The Hillsborough recorder., 1878-12-04
THE SENATORIAL CONTROVERSY

The Raleigh Nems has been at the pains
to collate the opinions. Of such papers as
have com aenied upon Mr.. Merrimon's re.
ply to the Raleigh Committee. the gist ofthe
query propounded being whether ''hs would
submit to ths decision~of the Democratic
Caucus!, webave been guilty, PERHAPS.
Of cu.pable Indifference to a subject grave
enough 10 i4ss' enlisted the raxiesies Of 20
respectable portion Of the press. but have
found au extenuaiion iu'the conviction that
neither was ne Senatorial succession the
question for the Legislature. nor Was the
fate of the Democratic party involved in
the success or defeat Of either one or other
of the gen,lemen hoS most prominently
named in conoeetiiotn with that succession.
The REcoRpER' long ago very decidedly
expressed its preferences and FROM them il
has never ~i,hdrawp. But the RECORDER
at the same time empbatically dissea'ei'
from the proposition that the destinieso the
Democratic party we're 50 hiextfieably 'u'
volyed in the fortunes Of either Of those
gentlemen as to wax or waDe rs they fou-
rished or faded. Nor would the Recorder
admit the suppOsi,isp that either Of them
we're so warped by ) selfish spbitiOu. or 50
veaal in betr.yiasihe imgedia,s otjec, Of
its pursuit. as TO fsIier IN adhesion TO prin-
erples. the maintss.nee Of which with all
the force Of talent and labor has given them
their euviable proninepce IN the estimation
Of their party friends. or that either. under
the force os DISAPPOINTMENT, Would counsel
or encourage disaHection among their own
immediate followers, or 9countenapee any
course which wdald bring DISASTER to'the
cause in which all the hopes Of Southern
peace apd national iarnsny are embarked.
We we're therefore content. after sufi-
eisnt, emphatic expression Of preference 70
fOregO any farther aghatiOn Of the cOntrO.
rersy. leaving Ii to be settled iu its legiti
mate tribunal, convinced that the less there
was ..Of preliminary excitement. angry
elements would sooner subside INTO calm
ness: And at the risk Of construction o.
spaihet:e indifference 10 what has 50 enlisted
the seslof eur contemporaries. welfare main
tained silence for some months. only brOkeI
nos because oftoe renewed ardor Ofa fre<h
iyawakened enthusiasm for one or he 9th
er Of the competing asPirants for Senu.Oria
bonors.
e, We conceive that every good DemOcra
in North Csrolins-sod smcng them "
unhesi,siingiy plsee both ZsbulOn y
Vance, and A. 8. Msrimon-regaras Z
the paramount, object Of hi. political oil
the preservation and the growing ?Ower I
the Democratic party. seeing that upon ii
fate Of that parry hangs the happiness
the South and the resee and prosperity
the UniOn. Every effort mads by th'
party ha, been to. srrst from the RcPubI
can party AID put into practical use shal
ever bad survived Of Constitutional forn
and reverence for civil Law. Every eHo
Of the Rspublie.n party has been to eta
thOse cOnsiitutionsl frns aud displ,ee Il
civil Iss BY the military arm or the exc
else of spioersiie sill. ABd. beatendow
sad for while turned back in lie purpOs
yet tenacious 10 Its hold. and eUnteudi
with stubborn de,peraiiOn. i .rslIies o.
the return of partial success. aud pushes
it, hatelul eOlumns anabAted in = sing
pteteasi0n. unmOdissj in single prine'p
Fur the South now 10 halt. to besitsi
70 divide, u death. IL is 10 invite q
quest and solicit Sutibgaii0h. the more !
initiating because il is confession Of distrt
10 iis ssn principle; and the more d.s
troaz, because it welcomes back to pose
party oues driven Os,. snd coming b
With slisihe biiierDess of IssIgnabt feS
ses end slI The ppsei,y Ofa Obes thwsr
.yarice. 49,
Party discipline !. the weapon upon wh
10 fely 10 erect the vail u defence agsi
such calamity. We believe tha. both q
Vance and Judge Msrrimou are N nj
alive 10 the need NJ such wsll Of defeuc
the most soIiciious party man can desI
We think therefore that the question .
no, excite tis soliei,ade that has sEsrci
soms Of our contemporaries. and that
question whether senator Merrimob, or
ons else. will abide bJ the decision I
easeas msy bs safrly left With ths DE
cratic party. sO.seious Of IL ro~sr s"'
h. obligation 10 ebFOrcs all Seces.ary r
u discipline. aud to carry out its de'sI
nslioos uuawsd by the turbulent discOp
q an, rstclliOus tccalcitfaut.