Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-05-12
Malicious M1srepresenta,ions

We have already called the attention OF
our readers to the manifest purpose OF the
partisans Of Gen. Grant in renewing the
slanderous cry about Southern oatsa9es.
We are confirmed in the view we have ex-
pressed il regard TO that purpose by see"
ing in the minneapolis (Min.) Tribune
nearly a whole column of editorial matter
devoted to the statement of one ID. y.
Luce. recently published In the New YORK
Tribune detailing bis Eair-breadih escapes
while soiourning in Ncrth Carolina. That
tho statements Of snch Il man should be
male the basis Of deliberate attempt to
prejudice and inflaGne the public nlnd OF
the people of the North, when no mention
Is made Of the statements o. score OF
Northern men who, over their own sigma
lures in the same New York Tribune, ceft'-
fy that kindly feelings exist towards
Northern men of decent character anu
demeanor in North Carolina, Is fact
worthy OF note.
We have heard of this Mr.. Luce before.
We are informed that he WIS running
on iron foundry in Lincoln county Tor
New York Company, and that the work
was carried on in II most extravagant man
ner. In the course OF time Claims against
Mr.. Luce were placed III the hands OF Col,
Bynum, a Republican lawyer and Solicitor
for TIE State in that Judit lal District, Tor
collection. These claims were due, not to
North Carolinians nor oven to Southern
men, but were due to Northern men-to
parties living in New York.
Mr.. Lace made many promises Of pay
ment and failed 20 perform them, and
thereupon, having disregarded his prom
ises and having disappeared from the State,
Col. Bynum f9lt that his duty as attorney
for his New York clients demanded he
should proceed by attachment against the
property of Mr. Luce and thu company for
whom he was acting, and it was accord
| ipgly done Mr.. Luce afterwards returned
! to North Carolina and found every thin 6
locked up; every indulgence was offered
him by bis creditors, who proposed to taSe
fifty cents on the dollar for their claims
He could not, or would not pay this. The
law took it's course, and the property OF
| Mr.. Luce, a Northern Republican, at the
instance Of an attorney, Southern Repub-
licap, was sold to pay the debts due North
EN- men, and straightway there is pub
lished throughout the North a flaming &C
| count of Southern outrage.
| Mr.. Luce, in his lengthy statement.
makes other charges Of maltreatment, with
the Fusual concomitants of collins, raw
heads aud bloody bones, to lend terror tc
his narrative. We are satisfied that these
have as little foundation in fact as those
which relate to the loss Of his property. -
An absconding debtor, who has dealt I'M
i iustly-it may be dishonesty bis
employees, is not altogether proper wit
ness against the people he has wrongel
and cheated. His character, as proved by
the falsehoods in regard to his financla
Transaction. and the cause of his leaving
) the State, is sufficient to faint the whole
account of his treatment while IN NORTH
Carolina. 1t is hardly posi- BILE that hi
statements could be true and not have
found theirway into papers of the State
: It is by just such false and ma!iciou
charges of Southern outrage, that the pre-
} induces between the North and South ar
: kept up, and the prosperity of our sectiol
: retarded. It is a matter OF regret tina
! partisan frenzy could lead men SO ia
that popular credulity can be s. In
posed upon. We presume it is too muc
to expect unscrupulous partisans to pre-
se1t the whole truth. We have a hope
however, that the instinct CT self preserva
; ton which, at last, seems to be showing
itself OF the North, will teach Norther
men that personal liberty and the right Q
local self government cannot be destroye'
} at the South without putting ia lmminen
peril the rights and liberties of the peopl
, of the North. When the day comes, ant
not until then, defenders of the South vii
rise ND in the North and tell the peopl
the whole truth. Meanwhile we must bid
: our time. In this connection we call atten
ton to what Hon. CARL SEIZURE, Republi
5 can United States Senator from Missouri
said recently in a speech at st. Louis
81 consider it one of the most pressing need
Of our days that We should return to the SCUM