Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-12-06
EDI1ORrAr. CORREsroNDESCE.
ITIc Senatorial Dead Lock.
RALEIGH, Nov. 20, 1872.

RALEIGH, Nov. ~, 1872.
Dcdr JouyHuI: The Senatorial imhro2lo
still continues. There has been no material
Change. Or. (aIeon, the member Of The
House uf represent 4tivcs from Alexander
county, WHO was elected as an independent
candidate and voted tor Pool OH The first
ballot, now sustans Judge Mcnimon.
With lLis exception, matters stand precisely
as they did on Tuesday. The vote On
yesterday was smaller by four Votes than
heretofore, owing to the absence of Senator
Worth, of Raudplpll, who had been called
homo by sickness in his family, and had
paired OF with a supporter Of Pool, and Of
Mr.. Bullard, FROM Cumberland, If tie
House tf Representatives, who was also
paired off. There is no indication. as yet
of any purpose OH the pant Cf the supporters
of Judge Merlimon 20 yield. TLcy secm
determined 20 fight il oljt on He line they
ROW occupy.
Take it all in al, ii is remarkable fight.
Judge MeninOn and Governor Vance
have, in some sort, We believe, been rivals
and coulpctitcrs from boyhood. About The
same age, and living III the same town, Of
the same political tai'h, and both prCni-
uent men III their county and in the
State Lcforo middle Iif", it would, ind, Cd,
be strange had not each found the other III
his way in mounting. the ladder 10 fame,
honor aud riches. Tie death struggle
between tie two men would doubtless
I, ! 4. nd
not Governor Vance become a Olitjrian
rather than lawyer and Lad not Judge
MemimOn become Il lawyer rather than Il
politician Now, both are politicians, tul
the irrcpressiblc conflict is being fought out
to lis bitter end. The Slittering prize Ct d
seat in the United States Senate seemed to
be in the grasp Of one or Cf the ether oi
them, and the fight began. Yet, strange
to say. however, So far as we have been
able to hear, Tot sing,e angry or ILL
tempered word has been spoken Quietly
and dispassionatcly even, it would seem to
4 careless observer, have the parties taken
their stands and fought the fight. Men
laugh, and talk, aud Jest about the
muddle, and then pursue their purpose
with unflinching, unwayering determine
ton. As matters now stand, an election
is impossible.
If the Legislature should adjourn
without making an election, Governor
Caldwell would fill the vacancy until next
winter, and of course John Pool would he
the man What then can be done? 1t is
scarcely to be expected that the caucus
will withdraw Vance. 1t would be an act
of rare generosity and selfsacrifice ifVance
should Withdraw himself. The Merrimon
men will not support Vahce under any
circumstances. OF course the Vance men
will not support Merrimon
This state ct things throws the control
Of affairs into the hands of the Radicals.
! Ii the Radicals go in body to 1Ierrinor,
it ensures his election. If, however, Vance
can get seven Radical votes, it will ensure
his election. In this view Of the case, it
becomes natural TO know what the Radi-
Gals propose to do. 1t is said that they,
too, lack something Of being entirely har-
t monious There are said TO be contend
ing and opposing factions in their ranks,
John Pool heads one wing, and Richard
Badger and Long Perry head the other
| wing. There certainly seems to be good
ground for this rumor, when we remember
Badgers testimony in relation to the part