Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-08-16
Onr DRVfN,

The Radical party cannot derive much
consolation from the result of the recent
election. In its most favorable aspect for
that party it can be considered as but little
better than a drawn battle.
When it is remembered that the State
was virtually held under military rule;
ythat the Federal Otlice-hOlders, the Federal
soldiers and the carpet -baggers, with the
solid vote Of the negro population, We're al
for the Republican ticket; that i large
amount Of Federal money was thrown
into the State and cOrruptly Gsel i'll the
payment Of doubtful voters that the
people of North Carolina have been kept
SO mserably poor under the Southern
policy of the Republican Congress as to
make a few dollars a material object to
many thousands of them that the grossest
frauds were pepetrated, both in re9istra-
tiOn and at the ballot-bOX; that wholesale
intimidation, by means Of Federal Court
indictments, for alleged Ku-kluXing and
violations of the Revenue Laws in relation
. to the distillatiOn of spirits and the
manufacture Of tobacco, the wonder is
that we did not meet with an OverwheE
ming defeat. Instead of this, however,
we have carried both branches of the
Legislature and elected five members of
Congress, aud, in spite OF all odds, have
run the Governor 80 close that we look
with confidence upon the success of our
efforts to unseat him by the Legislature.
From every quarter come loud COM
plants of the frauds practised upon us.
These complaints will, III due form and due
time, be laid before the Legislature-the
body empowered by the Constitution Of
the State TO decide contested elections for
officers upon the general State ticket.
Fortunately in this body We have a
tribunal that will do us justice. From its
decision there is and can be no appeal.
If that body shall, in the exercise of its CON
stitutiOnal right, decide that Judge Merrl-
mon received a majority of the legal votes
cast in the late election, not even the power
of General Grant, backed by his horde OF
Oflice-hOlders and spies and Marshals, can
prevent him from taking his seat as Gov
.ernor of North Carolina.
Bnt there is more involved in this matter
than the mere unseating of Caldwell and
the installation of Merrimon. The purity
and freedom of the ballot-box iii all ages
TO come, al North Carolina, are at stake.
We trust and believe that the dawn Of a
new and better era in our political con-
ditiOm is at hai!l, This expectation, how
eyer, will never be realized il we allow the
gross frauds recently perpetrated to pass
Iunoticed and unpublished.
if it appears that fraud, force and bri-
berry can be used with impunity by a Fed
and supporters, in controlling State cleo
tiou, all hope for the better day that has
been so long coming, yanishes at once.
1t is for this reason that we have de-
termined to urge Judge Merrimon and
The other officers Oh our State ticket
to take such steps as may be necessary to
inform the people OF the State and of the
United States, that the so-called election OF
Caldwell will be contested.
We do not regard this as an effort for
snere nartizan advantage. We regard it as
4 patriol,ic duty, the performance of which
is absolutely and imperatively necessary
for the preservation of the purity and free
dom of the ballot box. The question is
one far above party or party advantage.
nthe Legislature we have atribunal thai
is both intelligent and honest. The char,
acter of the nlen who have been elected tC
that body guarantees that their investiga
ton and verdict viii be fair and impartial
BY that verdict we are willing TO abide
<Ve are not willing, however, to accept a