New-York tribune., 1872-07-29
THE TEMPER OF THE PEOPLE.

AND HONEST POPULATION-wILL THEY sup
PORT THE CARPET-BAG DYNASTY
IFRoM THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THB TRBUNRl
AsHEvILLE, n. c., July 23.-The western part
OF North Carolina. embracing fifteen or twenty counties
is rough mountainous country similar 10 East Iennes
see and Western Virginia. though less accessible by rail-
roads and teeraphs. 1t is inhabited by hardy people,
who generally more Intelligent and more prosperous
than the poor whites of the lower portions OF the state
though few of them are very wealthy. They cultivate
their hillside FARMS raising the finest corn beef and NUT
ton and almost the only wheat and oats in the State
rarely failing to fair crop whether the season be
wet or dry people Of simple habits and few wants, and
with very little communication with the outside world,
they live quiet coutentod life, seldom taking an inter
est in politics. and oftener remaining at home on election
days than trampng of several miles the hills to cast
their votes. Before the war, the people OF Western
North Carolina had little in common with the in
hatitants Of the remainder OF the states. Slavery
never nourshed among these rugged hills and secession
had few advocates here Dragged into tho war against
their will. they gave it but lukewarm support and
never quite forgaye the hot-headed men who, they
thought brought all the troubles upon them. Though
they suffered less than people Of Eastern and
Central North Carolina, their farms never having
been overrun by either army they were troubled some
by the depredatons of drserters and feebootes who
established themselves the mountains, and for while
lived upon the country and they hailed with the great
est JOY the return Of peace.
SKETCH OF PAST POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS.
After the breaking out of the war these people were
SO angry because their advice had not been taken and
peace preserved that they very generally withdrew from
politics and refused TO vote until in 1861 Vance, resi-
dent of Asheve and one OF the ablest and most per
ssten opponents of secession while did any good to
oppose IL, was made candidate for the GOyernorship
Then they turned out in a body, voted for him, and
helped to give him handsome majority. Since that
tme with the exception Of the election Of 1865, when
/ .ftta1
indifferent In 1871, the vote poled in the State was
5000 less than the Of qualified voters and the
great majority OF these stayathomes resided west OF
Greensboro and Charlotte. In 1870 the vote was
smaller still The causes Of this indifference
since the close Of the various For long time
the leading men OF this section those to whom the
people had been accustomed to look for political advice
before and during the war; disqualified from hold
ing any Office and took very little interest in politics.
The Amnesty bill passed at the last session Of Congress
to all of these the rights that had been so
long denied them and has brought them out Of the
htical retirement in which they have been hoernatng
many years But, II the Administration hopes to gain
anything by what the leaders OF the Senatorial caba are
wont to style this act OF mercy, viii be greatly dsap
pointed To the Cincinnati Convention these people give
all the credit OF forcing the Amnesty bill through the
Senate. and far the people who were most ine-
rested the passage OF the bill concerned the at
tempt OF the Administration TO take the wind out Of
the Liberal sails has been complete failure The Am
nesty bill restored TO the politics OF North Carolina
such men as Vance and Cllngman, the very Of all
others who had the fullest confidence OF the people, and
they have entered into the present contest with no
abatement of their ancient vigOr.
CAUSES OF POLITICAL APATHY IN THE PAST.
Another of Indifference has been the fear OF
Federal interference in case OF Conservative victory
one reconstruction has been all that North Carolina
could endure and many Of these Western people have
looked upon the issues presented at each successive
election involving the question whether 1t were bet
ter to for while longer the expressions OF car
pet-bag rule, or by eectng Conservative state Gov
ernment TO furnish the Administration an excuse for
them a second time, as was done in
Georgia That their fears not wholly groundess
s proved by the speech which Attorney General Aker
man made at Weldon, year ago. To be sure, "a great
many Liberals opposed To calling C0nsutu-
tional Convention, and 1t is now admitted on all hands
that it was unwse attempt to force that issue upon
the people OF the State but the threat which Mr. Aker
man made in certain contingencies it might be the
duty of the Federal Government TO take North Caro-
lima again in hand, had very great effect and has not
yet been forgotten. Again, the Liberals OF the
STATE and particularly OF this portion Of it, have been
pretty badly hacked" the Caronians say that is
they have been often beaten, generally, as they
believe by unfair means improper influences, that
until within a few weeks they felt as though
hey could do no good by voting, and so
ion IN politics. Many OF these causes Of indifference
nave been removed during the present contest As
said before the old warbOrses OF the Liberal party,
he men whose standards the people dehghted 10 Ioo"
II ante-bellum times, again at the 'front.' ralyins
heir men as they have never before been rallied since
4 They have Travelled up and down among these hills
peang TO the people at town and erossroads 80
bat every voter no matter how remote his home, has
,een personaliy appealed TO. ExGov Vance, the most
,onuar stump speaker In the State II not In the South
,ccompanied by Senator Ransom or Gen. Gary. has /
bown t.e western voters thai the election lies entirely
, THAR hands The eastern and middle sections Of the
,tate will cast their full Liberal votes as they |
Iwavs bave done and. with q western vote larger
han that of 1870 Will give Merrimon clear majority,
ness ne Ia cheated out OF IL by fraudulent voting and
ne corrupt rse OF money. With full vote the west.
Ma election by a large majority would be beyond ques
ION They have also shown that there need be fear
u Federal interference If the people only do their duty
. the Administration is beaten in North Carolina the
At of August Mr. Greeleys election will be assured, and
ne Liberal Republicans and Democrats will TO 1t
hat no harm is State, during the next short
erm of Congress, account OF the vote she may cast
low.
THE VOTING POPULATION THOROUGHLY ARoUsED.
The result of this is that the people OF this
,art OF the thoroughly than they
.yer have been before. Hundreds and thousands Of
nen have already registered whose have not be-
ore been on the voting lists since the breaking out Of
he war and preparations are making TO get these men
the polls Nine out OF ten OF all the votes thus OBJ
aimed In this section will be for the Conservative
See Feurlk PAGE,