Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-07-22
Letter from Washington.
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENCE
WASHINGTON, July 10, 1872.

have to stoop than the issues they are now sus-
tanning in the old north state. The points in
that state were made up before the Baltimore
convention. Had they not been some would
doubtless have been RELOCATED to the back seats.
The chief question is not whether the present
republican governor, Mr.. Caldwell, (who be-
came so by virtue of Holden's impeachment,) or
his democratic competitor, Judge Merriam shall
be elected, but whether the free constitution,
framed as part of successful reconstruction,
shall be so amended as to be virtually over
thrown.
Last year, flushed with the triumph obtained
by kukluXism at the previous election, when
they succeeded in carrying an attorney general
into office and elccting state legislature, there
by securing the Impeachment of the governor
and the choice of a democratic senator, they
went step further and undertook to carry a
proposition for a constitutional convention by
an Illegal method. The republicans rallied and
handsomely defeated this scheme. Last winter
the kuklux legislature, under lead of the state
"Cyclops," Plato Durham, framed and sub
mitted amendments.
1t is these the ''Liberals" are favoring. 1t is
to this work that northern democrats like Doc
little and Stockton are called, and ex-anti-
slavery men like Ashley are required to speak.
CHARACTER OF TIE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.
The principal one involves direct reputation
of the state debt, as incurred since reconstruc-
ton began.
The second and this is the one which meets
heartiest democratic support, would, if adopted,
remove from the constitution provision re-
quiring compulsory taxation for the maintain
ance of an equal system of public schools
| A third amendment would abolish the home
stead exemption, by which the poorer farmer,
mechanic and merchant is now able to see his
way to keeping want from his family, in the
event of misfortune overtaking him.
All these things, if accomplished, will proba-
| bly, be laid on the shoulders of Horace Greeley
and his republican allies. If they arc not &C
complished, it will be in their despite. They
are trying hard enough TO win the approval Of
their new masters. The collar they are so in
| dustrously riveting on themselves in North
Carolina bears the words, "Repudiation, "
Clown with Free Schools" and Destruction OF
the Poor Mans Homestead"
ELECTION PROSPECTS.
| An active democrat in that state said in my
hearing to-day, that North Carolina would give
five thousand majority for Caldwell on the Isl
OF August, and ten thousand for Grant on the
9th of November. All of our advces indicate a
victory in August by from seven to ten thou.
sand, and one in November by from ten to
twelve thousand. We shall elect three, and
probably four congressman, and entirely change
the legislature.
INCIDENTS OF THE CAMPAIGN.
The quarrel between Judge Merriam and SEN
ator Pool, about which so much IS being tele-
graphed, is probably, as to its belligerent char
acter, somewhat exaggerated. Senator Pool is
undoubtedly the chief manager of the republic
can campaign, and at the beginning prepared
| some documents, which are being circulated
under his frank.
One of these contains a number of newspaper
attacks on, and charges against Merriam, quite
skillfully brought together, and it is to this
Merriam takes exception. A spicy cores
pondence has ensued, during which Merriam
denounces the use of Pools frank as covering
libel, &c. Mr.. Pool responds 10 this by declar
ing that Mr. Merriam has sustained a paper
which habitually and yilely ISLANDERS; that he
(M.) is counsel and friend of man who has
committed gross frauds against the state, and
that in fact their relationship is such as to unfit
| Mr.. NJ. from being governor of state, against
which his client has committed gross frauds
Merriam in the last letter threatens a resort to
| the courts 10 which Pool responds that he is
| ready. AS the democratic candidate threatened
to denounce Pool on the stump it is probable
the abuse has become violent. Pool is cool
and determined man, notI likely to be drawn
| into any undue excitement, or be without iusti-
fcaton, involved in any rencounter.
ELSEWHERE IN THE SOUTH.
West Virginia affairs are curiously mixed.
Owing to apathy and Discussions, the democrats
carried the state last year and also elected a
convention to amend the constitution. The
vote which is TO be had on the 22d of August. is
on the ratification or rejection of this democratic
aud illiberal constitution A state ticket will
also be elected if ratification is had; if not, the
regular October election will be held
Here again Mr.. Greeley's Liberals will find
themselves obliged to sup NORWOOD and re.
ioiee. They must both smell and eat the demo-
cratic leek. The new constitution strikes at
civic equality in various ways, and is especially
hunkerish in the matter of free schools. Bes ides
the present governor, Jacobs, is an honest man,
and, having resisted the schemes of democratic
ring, was refused a denomination. He is an in
dependent candidate, and will be supported by
the republicans, who have not put candidate
| in the field The prospects are excellent for
| 10, a.,
sand majority The republicans are working
in perfect harmony, while the democrats are
badly demoraized. Their majority has never
been over 5000, and their disgust at Greeleyism
is so great that it is likely to be as much the
other way.
GEORGIA AFFAIRS.
Strange as it may seem to many, there is
fair prospect Of carrying the Grant and
Wilson electoral ticket. The full vote of this
state is about 100000 OF these 10000 ale
colored, and the remainder white There
are about 10000 of the latter in the
republican party How thoroughly demoo-
racy is demoralized can be seen by the
fact that out Of less than forty papers, the fol-
lowing, regarded as the ablest in Georgia, are
openly against Greeley, and some of them were,
not four days ago, on the eve of coming out for
Grant and Wilson.
OF dailies there are the Atlanta Sun CA II.
Stephens paper) Columbus Sun, Griffin News,
and the Savannah News.
Besides these are the following weekles
Milledgeyille Union Washington Gazette, War
renton Clipper Albany Central City, La Grange
Reporter, Gainesville Standard, cambridge
Argus, Thomaston Herald, Rockmond Reporter
ana Athens Banner-14 papers in all.
Mr. Stephens is notat all unlikely to declare for
Grant. The governor, J. NJ. Smith, keeps close
mouth on Greeley; and there seems probable
ity that some combination may yet he formed
locally, by which an unobjectionable democrat
may be elected governor, and the republicans
carry the other portions Of the ticket.
South Carolina elects a state ticket in October
and II will be seen that the present weak as
well as corrupt executive and subordinate Off.
GERS will be sent back to private life. In all
probability either cx-Goy Orr, or State Attorney
General Chamberlain win be the republican
nominees for governor. The colored men gen.
orally favor the latter. Either will make good
and honest executive. OBSERVER.