Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1876-05-19

ing letter. The letter speaks for itself,
and touchinga it does upon matters
of the greatest Importance to all who
have the good of the country at heart,
will be read with great interest. Il is
from the pen of a gentleman whose
views are entitled to both considera-
tion and respect: -----.----,z--
RALEIGH. May Is, 1876.
DEAR Observation-Disclosures is now In |
her glory: her majestic oaks, which |
are her chiefest ornament have arraTea |
themselves in the verdant garb of |
spring and call forth constant COM
ments of admiration and pleasure.
There is no finer park than the unpre |
tentious grounds of our stately capitol, |
adorned as they are with the grand old |
trees that are so in harmony with the |
imposing edifce they surround. Here
indeed is fitting abode for the gen.
Jus of a free people; and one cannot
but associate those gnarled and mas
siye oaks that have come to US from
distant generations With the rugged
and harder spirits OF earlier days who
rescued North Carolina from kingly
oppression and foreign tyranny aud
secured for her people the blessings
of popular liberty. When one stands
within the suggestive precincts of that
peoples square and where the en-
blems Of their sovereignty and freedom
are preserved, he cannot refrain from
recalling the old popular leaders of the
State who have been Governors of
North Carolina and who always proved
themselves true to popular rights.
But alas here also Holden, Cald-
we'll and Brogden have held their
councils and devised ways and means
to deprive the people of their rights.
| Here in the Executive Office of the
people of North Carolina have been
assembled those intent on defaming
our people, and here have plans been
natured to subvert their constitution
to suspend the sacred writ of ha6eas
corpus and to arm and equip Kirk
ruffians to imprison and outrage our
citizens. Here in this mansion of the
free people of Carolina have secret
conclaves met and sent forth to the
world vile ISLANDERS upon our citizens
-defaming their character, misrepre-
senting their actions and seeking to
debase and degrade them, their wives
and their children.
When shall the filthy Augean stables
of the Capitol be cleansed, and good
and pure men, popular leaders, d.
voted to the peoples rights, be once
more Installed in the public offices of
our beautiful State House? Shall it
be at the next election? Are the
people OF North Carolina destined to
linger another four years beneath the
feet of those who despise US, vino
defame us and wish to degrade us?
The answer to this question in a great
measure depends upon the action of
the approaching convention of the
Conservatives of North Carolina.
Should that convention not rise to the
height of their duty, but make unfortu
nate nominations. then indeed IU lCW
be lost! The strongest popular leaders
should be upon the ticket. Success is
what we want-suCc6sS at the polls we
must have. To hazard aught, is t.
jeopardize all. This is no time to be
stow favors or to crafty personal
preferences. The reform which the
adoption of the Constitutional Amend
ments will bring, many county offices,
the entire State ticket, and the patron
age of the Federal government are all
at stake. In a measure, all these de-
pend on the action of our State Con
vention. Next year who shall fill the
Offices of postmaster, collector, &C.. at
Wilmington ? Who shall be the clerks
and employees in these offices ? And
at Newborn, Raleigh the
State 1t is for the Convention to
answer. This is matter of the gravest
consequence. If the Convention will
take counsel of its judgment, it will
ignore all prejudices and predictions
and select the strongest men in the
State as its nominees. In 1872 we
polied for Merrimon over SO, 700 votes,
and radicals had over SO, 800. Ia 1874
our Democratic Congressman received
los, 900 votes and the Radical Con
gressmen about So. 900, but the next
year the Radicals carried the State by
about 5000 on a smaller vote. The
Radicals have never received and cans
not poll lOC 900 votes Our absolute
strength is about 81, 200. but there are
soma 10, 900 who voted with US in 1874
against negro equality, and who may
| vote with us ag,.iu. If we put up 4
ticket that aOiU not drive of these
DaUerers, then our success is assured.
| Here Vance, Cox, d. s. Reid and
Fowle are chiefly thought of; else
| where McGehee, Amis, Turner, Gilmer,
Leach and Gather and others are
also mentioned,
For Treasurer, who has to give a
bond of $3.50, 900, DR.. Worth aud Hon.
J. G. Harper are men toned.
For Secretary of State, have heard
J. il. Engelhard spoken of, it being
conceded that he has every qualifica-
ton, and all recognizing that the party
is largely in his debt for great serl ices
rendered in the sanctum and on the
hustings.
It is also thought that the Conven-
ton may tender to Hon. Josiah Tur
ner the position of Auditor. Such
are the rumors about the capitol. All
here concede the supreme Importance
of selecting strong men, but there is
wide diversity of opinion as to who
is the strongest man to be placed at
the head of the ticket.
letter has been received here from
| Hon. Montgomery Blair pressing the
nomination of Tilden for the Presi-
! dency. The ground he takes is that
"Tiiden and reform" would sweep
the North. That may be but there
Is no eUidence Of it ertant Reform
as a watch word has not been successful.
The simon lure Democrats elected Til
den Governor of New York He urged re-
form and thepeop.a put the Legislature
in the hands of his political opponents.
The elections that have taken place in
New England since the Belknap ex.
posures were in nowise affected by
| those astounding disclosures. Re-
FORM failed as watchword there. If
Tilden can carry New York, then
any hard money Democrat can also
carry it. Bayard or Thurman would
poll more votes in New York than
Tilden. Tilden, after the unfortunate
action of the New York Democracy,
when Bill Allen was last on the stump,
cannot hope for many Democratic
votes in Ohio. It is not human nature
for the Ohio Democrats to forgive so
| easily the action of the New York
Democrats in that bitter campaign.
calm survey OF the field, believe,
will lead an unprecedented mind TO thu
conclusion that Western hard money
map will carry the Eastern hard