Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-08-18
From the Washington Patriot
North Carolina.

As these words are written, doubts hang
over the actual results of North Carolina
the probabilities being that the Constltu-
tional Convention has been defeated. Had
the Convention been carried, and by 50
decisive vote as would have rendered
resistance from within and interference
without dangerous. we should have re-
ioiced in the hope that the lesson would
have been needed, and that, in spite of
the threatening and intrusive utterances
from tine to time recorded, the Executive
would have stayed his hand, and, how
ever reluctantly, respected majority Of
the people. This, however, would not
have been very confident hope-perss-
tence even in wrong doing being just now
characteristic trait. The interference OF
the Federal Executive, with the strong
hand, to sustain form of State govern
ment repuda:ed by majority of the
people-no one refusing to vote-would
have involved criminal responsibility OF
the deepest dye, and precipitated crisis
the most momentous of all that our alb
normal condition has yet produced. 1t
would have been blow at an upquestioned
State right, which could hardly fail to
create alarm in other communities beside
the unhappy one which was to be the i'm
mediate victim.
Feeling, however. no excessive conf
sensibilities'; knowing that the hearts of
communities. North as we'll as South,
which once beat so healthy in sompathy
with their kindred, have. by the processes
of the recent past, becCme, as 1t were,
ossifed fearing. too, that the danger Of
collision and its consequence, SO apparent
to us, would not be visible to those who
do not choose to see, we find some conso-
lation, if not contentment, IN the result
which seems probable. Bad as it may at
first sight appear to be for the honest and
patriotic mnn of North Carolina to have
to endure longer the wearing agony OF
such local misgovernment, may it not be
better than to be exposed to the bayonet
of an incensed and vengeful Federal Exc
cutive ? The CALLING whip of the unprin-
cipled men who now hold and abuse office,
might be preferable to the scorpion of the
Federal JeroEoam. At al events, the crisis
is deferred. There is no pretext for the
assertion Of new prerogative, and
another chance of exerting war power
is denied our rulers. The feeling of con-
siderate men is not unlike that which in
fuenced, On a recent occason-the ratif-
cation of the British Treaty noderate
Republicans end few Democrats, who
thought any thing was better than even the
possibility OF mIsdirected Executive pow
er The great Conservative cause has
everything to gain by the tranquil lapse Of
time. Each hour of the relatively few
which are now counted between this and
the Ash of March, 1878, that passes undis-
turbed is one of blessed escape.
Republican journals that know better
pretend thatthis result has politic al signi-
ticance in the future. Nothing is mole
palpably absurd. Even among the Con-
sarvatives there is much division of opin-
ion as to the Convention, after the extra
ordinary efforts made by the State ard
Federal authorities. to prevent lis
contamination. On the other hand,
doubts-though unfounded-were circu-
lated as to the constitutionality of the act.
and, on the other, threats of Executive
interference were openly made, which
operated on the timid and even on strong
minds, after the recent experience of
Federal tyranny. Much as reform is
needed, and even felt to be indispensable,
for relieving the State from the depths Of
debt and prostration, into which it has
been plunged by Radical corruption, yet
the people have thought it better to bear
p ttiently still longer the evils they have,
than to fly to others still more uncertain
and perilous. This is the whole story of
the contest for the Convention. and when
the time comes for the people of Nor'h h
Carolina to express themselves On the
great issues of the Pre- sidential campaign,
they will be found faithful to their con
vctions. and as earnest in opposition to
the abuses and outrages of this Admins
ton as those of any other State in the
Union.