Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-11-29
Editorial correspondence.
RALEIGH, y. c., Nov. 2l, Is

the purpose of comparing the votes for
Governor and other State officers, adj
journed yesterday to meet again on the 4th
of December, by which time the missing
returns from the four counties not yet
officially heard from have been ordered TO
be sent in. A committee has been also
raised to examine into and report upon
certain irregularities and i,ac uracics in
the returns from other counties. Unless
the Legislature shall decide that James
Reid and James G.. Reid were one and the
same man, NereuS Mendenhall was duly
elected Superintendent Of Public Instruc-
ton. From the returns from the county
of New Hanover it appears that Caswcll Il.
uargrOve was voted for for Attorney Cen
eral, aud no votes given for TazWell l..
Hargrove. II these votes shall be counted
as they stand upon the official returns,
now upon the Speakers desk, William NJ.
Shipp was reelected Attorney General.
The development of these facts has given
lise to some talk aud speculation.
Assuming that the discrepancy in the
from ignorance or mere clerical errors.
Some contend that the Conservatives
ought not to claim the election. Others
contend, and with irresistible force, that
voters must determine for themselves for
whom they vote, that the ballots they put
in the box constitute the best evidence that
in the nature of the case can be afforded;
that the best evidence of what these ballots
were, is TO be found in the official record
thereof, made in accordance with the re-
quirements of the law; that if any dis
creSion whatever is to be vested in re-
turning officers, it will be Impossible to
throw any safeguards around the exercise
of the right of suffrage; that for instance,
if the Legislature has the power to declare
that James Reid and James G. Reid are
one and the same man, it may decide that
James C. Reid and John G.. Reid, or any
other man, are tie same person; that if
the door is once opened it can never be
closed. 1t certainly does seem much the
safer plan to adhere strictly to the letter of
the law. ''Thus saith the law - should be
the only test. If the requirements of the
law are to be disregarded, il the guesses or
the judgment OF polling offices or of the
Legislature are to be substituted for the
official record Of the votes deposited in the
balIot-box, the right of suffrage will have
lost its value.
Governor CallwelrS Mcssase is hnrac-
teristic of the man. 1t seems that he has
never had the raintest conception of the
true character of the high position he holds,
rather than fills. It seems never to have
occurred to him that he is the Governor of
North Carolina. 1t seems that he has
never been able to Iise above the idea that
he was mere partizan chief, wagins an
unscrupulOus pa1tizan warfare. 1t seems
never to have entered his head, that the
Governor of NcFth Carolina ought TO he a
statesman. All this, however, may be
proof of the Governors good judgment. -
1t is Just possible that he realizes the fact,
and 10 one has had better opportunities
for ascertaining the fact, that spitetul mani
festations of malignant paltizanly ale bet
ter appreciated and more keellly relshed
by the 10000 ignorant negroes, and their
carpet-bag and scallawag allies whO consti-
! tute HE patty, than the 1lost splendid
exhibitions OF craftsmanship that the
human brain is capable of. Whatever
may be tie motive, Caldwell is certainly a
good caterer to the tastes cf lis political
family.
to I1of on Z nf
insolence the Legislatures Of Nolth Can DINA
have borne from this man. 1t would have
been fitting and melited rebuke il the
present and preceding Legislature had re-
turned TO him the insoleno documents that
he so llnappropriately dcsSnatcs as Mes
sagcs.''
But Caldwell is as ignorant of the law
as he is Of State-craft. Time and time
again he has demonstrated this. His latest
bunder was about this same is)lent
Message. In accordance with ancient
custom, as soon as the Legislature was Or
ganizCd committee was appointed to wait
upon the Governor and inform him of the
fact aud Of the readiness of the Legislature
to receive any communication he might
: desire to make. Tho committee performed
lis duty and reported that the Governor
said he would communicate by Message i'll
writing, to be sent into the House Of Rep
rcscntatives II IF. on Tt"Sidy. Now, it
happened that in thus selecting the hour
of II NJ. on Tuesday, the Governor selected
one of the very few hours when, by law,
it was impossible for the Legislature to
receive his Message for the reason that the
law of the State required the Legislature
at that particular time to begin TO compare
the votes cast in the last election! This
may seem a small matter, but Caldwell is
small man and engages in small matters.
! 1t certainly displays, in small way, either
! ignorance or indifference to the lava
display unbecoming in Governor to make.
/ Ex-Governor Vance arrived here on
j yesterday, and as usual, is stopping at Il
! Yarboro'. The Governor evidently thinks
! friend Blacknall knows how to keep a
| hotel. Thus far the Senatorial contest has
/ excited but little commotion among the
| Conservative members of the Legislature.
In the city there is good deal of talk, and
John Pools friends and adherents are
lashing themselves up to fever heat: Pool
has undoubtedly persuaded some OF the
weaker vessels that lie has a ghost of a
! chance. Our friends in the Legislature,
however, pursue the even Tenor Ct their
Uav keen their own counsel and evidently