Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1876-04-07
SENATOR RaNsoM-THE TRUTH

tlngulShed, 1rreproachaDle oenat"T
from North Carolina. 1t needed no
vindication. In his own State where
he is known, ana where his splendid
abilities and spotless integrity have at
tracted to him the love and admira-
ton of the entire people, such work
of attempted vindication would have
been useless, childish. But 1t may be
of some interest to our readers to see
in what light the newspaper press OF
other States, without distinction OF
party, view this malignant attack on
one of the most eminent members OF
the United States Senate-one of the
purest men living. The Washington
City Chronicle, Republican paper of
ssthe most strictest Sect" published
by that great light of Republican, M,
John W. Forney. thus treats the con-
temptible charge against General
Ransom:
ssBe thou as chsste as ice, and pure as snow,
TEou shalt lot 'scspa c4lumny"
"Ihe great Bard of Avon never
wlote more truthful lines than these;
anG while we feel anxious that "no
gu l:y man shall escape" we also feel
thai every pure hearted and honorable
Ian will frown down any undeserved
attack upon the charactes of the good
and innocent. In the State of which
Gen. Ransom is a native, and which he
SO nObly represents, we are assured
that there is not "a man, woman or
child who gives any credence for
moment to 80 uni ust a charge. In
this city we have not seen any one of
any party who does not deprecate such
vile SANDER. Not a single paper in the
city has noticed it, fond as some OF
them are of anything to produce a SEN
sation. Nor would we do SO except to
express our contempt for such con-
duct and our admiration for the high
minded, chivalric bearing of Senator
Ransom wins all who approach
him by the suavity of his man
ners and genial kindness of his
nature. From the native modesty
of his character he has mott been obtru
sive in the Senate; but we had the
pleasure of hearing him address the
Senate (Feb. II, 1859 on the South
faithful to her Duties and we were
sensibly reminded of the days of Clay,
Calhoun and Webster. We then said,
and now believe, that no such speech
had been made within the last decade,
and recently Mr.. Morrill,, political
opponent, declared in the Senate that
it was speech unequalled in eio-
quence, unparalleled III patriotism.
No Senator is more respected or more
popular; but there are some insects SO
depraved in temper that they extract
venom from the fairest flowers of Ma
ture."
In connection with the above extract
from the Chronicle, we make the fol-
lowing also from the New York World:
The latest folly is charge against
Senator Ransom, of Mort Carolina,
that he paid Ex-Governor Vauce 81, 500
to resign his position as Senator e:ec,
in order that he (Ransom) might be
elected in his place. When Vance was
elected by the Legislature # North
Carolina to the United States Senate,
to succeed Abbott, and Oh March 4,
1871 applied for admission, he had
not been relieved of bis political disa-
bilities, aud q bill to relieve him was
defeated by the Radical majority III
order to keep him out OF his seat.
When their detcrnl nation to exc uG,s
him Was thus made known, Mr.. Vance
resigned in order to allow Isis State TO
b. represented IN the Senate, ana III
January, 1872, Gen. Ransom Was ele ct
Cd by the Legislature of his State. and
after q close contest, in winch his
present colleague. Judge Merrimon,
AID Mr.. Warren were his en-
petitors (having been relieved of
his polite Il disabilities some two years
before presented himself for adnlis-
sion, and a ter dishonest delay of three
months was adm TIED TO his seat on
April "a, 1872. o. the day following
Mr.. Bayard, of Delaware, introduced
a resolution that Mr.. Ransom should
receive pay from March I, 1871, which
was ref rred to the Committee on Priv
iitgcs and lei. ctions. Not unit! June
1, 1872, did the committee report, and
by report signed 10y Morton. Thur.
man, Anthony, Hill, Carpenter, Logan
and Rsce approved the resolution. 1t
was well known to many members Of
the Senate that MIR. Ransom. be-
hCvlng Nj. V.tuce to have been Justly
entitled to his seat, and that h.. had
been kept at great expense lii Wash
lngtOn urging iIis claims to it i'll vain,
intended, and procia'med his intrn-
ton, IN c,.et the resolution should be
,:gleed to, TO hand over to MIR Vance
the tut amount of nay accrued up to
the date OF his (Vanoe'S resignation.
This he generously aid voluntarily
nd, or rather att mpted to do, for
when the full sum (about 81, 0OOy was
rendered Narc,, he refused to receive it,
and subs, qlent!y consented to take one
half the amount. Thus AL act ofgener-
oslty and justice, which is quite be-
You'd the conception of the orlginators
Of this false and malicious charge
against two hono able gentlemen, is
sought to be perverted for heir iniuiy
When the true facts, however, are
thus made known, nothing but what is
highly creditable to the good feeling
and generosity of Mr.. Ransom will be
perceived III the affair. Neither Ran
som nor Vance knew, or could have
known, that the pay from March 4.
1871, to January 1872, would ever be
allowed by the Senate to Ransom.
The resolution was introduced by Mr..
Bayard without Mr.. Ransom's knowl-
edge or privity, and when informed of
Its object he al once stated: eff I get
that money L shall give it to Vance. "
To all who know his nature the remark
will seem characteristic of the man.
and the real transaction is in strange
contrast with the poor, mean spirit
which could seek to erect an injuriou5
caiumny upon basis So really not lie
and worthy"
GEN. JOSEPH f. JOBfHSTOS.
In the Senate on the 18th ult..