The New York herald., 1871-01-08
RALEIGH, Jan. 5, 1871.

RALEIGH, Jan. 5, 1871.
With the limited information now before me- and
as far as Judgment can be based on general know
ledge OF affairs here, there seems scarcely TO be
chance OF senator Abbotts success in conesting he
seat OF senator elect Vance on the ground that he
received majority OF the legal votes OF the Gen.
eral Assembly. lie presumes, without counting,
that large number OF the members OF both branches
OF the Legislature are disquanled under the four
teenth amendment to the constitution OF the United
States. That there are few who are banned by the
provisions OF that amendment is true, but not sui-
ncient number, the canceling of whose votes would
elect Abbott Vance legally elected, and it would
do much towards the restoration OF peace and har-
mony IN this State II he would be allowed
TO take his seat 1t would he q gracious act
on the part OF republican Senate and would serve
to prove that tnat body WIN not necessarily limit
a state in her choice Of representative purely be-
OF his politics. Then amnesty1s certain to he
the leading political issue In 1872, and as certain as
fate the party carrying on It's banners will be the
successful one In the Presidential contest. 1t VIII
sweep the entire South and West and many OF the
Northern States.
The sensation of the hour, in the absence OF more
exciting events during the holidays, is the
BAPTISM + GOVERNOR HOLDEN,
which took place on Sunday evening During the
Executive rose in his seat and reviewed at length
his religious experience going over the greater por
ton OF his life from his sixteenth birth.
day downwards. He said:-"I have done a
great deal Of wrong IN my life, but ! WILL
with Heavens help endeavor to do better
hereafter. l viii do my duty to myself, my fellow
men, my country and my God" The penitent Gov
ernor then received into full membership in the
Church. was also his estirnabie lazy. At the
evening service both were baptized, the text
lected for tie occasion by the Rev. Dr. Prltchard
being Acis OF the Apostles, xxi. 16. The entire
chapter was read by the divine, presenting In
most striking and beautiful light the persecution OF
the Christians by Paul and the subsequent conver-
sion OF that Apostle to the religion OF the Redeemer.
II was remarked that the text and sermon bore a
striking analogy to the spiritual reformation OF the
Governor who all the time wore a Inundated and
Chrlstan.llKe air. The sermon or text was not in
tentionally eyeied at the Governor by the clergy
man, whose sole object Is the conversion of sinners,
whether they be objects Of legislative impeachment
or convicted penltentiary felons-whether they be
OF high low degre e. for the greater the sinner the
greater need Of repentance Is Dr. Prcnard's motto.
There was only an ordinary congregation present,
as 1t was not generally known the Governor would
be baptized. When the Governor stepped into the
baptsmal font the entire con gregatlon rose to
their feet some eagerly climbing the seats to OBJ
tain better view OF the ceremony. After lew re-
marks IN advocacy oi immersion, which the reve-
rend doctor never falls to make, ne said:-"In obe
dience 10 the command OF tie Greas Head OF the
Churcn ! baptKe you my brother, III The name OF
the Ia her. aud OF the - Il, ana oi the Holy Ghost.
Amen, Tne Governor tlen gently lowered,
ana the entire body being lmme rsed, lie was again
placed II al upright poSltlol, Whea ne slowly ana
with seeming dia4caity assembled from tie pool dnp-
ping with tne sacred water, ana lie disappeared
from vleW
The comments OF the Northern press IN regard to
the Impeachment OF Governor Ho zen are read here
with more tnan ordinary Interssa ana lste Suppo-
suon that there Is a conspiracy oa tne part o. The
democrats III the Legislature Is received wh more
indignation man amusement, and often lltte oi
both. Holden was lmpeachel al the almost unani-
nous demand OF the people, whose liberties they
regarded, were outraged by his summary arrests,
imprisonments, tortures ana the refusal to allow
them the benefit ol tue W,1t OF h3beas corpus. As
far as thorough investigation o. Ire iacts 60 am
prepared 10 say that the Legislature were forced By
outraged puuc opinion 10 their action In Inc I'M
peachment OF the Governor. Anybody Intimately
In this state since the close OF the VIII
agree That the course OIL the republicans who were
In power Ia every branch OF the goyelnmen6-the
Executive. Legislative and Judicial-nas beei az.
gressive, corrupt ana unprecedented. Tue Executive
usurped his functions; The Legislature ruined the
credit OF the State and maze 1T bankrupt and the
Judiciary were noolousiy partisan from the negro
magistrate 10 the Chief Justice on the supreme
Bench. 10 such extent had these enormllies gone
that In the recent elections the STATE went over
whelmingly against the republicans, the finances oe
Inc the main issue. There Is nov scarcely chance
OF that party ever AGAIN regaiuing their lost power,
the assertion OF the Governor 10 the contrary not
wirhsranding.
AS to the
SUSPENSION OF TIE GOVERNOR,
which is looked upon at the North as revolution
ary act by ine democracy here, u was altogether IN
conformity with the iaw passed by the republican
Legislature at the time o. the Impeachment: or fresi-
dent johnson. Even The constitution framed by The
Dest radical talent Oh the State proy4ses for the
pension OF the Governor from all executive func-
ions after Impeachment, and II this be marsh 1t Is
solely due To the republicans themselves and fJr
which the democrats are in nowise RESPONSIBLE.
Added TO this, rs has been SAID before the columns
Of the HERALD, the democracy gam nothing by The
removal OF the Governor nom once, his sue
cessor, Lieutenant Governor Caldwell, Is radc zeal
OF the most orthodox Character and extreme views,
whose political retirement would be entirely as
satisfactory as that OF the Governor If not more 50.
Gals have themselves to blame for the suspension OF
the Governor The bill 10 call the
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
is also misunderstood or purposely misconstrued by
large portion OF the republican press ai the North
when seems TO be under the mistaken impression
that the Legislature has ordered the assembling OF
constitutional convention, in vlolat on ofshe
present constitution. This Is not the case. The
main provision OF the bill is that the people shall
cast their votes ''for' or against convention,
and at the same time elect delegates to such body.
IT. alter the votes are counted, 1t Is asceraned that
a majority OF the legal voters IN the state are IN
lavor Of convenioE II Is then made the duty OF the
Governor to issue his proclamation calling the dele
gates together IN April, 1871: but II majority are
opposed 20 the calllng ol ts convention then II VIII
not assemble. The correspondent oil New
York paper at Washington wiuily msrcpre-
sents the truth when he says there is oniy q
bare majority in the Legts ature IN favor Of
the convention. There are clearly two-thirds
In both houses who VIII vote for the bill on It's nnal
passage. Nor is this Revolutionary measure, as
lntnated The convention is by The bill restricted
in It's action against any and all interference with
the fundamental principles OF the present constltu-
ton, such as he right OF suffrage the Common
School law and the Homestead Exemption. These
the people are determined 10 stand by and particu-
larry are they pledged TO guarantee the political and
civil rights Of the colored people, Wnal the specific
and necesstous object Of the convention viii be is
the amendment OF tue constitution In the matters OF
taxation and tie reconstruction Of the judiciary sys
TEN. Taxation under the present instrument s TOO
excessive and the judiciary is cumbersome and eX-
pensive TIE enormous appropriations to railroad
corporations made by the last republican Legislature
for which the State never saw q loot OF
railroad, though the bonds have all been sold and
huckstered III New York, have so DanKrupted the
State that the people, unable to bear the taxation
alLnaulel lnfnrnl lhunaar Iraln