Wilmington journal., 1872-08-09

me Eiecsfon-Jndge srerrin'on-IIi'

me ETecsfon-Judge sTerrimOn-His
*.y Duty aa3
Tho indications now are that Caldwell
has received a small nominal majority III
the State s..-r.4s 31-sf sral, sa
We say "nominal majority for the
reason that we do not believe that he has
received an actual majority of the legal
votes cast. rs.err -e- EhI
We are still of the opinion that IL VIII pe
necessary tO have the official returns oeiore
ANYTHING definite can be ascertalned'
Under all circumstances, and counting ali
the fraudulent votes cast, the vote is an ex-
ceedingIy close one. ........ ....r.
We do not by any means, however, ad-
nit that all the votes cast were legal votes.
Far from it. We are informed that in
Brunswick county, at one precinct, there
were eighty votes cast that were not re-
gistered.
At one precinct in this county, we learn
that one if not two negro military compa-
MES marched with arms to the polls.
We are informed also, that in this cOun-
ty men were registered on the day of cleo
ton.
We are informed also, that others were
registered after sun-down before the cleo
ton, in plain violation of the letter of the
law. E....... .sH ....
At other places the votes cast exceeded
the number of voting population, as shown
by the last census. Nor are these all the
evidences of fraud.
In addition to fraud, intimidation was
freely resorted to. After Grceley's election
witnesses will neither fear nor hesitate to
make full disclosure of the force and in
timidation practised upon them.
In view, therefore, of all the facts, we de-
mand that Judge Merrmon shall cont est
the election of Governor Caldwell before
the next Legislature.
We do not say this from any ebulition OF
feeling, consequent upon defeat and disap-
pOintment, but we demand it as duty
from Judge MerrimOn to the Conservative
people of North Carolina and Of the Uni
ted States.
From the Legislature of North Carolina
we can and will obtain justice. If fraudu-
lent votes have been cast, and OF this no
reasonable man can entertain q doubt, the
patient, honest and intelligent investiga-
matter will enable the world to see the
truth, and the whole truth.
This is all we ask If we have been
fairly beaten-if majority of the legal
votes cast, a week ago to-day, were cast
against the Conservative ticket, we do not
ask that Judge Merrimon be declared
Governor of North Carolina.
We do demand, however, if he was
legally elected, that We shall not he cheated
out of our victory.
We repeat that We do not speak from
mere temper or Soreness or passion, but
from a settled determination to have the
matter judicially determined.
The Constitution Of the State makes il
"a, the duty of the Legislature to decide al
cases of contested elections for Governor
and other officers on the Stale ticket, under
such rules and regulations as it may pre-
scribe. -s.a.G
.a 8 We now, therefore, formally demand O
e. Judge Merrimon and the other candidate:
on our State ticket, TO contest formally the
election of their Radical opponents, SO tina
the Legislature may take tile proper step
in the premises. sa. ras,lr rs.
We demand this i'll the name of tht
Conservative people of North Carolina, ant
ofthe United States, and we call upon th'
press Of the State 10 unite with us in TIN
demand, and also to unite with lis i'll cal
ling upon our friends in all parts of til
State to gather up and put upon record tn
evidences of fraud that now everywher
abound. -.A .-a5d-.i't '..
We intend that this thing shall be sifte'
to the bottom. .s ....