Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-01-03
From the Raleigh News.
The Senatorial ElettOn-An Appeal to
the State Press

The Senatorial Eletton-An Appeal to
the State Press
We regret to see disposition manifested
by several OF our exchanges, to prolOng the
discussion over the vexed Senatorial ques-
ton, and to keep alive the acerbity and
rAncor:which that contest provoked.
We to-day appeal, in the name of the
Conservative party of North Caroliua, and
in the truest interest Of the State, for a
cessation of this warfare in our ranks, aud
for restoration of harmony and concord.
Cui bono! A prolongation of this fam
lily quarrel bodies no good to any one. and
must prove, ultimately, detrimental, if not
ruinous, 10 the Conservative organization.
We, therefore ask, where is thing to endo
is it not time already that the subject be
withdrawn from thep,lblic mind, aud that
questions affecting the material interests of
North Carolina engage the attention of the
newspapers and the Legislature:
1t is not to be denied that there is great
disappointment, not to say Indignation, in
many sections of the State, because the
Legislature, with a majority OF twenty
four Conservatives, failed to elect the reg
ular nominee, Zebulon B. Vance, the
United States Senator. 1t was m,toitu-
nate that this failure occurred. But it did
occur, the deed was accomplished, and the
matter cannot b. remedieu now
Our paper never advocated Governor
Vance's nomination. We considered that
a question tina: belonged exclusively to the
L.e2islaiure-;hat the Conservative Repre-
sentatives alone should decide it, as being
better acquainted with tue wishes and
choice Of their constituents, anu response
bic to them for their action in the
premises.
We know that interested persons have
cha .o6 t,no fln
NaEce its earnest support after his nomi-
Hation, that our paper is the organ of the
''Fance-RansOm -Ombination," and that
its opposition to Judge Merrimon is to be
attributed to that cause.
We defy such persons to show that We
ever published j line in favor Of Vance's
election, or against Melrimons nomina-
ton, until the matter was settled in caucus.
IT because the Ne,rs condemned the
manner of Merrimons election, it there
fore belongs to the Vance-Ransom COM
bination," then we submit that nearly
every Conservative paper in the State, aid
nine-tenths of the Conservative people Of
the Stale belong to the same combination.
No man, no mater what may be on
admiration for his ,haracs,r, no matter
what may be his services to the st ate, no
matter what may be our regard for him
individually, no matter what may he his
popularity, his talents or his influence, can
force us into position that We conscien-
tiously believe to be wrong in plinciIl. ard
in policy, fatal to the success of Conserva-
tive principles, and hurtful to the we'll
being aud prosperity of the State.
We do 20. believe that, because Cover
nor Vance has been detea'ed or because
Judge M-rrlmon has been elected, all is
While 2r.Sira fn r,1ooo
cord our emphatic condemnation of the
manne:- i'll which Judge Meirimon has
been chosen Senator, as against the usages
of party discipline, Yet we think the peopl =,
of North Carolina have something higher
to struggle for than one mans promotion
or another mans defeat.
Neither Vance nor Merrimcn constitute
the Conservative party of North Carolina.
Neither Vance nor Merrimon should stand
in the way of the harmony of that party
Their personal quarrels, if any they have.
should be adjourned from before the public
gaze when the uuity of the party is ieop-
ardized and!its dislnemberment threatened
While regretting the defeat of Gov.
Vance, as the nominee of the party, and
protesting, i'll the most solemn manner
against the act of INSTRUMENTATION to which
Judge MerrimOn owes his election, and
which we can he er approve, let us receive
the assurances of tho Senator elect in good
faith, and be ready 10 accord him our SUP
port, as far as he maintains Conservative
principles and stands by the party in the
future. Let the errCrs of the
past be forgiven and forgotten. Let the
causes of disturbance be banished out Of
sight, and with an eye single to the coo.i
Of the cause which we profess to have at
heart. let US bury strife, and discord and
bitterness.
We earnestly appeal to cur cotempora-
ries throughout the State to join us i'm the
effort to pnt an end to this mischievous
discussion, SO full Of peril to the party and
SO we'll calcul 4ted to keep alive the flames
of passion ard dissention engendered by a
heated personal contest.
Let us devote our time and enc; gies to
more important duties. Let us al Irass
ourselves to the work Of building up our
impoverished State-of developing her re
sources, of diminishing her burdens, of
revi0ng her prosperity, of restoring her
character. Of promoting all her material
interests, and of advancing her in the scale
of influence and power.