Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-12-04
The Elective Franchise,

to ponder upon and remember. = I =r
We allude first, to the manifest indifference which
prevailed in regard to its results and the small val
ue, which the vote would indicate, placed by our
people in present circumstances, upon the elec-
tive franchise. Never before in the history of North
Carolina has so meagre vote been given in Pres.
idental election. We are far from believing, how
ever, some would have it. that the people of this
State are fast verging to that point, when they |
would be willing to surrender that dear bought and
invaluable prerogative of freemen. They were nev-
more tenacious of that right than now, as would
be readily exhibited if attempts made to wrest
it from them; but their recent indifference is the
result of circumstances, and, to some extent the
erroneous and dangerous idea which prevailed, that
Its exercise in the present condition of the country
and the status of the candidates. rendered it either
unnecessary or unimportant.
If the elective franchise be Of any value in time
Of peace, it is doubly so in time of war; At no
time is the truth of the proverb, that "power is al
ways stealing from the many to the few, more full
ly and more dangerously verified than during the
existence of of the character which now pre-
walls. When all are on one side-all are agreed to
prosecute the war to successful ISSUE the utmost
vigilance should be exercised to guard The treasure
of the country and the rights of the people, against
the unwashed hands of Office seekers, demagogues,
and oligarchs. The great body of the people, both
in the army and out Of It, are looking to the best
means, domestic and military to end the war as
soon as possible They not looking so much to
the manner of conducting it or to those who are
seeking to live by the offices and honors of the gov
ernment. Yet, it is evident that if the people and
the army become Indifferent to the proper filling Of
the public Offices Of the country, by neglecting to
60 to the ballotbox, they much in danger from
a " fire In the rear" as they are from the fire in
'front.'
1t was, therefore, with the view of preventing this
Indifference to the elective franchise and to keep up
in the army as well as among the people watch
| full guardianship over their rights, that We sup
ported the ordinance in the State Convention at its
first session. securing to our officers and soldiers
the right to vote, wherever they might be in camp.
in this as well as in any of the States. We hold
that the exercise of this right at all times duty
which every freeman owes to his country and to
posterity. 1t lies at the very foundation of our
liberties and should never be omitted except for
causes over which We have no control.
We have ntmated tnat at the late election our
people were too deeply engrossed in their economi
cal pursuits to a living and to provide for
the maintenance of the war; to give themselves con-
Germ about it. There other reasons, no doubt,
which had their influence. But, what is living
WORTH or of what importance the results of the
war, if we are so ready to- fling away the dearest
right of freeman,-which, of all others, makes
every man an equal among his fellows, in this land
of popular rights and constitutional liberty? The
fact that there but candidate for the Presi
dency and Vice Presidency and that all were agreed
upon those candidates, is not sufficient to account
for the indifference Members to be elected
to the first permanent Congress of the Southern
Confederacy-a most important matter-and the
candidates in several Of the Districts canvassed but
all to no purpose-tne people were bent upon other
matters, and ore turned to his farm and another tc
his merchandise. We deeply regret it, not because
of the results of the election, for that is small mat
ter, but because of the effect such meagre vote
is to have upon the people themselves, tending tt
habitual neglect of this great duty and because
the false impression it is lkely>o make upon oul
Northern enemies
/2nd. The next fact developed by the meagre vote
is the very decided rebuke it gives to the spirit
partyism sought to be encouraged and promoted
by noisy, office-hunting faction in this State
Equally clear does it show the weakness and short
lived character of that faction among the origina
secessionsts in this State who are bent upon secu
ring the Offices and honors of the wholly to them
selves. Were these the only consequences of tn
small VOTE every conservative in the State must
joice. We say, the faction among the original SC
: cessionists; for candor compels us to say, tha
il among the original secessonists to be fount
r many intelligent, high-minded men, who as full
I detest and ignore all sympathy with that partzan
: ofice-hunting faction, as the conservatives do.
g The people of North Carolina, by very larg
majority, are, unmisakaby, averse to all partyisn
:. during the war. They evidently desired but on
ticket for Presidential Electors. The conservative
s were anxious to secure but one ticket, but ever
proposition they made to that partizan faction wa
rejected. Nothing but ticket composed of four oil
, Union men and eight original secessoniss would sui
:, | them. Hence when the conservative ticket equa
y " divided between the old Union men and orgina
secessionists wes presented to the people, thousand
e of the old Union men refused to vote at all. Thi
is manifest from the fact that in the old secessio
Counties and the secession precincts IN the old Unio
Counties the partzan secession ticket poled nearl
its entire strength while twothirds or more Of tn
conservative or old Union men did not 60 to th
polls Most extraordinary efforts were made fo
> the Rodman ticket as we learn, and these effort
we're crowned with success in bringing out thre'
il fourths of the vote Of that faction in the State.
y That we are correct in this position is also cea
y demonstrated by the results of the Congression'
% elections In five of the Districts, five consery'
It tves we're elected. In the other five, the gentle
men elected had pursued so little ofensiv