least nomination therefor the goal of
his ambition. Hence it was, most probably, that he
voted not only against the ad vaOre principle as en-
bodied in Mr. Bdsoe resolutions but also against the
calling of Convention to amend the Constitution as
proposed by Mr.. Turner said proposition of Mr. Turner
being in fact the same with that embodied in the
platform of the Opposition State Convention, by which
Mr. Pool was nominated So notorious, indeed, were
these facts that many tertaned serious doubts wheth
er, with such record Mr. Pool could consistently &C
cept nomination sadded with the condition of approx
ing and advocating platform embodying the very
thing he had opposed, voted against and helped to kill
little more than year before But the voice of ambi
tion and the exgencies of party very persuasive
and Mr. Pool yielded after the adoption OF the platform
as the Editor of the Register had been made to do
while said platform still in state of incubation
while it was not more than half Matched
In the Legislature of 1859, when Messrs Bedsoe
and Turner at different times, produced their bills and
made their speeches. there few to lisen and fewer
still so poor do reverence to their schemes There
was in the Senate general sentiment hostile to the pro
posed innovation upon the constitution, and indeed Mr.
Bledsoe himself shrank at first sight from destroying
the constitutional protection in regard to slaves Mr.
Pool voted against anything looking to any innovation
of the kind proposed feeling, doubt then that ever
such change desirable in the abstract the certain
danger arising from the division and excitement Incl
dent to its discussion and agitation, would far outweigh
all the probematical advantages that its most san
guine advocates could hope to realize romits accomplish
ment This was no doubt the feeling with the great BODY
OF the conservative men of the State of all parties Cir
Jo1,
judgment and the correctness of their presentimens
Almost up to the very day upon which the opposition
convention met at Raleigh, the Raleigh Register, tn
leading organ of that party kept repeating its warning
honest warnings-to all parties, but particularly
its own, upon this issue and against initiating agta
ton for the alteration of the constitution of the State
so far as that instrument regulates the mode in whic
slaves are to be taxed This clause III the constitution
of the State had been inserted there for wise
upon just grounds in accordance with the position az
requirements of the State and her citizens 1t had enter
the life and business of the State far as to be ken
in view as regulating the proportion of obligation ncul
red when debts were contracted for internal
other purposes for being part of the organic law
such tme it became part OF any contract made under an
in accordance with it. 1t justly thought that t
change the constitutional provisions under which deb
contracted so as to shift to the shoulders of an
class of citizens larger share of the burden of paymer
than they had contracted for would be voative of thu
faith which should be regousy observed by every Stat
towards her citizens 1t was also felt that the existn
arrangement was based not only upon solemn sections
compromise but was in accordance with sound Stat
policy 1t was thought that so long as most of the
ports of the State the products OF slave labor h,
basng credit currency and exchange upon such product
the industry which created such products ought not
be oppressively taxed-not more than four times
heavily as any other kind Of labor and this is the Or