Year: 1860

Mr.. Rodman the democratic Elector for this
district has written long letter defining MS po-
stio1. on the Presidential contest, which appeared
in the Newbern Enquirer of this week. we ad-
mire Mr.. Rodman-we were IN the ConVentloh
that made him Eiector and rejoiced at It, ana we
are GLAD to see, while we by no means agree with
hinr in his zeal for the Seceder or 5recklnrldge
ticket, that he does not denounce Douglas ana
Bell as the small fry members ofthe i5reckinrldge
marty have done. He says that the Bell par
ty is a respectable party, and he has no denuncl-
ations for Douglas How different from the ex-
pressions of the hangers on to the skirts OF sue
cessful men-how different to those who assall
all who say good word for Douglas or Bell
Mr. Rodman even gives US to understand that II
it be found that the vote of North Carolina If CIV
en- to Breckinridge would be thrown away, he
,yonld vote for Douglas or Bell if such vote would
defeat Lincoln. How different is this from the
tone of the savsh party press and the cross roads
stumpers. We don't agree with the gentleman
about the dangers which he supposes the insti-
tuition of slavery to be in, or the necessity for
demand by united South for rights which we
already enjoy, but give him credit for sincefi-
ty and honesty.


In his letter he says:


The Convention which nominated me Deme-
cratic EIector did not anticipate that there would
be two candidates for the Presidency claiming to
be democratic.


That circumstance impose on me the duty of
.makino nublicly known what my course will be
in case of my election. l have delayed doing so
in the expectation that State Convention might
assemble snd declare authOritatlVely the position
of the party; that seems now improbable
shall vote for Breckenridge and Lane as Presl-
dent and Vice President. In my opinion North
Carolina owes to them firm and united support.


Z hall hot thn
vote of North Carolina if given to them, will be
thrown away; and if given to Douglas or Bell,
would defeat Lincoln, reserve TO myself the
ght of voting, in my opinion will best accom-
plish that object. If supposed that the course
which propose to myself. would not meet the
general approval of the Democrats of the Dis
trict | would retire from the position they nave
assigned ME. But have no reason to so suppose


Now contrast this with the tone of those demo-
cratic Journals in North Car lima " hich have be-
come, recently, pompously great They have
nothing but abuse for Bell and Everett nor can
they stigmatise Douglas, the regular nominee of
the party and his friends anything but disor
.ranizers and traitors.


But we would ask of Mr.. Rodman and the 9th
@r State Electors and of every Intelligent support
er of Breckenridge in the South-there none
worth mentioning in the North-is there one
among you who believes that there is the shadow
of chance for the ticket, either before the peo
pie or in tho House of Representatives This is
a plain question and might be plainly answered.
Speaker Orr, of S. c., has answered it-other
friends of the ticket have been honest enough to
do So breckenridge cannot carry more than two
or three small Northern States at best-not certain
that he will carry a single one-and we are salts
fled that he cannot possibly carry more than ten
out of the fifteen Southern States. Now do they
expect to elect him? Well, if he is not elected
what mean the party to do? Do they mean to
try to dissolve the Union "a majority of the
leaders say that will be the next move-and if so
why not all come out and make hat the open is
sue of the canvass--Breckinridge and Lane or
Disunion. That is what many of the Leaders
mean But we do not believe that Mr. Rodman
us one of that number.