Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-04-17
The WILMINGTON JOURNAL
WILMINGTON. n. c..
Registration i'm Wilmington.
FRIDAY. APRIL "a. 1865.

During the five days in which the regis,
! ration books have been opened, there was
total of eight hundred and ninoty-seven
names added to the lists. TO say that there
has been much-very much fraudulentregis
tration is but to repeat self-ovident fact
in which the Board themselves will most
certainly endorse us. Much of it could not
be heIped-some might have been. That
there is total of upward of two thousand
male negroes over twenty-one years OF age
within the limits of this city is perfectly alb
s1rd. Yet the Registrars books SO state
and negroes have so sworn.
We visited the sessions of the Board but
once during their sittings, and we saw
enough to convince Us that history, WHICH
teaches with unerripS certainty that two
distinct races cannot live in the same coun-
trv. under the same government, with
equal political privileges, would soon re-
neat itself here. The negroes present were
in1pertincnt and insoIcnt to the last degree,
ard periured themselves to secure reglstra-
Ii on with an effrontcry and bOldness which
bergars description. We saw men swear
that bows of sixteen and seventeen years of
age were twenty-one, who could hardly
count SO many on their fingers. On all
hands we witnessed the most violent hatred
upon the part of the blacks towards the
Southern people-passion amounting to a
crime-blinded and maddened by deter
mination to do anything, endure every
thing to vote down and place under
their feet and those Of the contempt
lille men who arc urging them on,
the decency, the intellect and the moral
and social worth of this community.
AS we witnessed these scenes, we wonder
ed how depraved must be the leaders OF
these ignorant blacks, and how heartless to
sacrifice them for their own base ends for
we thought then, and we believe now, that
in such conduct is planted seeds of the carly
ruin and destruction of the negro race.
Such strife cannot last long. The bitter
ness and hatred which have been instilled
into the hearts of these poor deluded ne
groes, will soon bear their legitimate fruit.
From our hearts we pity them and despise
their leaders-their political masters.
The closing scene of the registration
here was rather remarkable one, which
illustrates an important and pregnant fact.
Several Federal soldiers belonging to this
garrison, some of whom have married IN
this city and regard Wilmington as their
home, presented themselves for registra-
ton. Among those urging their rights
were several gentlemen of this city, all OF
whom had been soldiers in the Confeder-
ate army, while Northern men and negroes
were stout in their opposition. 1t is al
ways thus-the truly brave are always gen
erous. Those who in the past were true
to their flag and stand ready to maintain
its honor in the future, have no hatred or
prejudice for their former gallant but con-
uuered foes-stout hearts in the past and
honorable purposes Ill the future, have
made them friends. 1t is the men who
bore the flag of their country with gallan-
try at the tail Of suffers cart and bravely
encountered the dangers and curses of
cheated soldiers men who "sought the
bubble reputation III the Ereedman's Bu-
reau, who now desire to degrade and humil
ia5o the Southern people. The true sol
diers, whether they wore the gray or the blue,
are now united i'll their opposition call it
conspiracy and resistance if you will-to
negro gOUerTaDleU and NEGRO EQUALITY.
6 Blood is thicker than water"
We are unwilling to close this article
without commanding the patience, impair
TALLY AMI urbanity of Mr.. l.. n. Barlow,
Chairman of the City Board of Registrars.
We have also heard that Mr.. A. II. Morris,
of the Middle Sound Board, did all in his
power to prevent fraud and secure to all
their rights under the orders which gov
erned their action.
Daily Journal, 14H.