Wilmington journal., 1872-04-26
From the Raleigh Sentinel
"a AE.0

MEssRs. EDITORS When the Hon.
ThOs. 5 tile nominated Ibis old friend,
the Rev. J. c. Reid as Z candidate for the
office Of Superintendent Of Public ltiSt1uc-
ton, and the United States Marshal, 5. 7.
CaITow, moved that the nomination be
made by acclaniati0n, General Rufus Bar
ringer seconded the nomination and mo-
ton of Mr. CarOW III my narlc and be-
hall.
Mr.. Barringcr, by mistake on his part,
did this 2cithout Unth0rUy from nc. |
stated this to Mr.. Barringcr at the time,
and proposed to correct the mistake then
and there. But, on reflection, l concluded
not to appear before the convention, as my
name had not been before it except by
this mistake but to correct the mistake
otherwise. AS | cannot, for reasons which
| will give, assume or endorse the state
ment which was publicly made in my
name and behalf, [ think it right and
proper that | should correct the mistake,
and diSclaim the endorsement which was
given in my name. For this purpose ask
Of you the favor to publish this card.
On the dav before the convention was
organized, L met Mr.. Barringcr at tie \ .
tlOnal Hotel and he said something in ref
erence to my nomination for the office of
Superintendent of Public Instruction. |
said that the Washington City or Pool in
UucDCe tlal ai}GduS tttcTEliilCU that the
Rev. j. C.. Reid should he nominated, and
that was satisfied that lie would be nOmi-
mated, and that L cared very little about
seeking or getting the nomination from Il
J convention thus cOntrOllt d. lie replied
! that Mr.. Reid was altogether unfit for the
! duties of this office by reason Of his age.
and that he WOuld bring my name forward
as candidate for the Office. / assentcd
and did not again mention the matter TO
! him until a few moments heiOr" the nOmi-
| nation was to be made. l then went to
/ him and requested him to put my name in
nomination before the convention. lie e
| piled that he woull do so with pleasure :;
! that his delegation had agreed TO vote for
me, and that | ought to be elected by accla-
nation. He was standing on the floor for
| the purpose Of putting my name in n0mina-
ton, when Judge Settle nominated Mr.
Reid, and Mr.. Carrow moved to make the
nomination by acclamation. While the
! applause and clapping OF hands with which
! this was received, was subaiding, Mr.. Bar
ringer turned to me as if to enquire what
he must do. | said to him, g Let it 60
| care nothing for it, Upon this he second
| ed the nomination in my name IS before
! stated.
! If the convention had nominated 4 suit
| able person for the officc-onc who is
! capable Of doing something for education
| in the State, and who would lie willing to
devote his time and energies to that and
| to nothing else, l could have nothing to
| say against it; but am unwilling TO re-
main before the public as approving the
nomination, while ] know that the Gentle
man nominated is totally unfit for the po-
sition which he seeks, both by reason of
! his great age and his want Of education
for the work. Mr.. Reid, after spending
nearly bali century as an active working
minister of the gospel, was placed on the
retired list many years ago, because he
had become too old to 30 the work to
which he had been accustomed through a
/ long, valuable and bseful life. And now
| i'll his second childhood, totterinc upon the
very verge Of the grave, he asks the people
! of North Carolina to place him in one of
the most important departments OF tie
State Government-a position which re-
! qIIireS the labor of strong man, both ply
! sically and intellectually, and Of one who
/ has been educated for the purpose. His
election may be of advantage TO him, but
! it cannot possibly be Of any advantage 10
the people of North Carolina or to the
cause of education. If he is too Ohl, as he
himself says he is by being on the retired
| list, for that work to which he was faith
full and true for greater number Of years
! than a large majority Of men are permit
| ted to live, then he is too old for a work
altogether new and much more laboriOus
than the work which he left.
But my principal objection to the nonli-
nation is, that it was gotten up in Wash
ington City, several weeks before the con-
vention met, and is the product OF a
scheme to make the educational interests
Of the State subservient to party purposes
! and personal ends, as viii now proceed to
show. s s2
The men bers of the General Assembly
! at its last session were appealed to to re-
wise the schoo. law Snd make provision f,r
nee nee seaooas, Up, .ne ground tna' soaca-
popular interest. The Legislature res