Year: 1860

In the continued Strlte ana bitter warfare which has heretofore existed between the True and Old Line Democrat, we have con sidered 1t a mere personal and interested contest which in no wise affected the pr1n- ciples of our party, and we have held aloof from all inter terence.- Now the thing has changed, and open djsorganizmion is so plainly advocated by the old Line Demo- crat, that we think it our duty to take issue

 In the last number that journal comes awk- wardly up to 6eg of Col. R. H. Johnson to reSign the position which the democratic party of the State have assigned him, guld- ed and directed by band of disorganzers who wish to uproot the grand saving pre- cedent and rule of the party, and scatter its well known strength for selfish ends.- They desire to destroy the convention sys- tenn entirely, and if their action is not fully entitled to the epithet of Reorganization, then we cannot discern the difference. The Old Line Democrat shows, in it's elaborate attempt to justify notification of the State convention and the assembling of the dis appointed and disaffccted, gives utterance to the following unmistable desire for dis

 OlSdulLdIIOI. LII OIlltl NO4hN, NC piNICA to have a temporary diSorganization rather than submit to a continued corrupt and un- sound organization; for like storms that disturb the elements above, these family jars always leave the political atmosphere in a purer and healthier condition" This is very much like the reasoning adopted by the man who determined to break his neck that he might have it so mended that it would never break again. Another absur

 ditv, ingeniously shrouded with an appeal to Mr. Johnson's magnanimlty, IS so bare facedly absurd that the editor himself can not conceal it. That is the call upon Mir J Johnson to resign, because if he Is really the strongest man he can be elected any how. Come down and let all the jockey ponies have chance. In the first place Mr. Johnson has accepted the nomination from the democratic party1n convention and has no right to decline at the sugges- tion of any disorganizing malcontents, and if these iactious elements suppose there IS one of their number who is more the choice of the people, and if as they contend, the nomination of Johnson was brought about by unfair means, it will be easy to convince the people and much easier to defeat the nominee than if he should resign. Thus mere sophism like this exposes itsel f, and a weak subtertuge, reSorted to for the pur- pose of selfishness and demagoguism, bears upon it's face its own absurdity. If the Old Line Democrat was iusti6able, with its views, and the facts which it teigns to be- lieve exist, in hoisting the name of John son, what necessity" can now exist more than then for a revolution The editor un- equivocally admits that such a thing is con trary to the strict usages and rules of the party and somewhat in the nature of a re- volutionary movement" and yet unequi- vocally claims the right to revolutionize and advocates it now. What inconsistency! and how poorly concealed! Such views and arguments are so much at variance with all democratic rules, usages and principles, and savOr so strongly of direct dlsOrganl- zation, that we cannot conceive how they are honestly entertained by any good de- mocrat. Should another State convention assemble and act, we would ask of whom it would be composed? Why certainly by none who respect the convention system, or who participated and submitted the nomination to our late State conventlon.- None such would condescend to recognize it or attend, but 1t would be composed of malcontents, who would, as matter of course, vociferously announce 1t as the only fair and just convention. It would be truly a one-sided affair without the voice of single good and true democrat. It would be a mass of disappointed office seekers, with their followers and buglers. Nogood democrat, with reflection and prudent fore thought, could be induced to favor any such movement If such precedent be inaugu- rated, where would it end? How many conventions would be called and held?- Every man in the State who desired office would rally his own little batch of adhe- rents and call State conyentaon who of course would nominate their pet, hence we would have more candidates righyully no- minated by revolutionary conventions" than there are counties in the State. IhusS it Is clearly seen that this IS the very worst species of Reorganization, not on y for the present, but as instituting a precedent sub- yersive of that unity which has been pre- served by the system of conventions, and which has been the most efficient weapon with which we have been enabled to over- come all opposition.

 The old Line Democrat also proclams it the right and Quty of the two congress sional conventions to pass judgment on the action of the State convention, and even to e declare Mir. Johnson's nomination null and void" We would ask in the name of common sense, where do delegates to congressional convention obtain the right to pass judgment upon the State conven- ton? Did not the counties which will be represented in the congressional conven- tions. instruct delegates likewise to the State convention? Have they not carried out their instructions, and are not all the counties that held voice and submitted their claims to that convention bound by it's action? Then how can district delegates, ay;thom instructions, render null and void the action of instructed delegates from the very same people. This is thelowest kind of demagogueism, with irrational injustice and reckless disregard of right as its only

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