Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-10-25


tive voting strength of the two races in this
State, for, notwithstanding all attempts
to hide, by meaningless resolutions, the
fact of the efforts of the few white
Radicals to get up a black mans party,
it nevertheless stands out as palpable
and accomplished fact. The official
registry has not all been received,
seventy-five out of the eighty-nine counties
BENGAL from which there are official returns.
From eight others sufficient has been heard
to know about what the result is. From
the other six, viz: Allegheny, Cherokee,
Macon, Watauga, Yadkin and Mitchell, IN
which there are upwards OF three thousand
white voters, and hardly as many hundred
negro voters, have not been heard from
All of these counties, however, will give
large white majorities.
| It will be found that there will be about
165, 600 persons registered in the State, OF
which the whites will have q, 900 MAORI
ty. Of the eighty-nine counties the whites
will have maiorities in seventy-two and the
negroes in seventeen, viz: BERTHE, Chowan,
Caswell, Craven, Edgecombe, Granville,
| Greene, Hartford, Halifax, Jones, Lemon
| New Hanover, Northampton, Perqmmans,
| Pitt, Pasquotank and Warren It Will require
|. $50 votes to entitla a county 10 dele
gate, and it is upon this basis shat the al
Iot1nent to the several counties has been
made. OF the one hundred and twenty
delegates fixed by law, of which the Con-
vention will be composed, sixteen of the
seventeen counties with negro majorities
will send thirty-one delegates, PasquotanK
voting with Camden, the district has a
white majority.
1t will thus be seen, that however much
we may sympathize with the condition OF
most of our Southern sisters, who are handed
over to the tender mercies of the negroes
and Radicals, so far as orr own Convention
is concerned they exert but an insignificant
influence. We are satisfied that the Radi-
Gals, giving them every negro vote in the
State, cannot elect more than fifty dele
gates to the Convention, who will be as in
significant in talent and influence as they
will be in numbers. But the Conservatives
must remember that even the strength
which they possess can be lost by inaction
and want of organization. However much
they may differ upon the policy of holding
a Convention, they are unit upon the
choice Of delegates, and no man, because
he may be opposed to Convention, can
fail to see the importance Of voting for
delegates Even if it were certain, as we
think it is, that an Objectionable Constitu-
ton would be defeated by the popular vote
of the State, much harm could be done by
the legislation which Radical majority in
the Convention could and would infict
upon the State. Tho "rebel revenue
act would be repealed, and the plan pro
posed by the negro, Galloway, during the
Raleigh Convention, or some other equally
as g loyal " and hurtful would be adopted.
Let the Conservatives, therefore, organ
ize in every county. Let the ablest and
best men eligible be selected as candidates
and voted for, whether tn" voter opposes
the Constitution either by direct vote or
by not voting upon the question. No good
citizen, however Indifferent he may be in
regard to ordinary elections can afford to
remain from the polls at this one. No mere
party contest is to take place, but the fun
damental law of the State and the con-
tinued supremacy of the whites are at stake.
| This election will decide whether North
Carolina is to be controlled by the virtue,
intelligence and character Of the State, or
by ignorance and corruption whether her
people are to make her laws, or unknown
strangers to do so-whether the owners Of
her soil and property are to fashion her
tax bills, or those who have no personal
interest here arc to do so. It is 4 fearful
decision, and its issue will decide the fate
of North Carolina for years to come. 1t is
easy to destroy the Constitution and laws
we have, but century may not restore
them to their present condition Of excel
lence-the peace and prosperity OF the
State may be so checked by the result that
years of labor may be passed in vain en-
deayors to warm them into renewed life.
The Victory and us Effects.
Southern Radicals, warmed into exis-
tence by the ignorant masses of negro
I L