Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-09-06

to Justify dis IHdJOIlIy DclOIo ldhlHS LIS
seat. Sonumerous, indeed, were these allie
cations of fraud, that if 1.-THE of them
be true, Merrimon, and not Caldwell, is the
lawful Governor elect CT North G rolina
and with a single exception, the Conserva-
tive press united in calling upon Judge
MerrimOn to contest the election
before the Legislature, in accordance
with Section 8, Article III of the COnstitu
ton of the State, which says: "Contested
elections shall be determined by joint
vote of both Houses of the General Assem- |
bly, in such manner rs shall be prescribed |
by law"
The Radical Party met this demand with
counter allegations OF fraud, to which the
Conservatives simply answered, "Let them,
too. be investigated; let every violation
of the election law be thoroughly exposed,
no matter by whom it may have been COM
mitted,' aud began straightway to prepare
for the coming contest by issuing circulars
| calling for proof. Thereupon, being salts
| fled that there was a fixed determination
not to allow Caldwell to take his seat until
| ton in such cases was had, the Radical
Party, through its recognized organ at
Raleigh, openly avoWed its policy in the
following plain terms:
{" We advise Gov Caldwell to resist the
Legislature if that body declares Merr mon
elected, aud attempts to wrest the State
government from Gov. Caldwell and his
brethren of the Republican ticket. The
Republicans have pOSSeSSiOn-they must
retain it and if Judge MerrmOn sets up
petty government of his Own-COngress
will take cognizauce of the contest and
decide which is the rightful government
That the Congress would sustain Gov.
Caldwell, we have not tue slightest doubt
Bat even tais language does not seem to
have been explicit enough, and accordingly
we have the policy Of the party laid down
in lie Eraof Saturday last, in still stronger
terms, rs follows:
" Ne care not what action the Legisla-
/ y, my TX. ii the matter, the Republi
EN-, viu resist any attempt to seat Judge
>,crrIMon. We are salts
fed that Caldwell received a majority OF
the legal votes cast, and we hope he will
maintain his rights in the premises by
moderate means at first; attic point Of thc
! bdyORet, if nece&sry."
These are the facts
: All the Conservative Party asks is thai
all frauds may be investigated and exposed
in the mode pointed out by the law and The
0 Constitution The Radical Party not only
I dcnOunces such an investigation
but openly avows its purpose to resist the
! verdict Of the Legislature, at the point o
/ tie bayonet. 1t also holds out TO you
; threat Of an early proclamation from Gov
= ernor Caldwell, ordering an election 70
o members Of another Legislature
The purpose in all this is plain enough
4 1t is simply to transfer the decision of TIN
It contested e.ecton from the Legislature O
: North Carolina, where the law placed it, t.
S the Congress OF the United States, a bod.
o that has no jurisdiction whatever over tlr
v matter.
IS III plain words, knowing their cause t.
be i bad one, they not only refuse t
V submit to the decision of the tribuna
e appointed by law for its trial, but DELHI
+ erately propose to create an armed resist
Y ance to it, an Instruction, in short, and
new government, so as to give Radica
Congress an opportunity to step in, and b,
4 seating Caldwell, to set at defiance thu
a laws and Constitution Of North Carolina
and the wishes of her people
t This is the Radical programme publicly
5 avowed in its acknowledged central organ
! at Raleigh, and We feel it to be oul
: duty to say to the people o.
North seruGiIa riisst- ii lacks ,Nh.5iH til
reelection of General Grant to make
it Il complete success
1t is mournfully true that if Horace
Greeley shall tie beaten and majority OF the
lower House Of Congress shall be opposed
to the policy he advocates, that you will be
bound hand and foot, aud utterly power
less to help yourselves. 1t is idle to deny
: it. If Grant shall be elected, Merrimon
will not be allowed to take his seat as
} Governor of North Carolina, even though
he may prove, as clear as the nOon-Cay sun,
that he received legal majority of twenty
thousand votes.
With the Radical Party in power
in Congress, and General Grant in the
Presidential chair, you are utterly help.
less! Remember that there can be no
change for four long years
On the other hand, if Greeley shall be
elected, we beg you, people of n orth Caro-
lima, to consider what the result will be.
Caldwell will make no resistance, know
ing that Federal troops would at once be
sent here by Mr.. Greeley 10 sustain the
action CT the Legislature. Peace and quiet
will prevail. The purity of the ballot-box,
the freedom of elections and
the right of North Carola ans
to local self-government will be vi
Gated
1t must be remembered that the Presi-
dental election comes off before the Leg
stature meets that before the contest
between Caldwell and Merrimon can be
decided, or be begun, it viii be known
whether Greeley or Grant is elected.
lhe reelection of Grant settles the
question against Merrimon.
But Grant is not yet reelected. And in
view Of this tremendous crisis in their
aflaiis will the people Of North Carolina
hesitate what TO do in November. Can
you hesitate for moment what is your
duty TO yourselves, to your children, and to
your State?
Remember that if Grant shall be elected
we will have no Legislature unless the