Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1881-04-28
Col. J. M. McCorkle.
Raleigh Nsws-Observer..

tsaiS1Sn NeWe-Observer.
In the New York Tribune we
find ain alleged interview with Col.
J. M. McCorkle, OF Salisbury. We
prlnt it in order that MI. McCorkle
may, if Its misrepresents his views,
make his CORRECTION, and if it does
not misrepreseut him that the peo-
pie may understand, what opinion
this gentlemen entertains in regard
to North Carolina affairs, We
have net. heretofore regarded Mr..
McCorkle as one of those extreme
men who are incapable of taking a
correct view of public matters, and
are very much surprised at some
Of tile statements contained in the
interview. For instance, he says
"that the tissue ballot. system has
been introduced into cur elections
in the dense negro counties, and
that at signal the lights in the
room where the ballots are being
counted are put out and a fraudu-
lent ballot box substituted for the
true one, and that fraudulent votes
are thus counted" -. =,
These are grave allegations. We
challenge Mr.. McCorkle to state
a time and place and Witnesses
If he cannot do that we invite him
to state where he suspects that any
such foul play has been pract;ced
in North Carolina. We invite him TO
make. his statement in the columns
of this, paper or to correct his alleg-
ed interview,ih. the columns of the
Tribune. We are not aware of any
case at auy time when tissue ballots
were ever used in North Carolina
Is Mr. McCorklef I We invite his
reply. We are, not aware, of any
case 8tere tlEe Democrats. have
ever played hide a,ld sesk with "a
ballot box in North Carolina, such
as he describes. Is Mr.. McCorkle
We invite his reply. We know
that there have been trivial irregu-
larlties at all elections, but we also
know that generally our North
Carolina elections are fairly con-
Quoted, and we do Iet believe that
any cases such AS Mr. McCorkle is
alleged to have described have ever
occurred since the year 1868. Wha,
the Radicals did in ls67-'6S we dc
not mention. Mr. :McCorkle how
ever, says that this Ctate of things
is chronic" We fear he was dream
ing. Again, says Mr.. McCork!e
in reference to the appointment o.
magistrates by the Legislature. Il
is done. for the purpose of giving
the seeessionists ali advantage il
litigation over the negroes. Slroulc
a quarrel arise between a Union
man secession, the advantage j:
with the latter, who, perhaps in
duced the Legislature. to- aEpo;n
the Justice" We can hardly. be-
lieva that Mr.: McCorkIe could have
uttered such statements. Is it true
that t. Ll.e reason for appointing mag
istrates. by the Legislature is t.
give secsssionists an advantage owe
Unionlsts and negroes Who, be
fore this remarkable interview, eve
heard Of snch Il suggestion Z Ii
the first place while it is easy t.
find the negroes, and while W
know that generally every whit
man in the State is a Union man
who can find . single secessionis
within lie limits of North Carylins
There are no secessionists that MI
. McCorkle can point out i'll til:
State. Buff he means to desig
nate Democrats" when he use
the word secessionists," he ar
swers himself, tor the people of tn
North, as we'll AS OF North Carroll
, ina, who. would laugh him to scor
, shsuld lie declare such to be hi
meaning, And so also when h
! asserts that the appointment {
magistrates by the Assembly is
give. one class ar advantage i'll lit
, CATION over aJcther, he takes a pc
: : sit;on WHICH Justly entities. him
! the feather nedai. as the laughin
+ stock of North Carolina.