The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1867-10-23
fs4u saa LETTER FROM saitip4 u.
TILE HON. WIN. "A. GRAHAM.

siNa Ak 80 ''esla Hillsborobgh, Oct 10, 1867.
GsxTLIagS :--I shall be unable, by rca-
soas Of engagements oi business, 10 be pres
cut at the meeting oi the conservative peo-
pie Of Wake, at Raleigh, on the i2lh in
slant, and 10 address them on The topics
involved in The approaching election, in ac-
cordance with Tie invitation received from
YOU a few days since. Iregret this, both
because OF the pleasure ] should have de-
rived from Tree communication with So
Intelligent 40 assemblage o. the ritiz.ns of
ihr state on The duties ol the present time.
and because the topics 10 question are too
numerous and suggestive 10 be treated sa-
tisisctoriiy IN alet,er, without unbecoming
tediousness.
Il was pleased 10 observing that such a
meeting had been called. Ia The opinion
Of some with whom have cDnyersed. il
wss supposed there had been TOO srrat de-
iay among conservative citizens in csmmu-
picatmg Together, in the lace OF very active
eseriivns Go form party adverse 10 them
and 20 the best interests oi the state, in
which Il was soeght 10 combine al The CO.
iored voters BY appeals 10 prejudice, pas
zion aud hopes oi unlawill gain. iha,e
not been much disturbed by apprchenslons
u this kind. The white population OF
NORTH Carolina. Ly he census ol 1860, OUT
numbers the black In the proportion oi
tao u one, Or ihrreabnUis. and, after de.
dusti1g I'll who are dislranehi,ed under
the military act oi congress. the majority
al voters Of the former will stand 10 the
latter somewhat 10 that proportion. This
White popuiatlon, which has been hereto,
fore the depository Of The political power
VI Tie state, IL a. faithful u the consliin.
ton OF the United States as II ever was. Or
q. n.at Of any u,her state Of the pnion Is
nov. but thcy have an intelligent compre
hepsion of their rights and duties as elec
tors aud a. eitiZens. and. even without
mach Consultation or cnncert. will. 10 nav
oplnian. cast majurity ot votes only In
iasor OF such measures and candidates As
will bes, promote their safety and hapri-
ness. To the military authority which has
been established over them. u,ey yield 4
ready obedience. Even where II may su-
perecde their ancient and cherished Laws
and ussgrs, they bow befure il and make no
issue. But when, by the law, az issue i.
prr,rnt.d 10 them, 10 be solved through an
tiecfi0n. il Is naturally 10 be understood. as
the term imports. that they are 40 have
their choice TO ,ole either upon measures
or candidates as each individual yoter &C.
cord,ng 10 his views OF the public interest
or his sense ol ,ials NAV prefer.
The ball OF rights Of the state, from l..76
until now, proclzlms that" elections ought
10 DC Tree" Ii Is q noteworthy lact that,
ia France. where. so far as elections are
allowed, universal manhood suffrage pre-
saiIs, that under the first Buaneparie in
1904, aod uodcr the third ln 1882. repub
lican form Of government was converted
into monarchichal or despo,ie one.
Through the ceremun, 81 an election. and
By vote Of the people approaching 10 una
nImlty. These results were, Of course, az,
tr,bated only to the influence Of Juress and
lear. Bat IN England and America such
iInuenees are not allowed TO operale, aud
like bribery or fraud, would render an cleo
ton void. According 10 our theory, II the
eleclor al the polls shall express. uot hls
own sentiments. but those OF some other
person or authority, tie election itselI is
bbt On idle form. An election with Us,
therefore, isan occasion Tor serious thought,
inquiry, unreseryed constellation aud Tree
discussion and our saiirages are accus.
tomeu 70 be given, according 10 The con.
vietioGs oi ourminds, Effected through such
means.
In the election now before us. The clcc.
tors are 10 vote " for a convention or a.
gainst q convention" aud, at the same
time. ior delegates 60 represent their eeun
ties in convention. provided the affirmative
vote shall be sufficient, according TO the
provisions Of the law. Sach convcntian, u
called. IA 10 deliberate ON the k,rmAtion of