Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-03-15
FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 1872.
The Coming Campaign, and the Pol
icy of the South.

We of the South are playing is of sufficient
importance to make US put forth all of our
energies being nothing more nor less than
the assertion and maintenance OF the rights
OF the States to local self-goyernment, with
out tvrannical and unconstitutional inter-
ference on the part of the Federal Govern
ment.
This we regard as the great issue before
the country. Other questions now looming
I'D are, as it were, only incidental for
when the State and Federal Governments
shall have been restored to their respective
constitutional orbits, so thorough a reform
will have been accomplished, both in the
ory and practice, that there will no longer
be any need for committees to investigate
fraud and corruption, or for Senates to try
impeachment
The South. in the coming contest, will
seek no mere partisan success, but will rather
seek to shape its course SO as to secure re-
turn to constitutional government. The
grievances under which we labor result
from disregard Of the plain letter Of the law
Of the land in the subOrdination of civil
law to military power. The grievance is
so great and the redress so imperatively
and so speedily demanded that it is the
plain duty of the South to sink the claims
of party in the demands of patriotism.
Though the day Of its accomplishment
may be remote, we are free to confess
that in the principles of the Democratic
party alone, do we see any hope of full,
complete redress.
But even if the Democratic party shall
not he able to elect its candidate for the
Presidency, we are not without hope that
the situation gives indications that the great
tidal wave of oppression and tyranny, in
which We have so long been engulphed, is
about to be rolled back.
There is already one party in the field
with its platform and its candidates. The
platform we cannot endorse in all respects,
nor is the organization Of sufficient extent
or power OF itself to base much expccta-
ton upon. But the fact that the Labor
Reform Party have selected such men as
Judge DAVIS and Governor PARKEE, is
fore these nominations were made the
Party making them was little known and
less regarded. The moment, however,
that the telegraph spread over the land the
intelligence that Judge DAVID DAVIS had
been formally presented to the country
as a candidate for the Presidency, and
that he had consented thereto, there was
decided sensation as if in the North, at
least, some common chord III the hearts of
men had been touched.
Judge DAVIS has never been much in
political life, and his reputation, until he
went upon the bench of the Supreme Court
of the United States, was certainly not q
national one yet, wherever his name has
been mentioned it has developed an amount
of strength, and even enthusiasm, that is to
say the least Of it, somewhat remarkable
for a comparatively unknown candidate
Of a comparatively unknown party
When, however, we come to examine the
record and find that, though lie is unknown
as a mere politician, Judge DAVIS has
thoroughly identified himself with the
great question of constitutional govern
ment; when we consider this, we say, and
the exigency of the times in which we live,
we are no longer surprised at the strength
the name of Judge DAVIS everywhere at
the North has developed for strange as it
may seem, it is none the less true, that the
nomination of Judge DAVIS asserts the
great principle of constitutional govern
ment and the supremacy Of civil law to
military usurpation. The Washington Pa
triOt says:
Every one who recalls the dark days of
civil strife and judicial prostitution, and
General Ambrose +. Burnside's Satrapate
i'll the West, will remember an order issued
TO suppress a Democratic newspaper i'll
Chicago, five hundred miles from the scene
of war, and that when the brave people OF
the Northwest, irrespective Ofparty, rose i'll
peaceful revolt and appCated to the Federal
Judiciary for redress, Judge Davis not only
granted it in the form in which it was
sought, but sent word to Abraham Lincoln
that ifthe aggressive OutrageS Of his military
lackey were persisted i'll, there would bt
organized and popular resistance, and thai
he, David Davis, would, if need be, pu
himself at the head Of it. And Mr.. Lin
by accepting the advice as he instantly did
of his long-tricd and trusted friend, for hC
Immediately revoked the offensive order.
In perfect accord with this, has been th
course of. Judge DAVIS upon the Bench il
the great cases involving the personal right
and liberty OF the citizen. In the Milligal
case he declared that g one of the PLANES
constitutional provisions was therefore III
fringed when Milligan was tried by Coul
not ordained and established by Congress
and not composed Of Judges appointed dm
ing good behavior
He also declared
g Another guarantee Of freedom wa
broken when Milligan was denied d til;
by jury" And ii was Judge DAVIS VIII
in the same case declared, in speaking
martial law 20 sought to be enforced in til
erty cannot endure together. The antas
onism is irreconcilable, and in the cOntli
one or the other must perish" The ute
ance of such sentiments as these il the fax
of usurping power and in defiance OF
may we'll attract the confidence Of thinkiI
people in this day Of military usurpatfon
the man who uttered them and give hop
ful augulry of return to old landmarks.
The next National Convention to
held is that of the Liberal Republicans, 81
called. This Convention meets in Cincil
n IO ,,fN il ot