Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-06-19
The WranSIe Begun.

q,
1t was, at one time. supposed that Gen. Abbott
would walk over the track for the choice of Sena-
torships, viz: the long term 1t Is conceded, any
how we believe that some Yankee is to have
that choice, as the Northern element controls the
party in the State and dictates terms; but Col.
Heaton is said to have entered the lists actively
against Gen. abbott. And thus we have it: OHIO
u.s. New Hampshire, and New Hampshire Us.
Ohio in the great scrub race for the Senatorship
from North Carolina. We have heard that Col Hea-
ton has addressed circular to the embers of the
incoming Legislature, urging his claims to the
postiou-the chief of which is that he has been
In the State five years, while other imported aspi-
rants have only been in the State three years! II
any of them had any modesty they would not pre-
sumo after so brief residence, and without any
Identification with the interests of people, to
clamor for the highest offices in the State.
II Gen. Abbott's three years sojourn, and Col.
Heaton's five years sojourl, in North Carolina
have qualified them to be CUR United States Sen
ators. why is i that, after lifelong residence in
Ohio and New Hampshire, they were not consid-
cred qualified to represent those States?
However, we have no disposition to interfere -
We had as soon see this class of Radicals sent to
the Senate the indigenous material. When il
comes to carpet-bag Us. scallawag, it is bear
fght.-Raleigh Sentinel.
Thus we 60. Reconstruction in North
Carolina amounts TO little else than divis
ion of the spoils among few Northern
men who seem to have taken it upon them
selves to regulate the State. General Alb
bott, doubtless, in sending Docl>ery fills tc
the House Of Representatives thought he
had rid himself of formidable opponent
in Dockery pere for the Senate, when 10
in his own house a rival springs up and
contests with him the honors of the Sena.
torship. Col. Heaton's claims are almost as
good as those of General Abbott's, and but
for the unfortunate circumstance Of two
years longer residence, would be fully up
to the progressive standard of his rival.
But seriously, without detrimen5 to the
prospects of these distinguished statesman,
for, with our friends of the Sentinel, be
tween them and Dockery, and Pool, Ell id
onne genus, we have no choice, the fact
that the Senatorship Of North Carolina
should be within the reach of either shows
conclusively to what condition our State
has been brought. Formerly this position
was only aspired to by gentlemen of either
party of the highest intellectual attain
ments, identified by years of service and
attached to the whole people by the noblest
be hawked about and knocked down to the
highest bidder.
A Northern friend, at present resident
of this State, but who evidently has some
familiarity with Northern politics, accosted
us few days since with the inquiry as to
the prospects Of certain individuals for
the Senatorship from this State. After
giving our views and demonstrating the
evident uncertainty of the chances, he re-
marked very confidently, but interroga-
lively, cit will require considerable money
to secure the Office 2" For the moment
we forgot the "situation we recollected
only old North Carolina and the eminent
statesmen who had represented her in the
Senate of the United States, and our dis
position was to demonstrate with our friend
at the insult to the memory of MACON,
MANGUM, BADGER and their distinguished
compeers, but Immediately the humil;ating
recollection forced itself upon us and,
bowling our head IL very shame, we STAN
mered out an awkward confession of the
force of the question, coupled with an
apology for the disgraceful admission in
the changed character of our General AS
sembly. The insult of yesterday was in
deed but shrewd calculation to-day
While Northern strangers are casting
lots among themselves, in friendly rivalry,
or contending with growing acrimony for
the spoils in North Carolina, it is refresh
ing to read the following letter from Gen
eral CHARLES P. STONE, formerly from Mas
sachusetts, but now a citizen of Virginia,
in response to nomination by the Con-
servatives of his district for State Senator.
We commend it to others similarly situa-
ted who have yet left any self-respect to
save
me that in Convention of delegates duly ap-
pointed from the counties of Goochland, Powha-
tan and Fluvana, was unanimously chosen as
the candidate to represent this Senatorial district
in the General Assembly of Virginia, should the
Constitution now before the people be ratified
While expressing my thanks to the Convention
for this expression of confidence and to you, gen.
tlemen, for your fattering communication of its
| action, must respectfully decline the nomina-
ton for which will surely be salts factory
to you and to the Convention.
When perilous times come upon people it is
proud position for man to find himself selected
as their free choice from among all his fellow
citizens as their representative 10 the public ceun-
cls-the defender of their rghts-the protector
their interests. Being so selected, any man ia
und to answer the call, and, leavir all thoughst
of private interests behind, to devote him
self to the duties thus imposed upon
him. The knowledge that tens of thou
snds of his fellow citizsns freely select
him for such duty ought to excite to action every
Thing of noble, everything of ability which man
may possess. But to become thus inspired one
must know that the choice is perfectly free, tho
confidence entire and unreserved.
1t is not to be supposed that it can have been a
perfectly free choice in this It is not to be
| supposed that in Q Virginia Senatorial District,
comprising Tires large counties, a free choice
should set aside all the gentlemen who were born
and bred in the District, and who have lived hon.
orsd IN 1t from youth up, and select one, who,