Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-08-21

WE have little disposition to indulge in speculations
over the late elections in this State Our main regret
in connection with these elections was that they were
not permitted to pass without heated canvass. As
we remarked few days ago having deprecated the ex-
citement before the election we will be no party to
keeping it up now, after the election has passed off,
We are willing to hope-anxious to beieve-that all
will turn out for the best In any event we feel free
from responsibility. We had no hand in getting either
candidate out. We would gladly have kept out of the
arena if we could have been allowed so to do We only
went into the canvass at all from a sense of duty and
feeling of selfdeence. That we did not misrepresent
the sentiment of this community the vote cast here and
throughout New Hanover, Dupin, Onslow, Sampson
and other counties of this district will show.
It would not be difficult to account for the election
of Mr.. Vance and the defeat of Mr.. Johnston, but it
might tire the patience of our readers to assign
all the reasons that might be adduced Two or three
will be sufficient. Mr.. Vance was in the army-Mr
Johnston was not. Mr.. Vance was well known poll
tican Of popular eectOneering manners Mr. Johnston
was simply quiet polite gentleman, of good strong
sense and business experience In the present excited
times people had time to stop and enquire who and
what Mr.. Johnston was.
powerful than all the others combined The Con
ScrptiPn LaC 1t would be worse than folly to attempt
to disguise the fact that this law is hard one All de-
mands for compulsory service however necessary still
harsh in their nature and are calculated to be unpopular
When the Consumption Law first proposed in Con
gress, we were much opposed to it as any person
could be. We said 80 in as plain words as we could
USE We looked upon it as one OF those exercises Of
power which could only find their justification in the
absolute necessities of the We believe that the
same view of the matter was taken by a majority in
both houses of Congress. But the absolute necessity
OF the measure was shown to the satisfaction of mem
pers and senator's and the law passed. If Con-
gresS had failed to pass it, after the representations
made to it on the highest military authority then would
Congress have failed to do its duty in the emergencv
Not that the Consumption Act specimen of perfect
legislation. 1t evidently is not. But some such law
had to be passed, and any such law would have been
felt, by some at least, hard one law compelling
many sacrifices to be made by those coming under its
operation
What position Col. Vance personally took in refer
ence to thslaw we do not know but if we are to Judge
MIN Oy the course of bis leading friends his position
was nos1ne 70 It, Such at any rate was the popular
EesslOn Wnie' On the other hand, MIR. Johnston
was known 70 De IN favor of the law recognizing in il
our only chance to keep in the field permanently suf
Gent force to meet the invader and achieve our indie
pendeace The local candidates running as a conserva
tVes' very generally had fling at the "Couscriptiop
Law" which they have succeeded in making odious
almost to the point of resistance.
This course is deeply to be regretted for, in truth
when out Of their immensely larger population the