The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-08-05


some old hide-bound federal-whg candidates for the
Legislature in this State charge that Mr. Johnston's
friends parzans. Let us relate the facts-facts
which cannot be successfully centradicted-and then
let honest candid decide who the partizans are
About the LIST of February lie friends of Mr. john
ston suggested his Through this paper) can
didate for Governor. Mr. Johnston had always been
whig-we had always been a democrat-but, in order
to prevent contest and keep the people of the State
united in time of war; and knowing Mr. j. to be good
honest business man. capable of filing any position,
we readily and cordially endorsed his nomination. If
we had entertained partizan feelings, is it not likely
@e would have proposed the name of some old line
democrat, former political riend2 But want
ed peace and quiet and willing compromise on
a man who had been whig but who had given evil
dence of having Invested himself of all parzan feel
ings And it is worthy of remark that such old-lne
wing papers the Fayetteville Observer Greensboro
Patriot, and Salisbury Waterman, about that time,
spoke very favorably of Mr. Johnston, and seemed will
ing to make arrangement to avoid contest; but
we sorry to say they did not continue to manifest
such liberal spirit.
About the first of March large public meeting OF
the citizens of Meckenburg held, and Mr. Johnston
was unanimously endorsed proper man to fill the
Office of Governor. Was this partizan movement -?
Let Among those who participated in the
meeting were such old>Iine wings as Jos Wilson,
David NJ Lee, and Lewis S Williams and such old
line democrats as John Walker, J Hutchinson and DR.
W Ross. There many others each side, but
we only name a Jew who well known in this Sec
ton to have been strong party men in party times.
They all united in recommending Mr Johnston
The great mass of the people here and elsewhere
throughout the State appeared to be satisfied with the
nompation; and the democratic papers cordially
Ruttb he Pol 10Th q
partizan and assaulted those who favored it
as partizans-it brought charges against Mr. Johnston
which it sgnay failed to substantate-it declared in
favor of of the State, being willing to divide
the people into two parties at time when It was inn
portan to keep them united and prevent strife and
the editor of that paper man9uvred about until he got
Mr. Vance out candidate. These are facts which
cannot be fairly contradcted and appeal to all
prejudiccd liberal minded to say if they do not
prove that those who brought Mr. Vance forward, as
we'll as those who followed in the wake of the Stand
ard the partizans and not Mr. Johnstons friends.
Those who cooperating with the Standard, and
have rcfrained from rebuking that papers conduct,
have right to accuse others of being partizans.
We are not surprised at the Standards opposition
to Mr. Johnston That aper had fattcned the pub
lie printing receiving from ve to ten thousand dollars
per annum from the State Treasury, but having it's
II
Johnston got into office it would get hold on the
spoiIs again. hence that paper the importance of
starting it could manage; and that's the way
Mr. Vance got his nomination. But why the Fay.
Observer, Greensboro Patriot Salisbury Waterman,
and other old-line wings, should follow the Standard
we cannot understand, unless it was because they
thought Mr. Johnston too much identified with
those who had been democrats Mr. Johnston is far Mr.
Vance's superior in business capacity-Mr Johnston
has never been olicehuntng politician, while is
we'll known that Mr. Vance has been in politics and
seeking Office since he 81 years of age--yes
feel perfectly justified in saying that he is profess
sional politician.
The fact is that while and the oldline democrats
generally throughout the State have been willing to
divide the offices with the old opposition party, We
have with the liberal spirit in II
this remark do include the old opposonists in
this immediate section. There few who are still
laborng under old prejudces and who cannot refrain
from denouncng democrats ard secessonists Though
do consider them in any bodys way) but, gen.
orally, opposition friends in this section have
manifested proper spirit and shown disposition tc
aid in healing old party divisions. We regret that the
same spirit has been shown in other portions Of
| the State.