Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-12-13
senator Mer-irnOr..

The election CT Hon. n. - IAcIIiIIIoh - !
United States Senator, over EN-G0Vernor |
Vance, the regular nominee, has given Use !
10 much speculation and some feeling.
We have already expressed our condeIdna-
tion of the manner in which lie was elected,
a. vel as our entire confidence in him
personally and politically. We propose 10
reiterate these opinions to-day more at
length, and as cnphatically.
It is, TO say the least Of il, an unpleasant
state of Affairs to its members when party,
with clear majority Of twenty-foGr votes
on Joint ballot in the Legislature, cannot
elect its regularly nominated caucus can"i-
date as United States Senator.
Pleasant or unpleasant, however, this IS
the condition in which we find ourselves
Ex-Governor Vance was the regularly
nominated candidate Of the caucus, and III
spite of this and in spite CT our majority OF
tgenty-fo,lr votes on joint ballot, Judge
Merrimon was elected IitId states
Senator.
II is generally conceded that PERSONAL
and not political differences, caused tie
variance, between Governor Vance and
Iudoe McrrimOn. Whether MeTlimon has
wrongad Vance, or whether Vance has
wronped MerrimOn, We do not know
Which gentleman is right, ami winch L
wrong, il a matter Of very small Importance
Ia the public, compared with the pF'serya
tion Of the integrity and unity of tie Con
Sarvatiye paIty Of North Carolina
Relieving that strict discipline and thorouSi
organization are absolutely essential 10 th
success of any party, we have sHPi'or'e'
Governor Vance because lie WAS IN
regular nominee of the party nose VIZ
think with us will bc slow TO admit tha
.ny private ttt,d can justify resistance
The mandates Of the party expressed III
,4c~llar lawful manner. NO parry g"
hone to be successful whose members ="
not sacrifice their personal fechngs al
interests to the general good
Among tie intractable opponents
Governor Vance We found, as we nav
heretofore stated. tile closest political az
;h, war,nest personal friends OF iite'ih'
In snite Of this, however, teaIty 10 Il
PARTY Of which the JOURNAL Processes
ha an expenent, coupcls us to put n20
recorj. in the plainest terms, our coildeh
nation and censtlre Of the course pursue
nv Judge Merrimon and Lis supporters
ia our purpose. however, to do this "iiro'
any bitterness. we know these G91Ni
men. We are satisfied that they have
RADICAL leaning. We feel sure tha. to-t';
,hov scorn aud loatEe alfi!ation VIZ
Radicalism as intensely as any man &
scorn and loathe il. We are quite 5"
that in their hearts they feel themselves
lie as true to North Carolina as ever III
did when in the darkest hours Ct l.
adyersity they battled so maniuHy ia IL
defence. 1t is not our purpose, therefor
nv anv words of bitterness, to widen |
breach between us and them. we GeS
rather To heal the wounds that afllict
five believed those intractable oppohel
cf Governor Vance cherished any 1ech
of disaff.ct:on towards the ConserVat
Party. or if we believed they thought IL
wore acting otherwise than from sense
duty, mistaken though we beheVe II 10
and disastrous in its consequences
course would be different. AS 1t Is, nc
ever, while we condemn their course
the most emphatic terms, it is our pufp
to withhold any expression Of bitterness
reproach.
The declarations of Senator MerrimoL
any proof was needed. are sufnclent
satisfy any reasonable man that ne IS
tue and faithful to the principles u
which the Conservative party Is 1o'h'
notwithstanding the fact that he
secured his elevation by an act Of insut
.ijuation to the patty mandate, aud |
breach of party discipline. 1t canno'
denied that Senator Merrimon has Wol
long and faithfully, and zealously In
service of the Conservative party ; nor
1t be denied that he was at least the sec
choice Of an overwhelming majority OF
party for the position to which he has |
elected. The campaign he made last S
mer, ending only on the day OF election
too fresh in the memory of us all to rel