630 



NORTH CAROLINA. 



1874. The numerical increase in cattle is only 

 14,039, and the money loss in value $151,406. 

 There are 88,391 more hogs in the State than 

 there were in 1874, and the increased valuation 

 amounts to $182,143. There are 88,335 more 

 head of sheep than four years ago. The value 

 of farming utensils has nearly doubled, show- 

 ing a net gain ot $5,688,680. Money on hand 

 and on deposit has decreased by a half. Sol- 

 vent credits have been growing steadily, and 

 now exhibit an increase of a fourth, while other 

 personal property shows a falling off in value 

 of about one tithe. The stock of the State in 

 incorporated companies has increased from 

 $590,521 worth to $698,258, and her railroad 

 franchises, that were worth only $564,981 in 

 1874, amounted to $889,591 in 1877. The value 

 of land in the State as reported by the State 

 Auditor is $74,744,905 ; of town property, $17,- 

 413,340; of horses, mules, horned cattle, etc., 

 $16,833,509; of farming utensils, money on 

 hand or on deposit, solvent credits, etc., $37,- 

 378,739. The total valuation of real and per- 

 sonal property was therefore $146,370,403. 



An application for the restoration or copies 

 of important papers taken from the archives of 

 the State by General Sherman brought out a 

 reply from Mr. McCreary, Secretary of War, 

 that he was disposed to comply with this re- 

 quest as far as he might consistently with the in- 

 terests of the United States, though he thought 

 it probable that upon examination it might be 

 found that some of these records were of such 

 a character as to be of great importance to the 

 United States as evidence in resisting claims 

 upon the Treasury. He therefore reserved the 

 right to use his discretion in determining wheth- 

 er any, and if any, what records should be ex- 

 cepted from transcribing, on the " ground that 

 they should not be made public." 



The municipal elections in the State were 

 held on May 6th. In nearly every town the 

 contest was between Democrats regularly nom- 

 inated and independent Democrats who were 

 supported by Republicans. 



The State election this year was for the 

 choice of a Chief Justice and Associate Judges, 

 and members of the State Legislature, and was 

 held on August 1st. 



The Democratic Convention was held at 

 Raleigh on June 13th. A large number of 

 delegates were present, and H. B. Short was 

 elected permanent chairman. W. N. H. Smith 

 was nominated for Chief Justice, and Thomas 

 8. Ashe and John H. Dillard were nominated 

 for Associate Judges. 



On July 10th the Republican State Commit- 

 tee held a meeting at Raleigh, and adopted a 

 resolution declaring that "it is inexpedient" 

 to nominate a State ticket to be voted for at 

 the next election. The only State officers to 

 be chosen were Judges of the Supreme Court, 

 but it was admitted that, as the Republicans 

 i no hope of electing them, it would be a 

 WMte of time and money to make a contest 

 Ihe canvass would cost $2,500, and there 



was not a dollar in the Committee's treasury. 

 Besides, there existed apathy and indifference 

 among the Republicans, caused by the policy 

 of the national Administration toward South- 

 ern Republicans, particularly the appointment 

 of Democrats to office ; and under these hope- 

 less circumstances it was best to disband the 

 party. The party thus disorganized cast 108,- 

 000 votes at the .late Presidential election, the 

 majority against it being only 17,000. 



The result of the election was the choice of 

 the Democratic candidates for Judges without 

 opposition. For Chief Justice, "William N. H. 

 Smith received 128,360 votes; for Associate 

 Justices, Thomas S. Ashe received 128,040 

 votes, and John Dillard 127,745 votes. 



Chief Justice Smith is a native of Murfrees- 

 boro, N. 0., whither his father went from Con- 

 necticut, and is a gentleman of high culture, 

 much ability and learning as a jurist, and of 

 exceptional purity of private character. He 

 represented the First District in the last Fed- 

 eral Congress before the war, and came so 

 near being Speaker that he actually received a 

 majority, but was defeated by the withdrawal 

 of a vote. He was a member of the Confed- 

 erate Congress. On the judicial ticket with 

 him at the election were the Hon. Thomas S. 

 Ashe, a former member of Congress, and J. H. 

 Dillard, an astute and successful lawyer, who 

 were likewise elected practically without op- 

 position. 



The State Legislature was divided as follows : 



As the time for the election of members of 

 Congress approached, the following instruc- 

 tions were given by United States Attorney- 

 General Devens to the Federal District Attor- 

 ney in the State : 



WASHINGTON, October 5, 1878. 



_ In case of interference by Democrats with Kepub- 

 lican meetings, called for the purpose of taking 

 initiatory steps toward the election of members of 

 Congress, 1 call your attention to chapter vii., and 

 especially section 5,520, Kevised Statutes. You will 

 be expected to give your personal attention to all 

 cases arising under the above section. Meetings 

 called for the purpose of advocating and supporting 

 the ^lection of candidates for Congress should be 

 undisturbed, and each party must have freedom to 

 support the candidates of its choice. You will show 

 this letter to the marshal of the district, who, it is 

 to be hoped, will render you all assistance by ap- 

 pointing discreet and proper deputies to execute the 

 provisions of the statute. 



CHAELES DEVENS, 



Attorney-General. 



Section 5,520, chapter vii., United States Re- 

 vised Statutes, reads as follows : . 



SEC. 5,520. If two or more persons in any State 

 or Territory conspire to prevent by force, intimida- 

 tion, or threat, any citizen who is lawfully entitled 

 to vote, from giving his support or advocacy in a le- 

 gal manner toward or in favor of the election of any 



