Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-09-20
From the New York Tribun
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lent er porte testimony, that gross frauds |
were committed during the North Carolina |
election, and that in several districts the |
number Of ballots cast exceed not Only the |
number Of names registered but the entire |
population Of qualified voters. Of the evil |
dence to sustain this charge, however, we |
need not speak; it is enough that the |
charge is formally made. The defeated |
party in such a case has a right to submit
the facts to the Legislature and demand an
investigation. That is what the friends OF
Judge MerrimOn propose doing, where
upon the Raleigh Carolina Era, the chief
organ Of the Grant party i'll the central
part of tie State, calls upon Republicans
to resist this contest by force:
''BelieVing that Gov. Caldwell received
a majority Of the legal votes cast on the
first day of this month, and that justice
will not be done by the Legislature, we
advise Gov. Caldwell to resist the Legisla-
ture if that body declares HIerrimon elected,
and attempts to wrest the State govern
ment from Gov. Caldwell and his breth-
rem of the Republican State ticket. The
| Republicans have pOssessiOn-they must
retain it,
And the Era declares, in conclusion, that
if Gov. Caldwell and his friends submit to
a contest before the Legislature, "they are
tit subjects for snch indignities and out
|
tlict." The Legislature, argues this jour
nal, was elected on partisan issues, and
cannot be trusted to do impartial justice !;
let Caldwell, therefore, resist every attempt
to GUST him, land if Judge Merrimon sets
up petty government Of lis own, Con-
gress will take cognizance Of the contest
; and decide which is the righttul govern
ment. That the Congress would sustain
Gov. Caldwell we have not the slightest
| 4,
to the Raleigh Era, having been chosen
upon purely non-partisan issues, and being
above all political prejudice.
There is no question that the Legislature
was fairly elected. There is no question
Of its constitutional right and duty to Try
contested elections and decide them in ac-
cOrdauce with the facts. There is no way
OF avoiding political chaos except by the
recognition Of tribunal to settle such dis
puted questions. Yet the Grant patty III
North Carolina, dreading an adverse decis-
ion, refuses to accept the judgment of the
court of last resort, and inVOlleS an appeal
to arms, With the ultimate interference OF
Congress, and, of course, the interpOSitiOn
l of Federal bayOnets. That would be re-
; ducing North Carolina to the condition of
: Central American republics. The Admin
istratiOn has been SO long accustomed 10
:. ruling Southern states with a high hand,
|
airy nee ssity the powers which belong by
: the Constitution to the State governments
that it probably does not appreciate the
; enOrmity Of this laWless project. What las
: Congress to do with seating or unseating
Il the Governor of North Carolina? it can
restore Caldwell after the Legislature has
O removed him and declared MerrimOn legal
: ly elected, it can forcibly install Dix in
n New Y ork-nay, in the matter OF that, can
rAXyiSn InH Of (NC1I
9 and insist that Grant shall be recognized
+ as President after the electors have given
+ the majority 20 Greeley. Where is the
usurpatiOn to end? IT the lawfully con-
4 stituted authority may be superseded be-
q cause somebody believes that it has not de-
: cided, or will not decide, fairly, there is no
: such thing free representative govern
ment. We are brought down at once to
n the brute force Of military despOtism, where
= the judge of last resort is the general wLC
: has the strongest army.
The tendency Of the Grant Administers
# ton towards this sort Of usurpati0n is I'M
q mistakable. OF course nobody is absurd
f enough TO suppose that President Ga ant
!. seriously intends to OveIturn the State
e government of North Carolina, or any
n other member Of the Union; or that even
! Mr.. Conkling or Mr.. Harlan would support
: him in such an attempt. But his party
9 IS lnsenslbly urging him forward to a
e most dangerous disregard for constitutional
! restraints.
o The New York Times wanted United
e States troops sent the other day to North
: Carolina, because an Internal Revenue
V officer was afraid Of a Newspaper editor ant
+ some of his friends, whom he had assault
!. ed and fired at; and now one Of the party
: organs calls upon Congress to instruct the
Q Executive forcibly to maintain Caldwell il
r. the Governors chair in case the ,pCiSla
: ture, the constitutional judge in contested
e elections, decide that he is not entitled
: to it. Again we ask, where is this t.
- end ,