The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-14
POLITICAL GERDEMdI
How tho Cards were sbunied in North Caro-
lima In 1872 and Again In 1S1t,


lima In 1872 and Again In 1S7t,
RALEIGH, N. G., May 0-The country at
large was very much surprised IN August, 1872,
when the present Democratic member OF the
United States Senate, Augustus 8. Merri-
mon, was defeated for Governor Of North Car
ollna by the present Re publican incumbent. cd.
X. Caldwell, who was then In office. There are
those who said then, and say now, that the Con-
servative or Democratic party was sold on that
occasion, and by some OF Its most trusted
friends. 1t seemed strange that Merrimon
should be defeated, when two years previous
the State went Democratic by 1000 majority
overcoming the Radical majority Of 10000 given
to Holden in 1868. Then in a contest for Super
intendent OF Public Instruction In 1874, Mr.. Z.
d. Pool, Democrat. was elected over Purnell,
Republican. receiving majority of l3,G22.
Those who have made politics study had to
confess that Mr.. Merrimon was either very
weak candidate, or that he allowed his party to
be defeated that he might gain seat in the
Senate. 1t is charged that there was bar
gain between some OF Merrimon's friends
and the Republicans to this effect, that the Re-
publicans were TO have the Governor and the
Democrats the Legislature, the result OF which
would be that the Legislature could elect Mr..
Merrmon to the Senate. The position OF Gov
ernor OF this State Is by no means an enyia-
BILE one for an honest man TO hold, and IT
may be that Merrimuns friends, VI he did not,
willingly acceded to this PROPOSE ion. Inc Old
k4ilroad Rang, with its agents and emissaries
scattered over all the State, not small minority
OF whom were Democrats, felt that for certain
reasons Republican would be more accop table
to them. so they chose to see Caldwell elected.
Gov. Caldwell had consented to make many APP
pOintments that suited the Ring. and they were
| opposed to a sudden change so the Rings
agents went silently to work instructiDg the
employees OF the different corporations and
Others whom they could control TO vote for
| lfala AnF nj gnh
silent (and In some cases active) support OF tho
Republicans In securing an election to the
Senate.
he result was that heavy vote was
poled, Of which Merrimon received eO,i3l
aud Caldwell 9,eO-a majority for the Re
later, In August 1874, Pool (Dem) received
for surerintendent Of Public Instruction
gS2l1 votes. and Purnell. most uDohjectona-
| Die Republican Candidate, 1885, m king Pools
majority B6!2. Every one was astounded IN
| 49, Il Merrimon's defeat. except the Republic
| cans, who understood 1t all. Thst there was
bargain and sale OF the party, however, there
Senator Merrimon was a party directly commit
| ted to the arrangement, but hrs frienus assured
| Swepson, whose biography II familiar to the
readers of The sun, engineered the movement,
ana there Is reason TO believe that bis influence
| and money were iet In the Legislature that
sent Mr.. Merrmon to Washington. There was
| no honest excuse for the defeat Of the Democ-
J racy III leI2 IL will appear strange that Legls-
| lature, more than twu-thirds OF whom were
Democrats, should have been elected, aud tue
| Ex-Gov. Vance was from tue same secti n OF
the state as Merrilnon. and his friends were de-
| termined to send him to the senate. The con-
| test between the two was close and exciting,
| |. sting several davs but the bargain entered
into between Merrimon's friends and the he
| publcaus was carried out to the letter.
There IL more or less wrangling among the
| Democracy as TO who will tie the next clndi-
date for Governor Vance, II Is conceded hy
many, for reasons stated in mn SUN month or
30 ago. will not do for candidate. 1t viii be
Interesting to see who Mil oOtiin control Of the
| convention next month. Mr. Senator Ransom
wishe- To remain IN his present ohce' ana urges
| The nomination of Vance for Governor by way
of cOnpr, mise, but Vance THINKS he has been
| badly treated, and u ANXIOUS to 20 20 washing
| ton and IL ne can he Will whether Ransom
| likes T. or not. The election for Senator occurs
| next November. In che mean time tue kerub-
Leans are planning and plotting TO outwit the
| Democracy. Ihey have not the money they
| had to disburse in previous elections. but some
unwise Democrats nave reused the negroes 10y
boastiug that the next Legislature, II Demo
cratic, Will establish the whipping post Ia Del
| aware, ana so the negroes Will all GO solid for
| the Republicans. North Carolina some years ago
III .intained the whipping post III puhlic and In
| private. Inc state had one erected IN every
| jMi rd, and during slavery times the masters
| OF slaves nhd tneir own prlNate esttoiisnIuenls
| IN the back yards. he offending whites suffer
| ed 1t the public posts, ana tine negroes a. the
| private ones. Now IL Is proposed 10 establish.
| as matter of puolic economy necessity, IL Is
urged by some-the whipping post for the Dene-
| Ut OF the poor taxpayers and some l,UO negroes
| In the Raleigh penitentiary. Ine advocacy Of
such legislation as this viii cost the Democracy
| many "A vote IN the state.
should Vance be nominated for Governor the
State NAV be carried by the Republicans. The
latter are extremely confident of victory. Every
Repubhcan OH lat II assessed for election cx
penses, and II sharp contest and "A litter one
from j une ~ to November may b. expected.
The delegates 20 fir chosen to Cincinnati from
the Congressional districts OF this state are di
yded some support brstow, some Blaine, some
| Hates. such men as Holden aud his clan favor
| Blaine, and HAYES II spoken Of only as a com
| PROMISE canuldate-a min 10 be called upon IN
are dVlded between Morton nd Blaine, but the
| negroes have no say In North Carolina Kepupli-
| can conventions nOw-they are Oniy good or ac-
ceptdOle rs voters, and lerYIle vOt' Is for Radi-
| Gals ana tadicAlism they are likely to remain.
| They are unit for the party that gave them
suffrage. by many Of them old Abe Lincoln and
| Grant have neen roNered as gods, anG their re-
| hgion, IN and out Of church, has been Repub-
canism-the Rcpublicauism the Democracy are
| hghtlng to-day.