Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1849-03-09

The Minutes of Council held at this place
the other day, will make the impotence OF 20
vernment here as apparent to your Lordsnp
as anything can set before you. Inc boarq
have been afraid 10 take becoming part
firmly believe, from apprehensions OF person
al injury and insult, and accordingiy nave Ia
ken as little notice as possible OF the matters
submitted 10 their consideration. The sltua-
ton in which find myself at present, is In
deed, my Lord, most spicable and mortliylng
to any man of greater feelings than a Stole:
daily see Indignantly the Sacred Majesty OF
my Royal Master insulted, the Rights OF the
Crown denied and violated, his Government
set at nought and trampled upon. his servants
of highest dignity reviled, traiuced, abused,
the rights of his subjects destroyed by the most
arbitrary usurpations, and the whole Const'-
tuition unhinged and PROSTATE; d live, alas,
ingIoriously only 10 depioTe It,
The Resolves of the Committee of Neck
lenburg, which your Lordship will find in the
enclosed newspaper, surpass all the horrid
and reasonable publications that the INF fam
matory spirits of this Continent have yet pro-
duced; and your Lordship may depend its
authors and abettors will not escape. when
ever my hands are sufficiently strengthened
TO attempt the recovery of the lost authority
Government. A copy of these Resolves,
am informed. were sent off by express, to the
Congress Philadelphia, as soon as they were
passed in the Committee.
At Wilmington, the principal trading town
in this Province, and where there are many
British Merchants settled particularly Scoth,
| there is noble honest and dormant spirit nur-
tured among them, that has as yet given them
weight and consequence, and preserved them
| from injury; of which | shall be able, make
no doubt, greatly to avail myself on a proper
occasion
A Mr. John Ashe, heretofore Colonel of the
Militia of the county Of New Hanover, but
who had lately formally declined that appoint
ment by letter to me, on pretence OF age and
business, and requested me to appoint anoth-
er person, appeared at Wilmington fortnight
after such resignation, at the head of body
of between and 500 men, menacing the peo-
pie above mentioned with military execution,
if they did not Immediately subscribe an asso-
citation dictated by the committee, which they
had refused until that time and being inter-
rogated for his authority for such arbitrary
proceedings, he pointed to the men he has as
sembled His cowardly intimidations of these
individuals so far answered his purpose, that
they were obliged to sign what their consci-
ences revoted at and abhorred, but it produced
the good effect, at the same time, of uniting
them more firmly in opposition to such ex-
travagances; and they have since formed
themselves into Company for the purpose Of
mutual protection and defence.
The South Carolina Congress hath sent re-
cruting parties into this Province 10 raise
men, but hope they will be disappointed in
ho1r a. !.
and | shall leave no means untried to defeat
their purposes the lenity of Government has
been so much TO that people that they forget
entirely their own weakness, and are buster
in, treason, while Charlestown, that is the
head and heart of their boosted Province, might
be destroyed by single Frigate and the coun-
| try thereby reduced to the last distress. | Ia
ment to say it my Lord, and most sincerity
grieve to be occasion for if, but must avow
to your Lordship, it is TO me at this time evil
dent, and out of all doubt that reason and ar
gument can never restore the just power and
authority of Government in America. The
people now freel talk of hostility towards
Britain in the language of aliens and avowed
enemies and fear the means that British
spirit resorts 10 at last. for the chast!sement of
| her more natural foes, can only now reclaim
her most unnatural children IN these Colonies
to proper sense of their duty and must
add too my Lord, that in charity TO them and
in duty to my King and country, think my
self bound to give it as my sincere opinion,
that the rod of correction cannot consistently
with the good and interest of either, be well
spared, if it is an object to reclaim the Colo
MES of America to obedience TO the just au-
thority of His Majesty and the Parliament of
Great Britain. Humanity, as we'll as policy,
in my mind, my Lord, urges that the work be
set about with the vigour becoming the go-
rious and inyincible spirit of the British Ma
ton and without a moments delay Altho'
by my separate despatch of the 18th of May,
had given my humble opinion to your Lord
ship that the Meeting of the Assembly of this
Province, in order 10 bring under its coEside-
ration the Resolution of the House of Com
mons Of the 9th day of February last, while
the Philadelphia Congress was sitting, and
which was not enioined by your Lordship's
dispatches referring 10 that Resolution, would
be to no sort OF purpose; yet seeing soon af-
forwards that His Majesty Governors in other
Provinces had called the respective Assem-
blies expressly with that design, issued the
wrlts for calling an Assembly which had been
( postponed by the advice Of the Council on &C
count of the heats prevailing in the Province,
dI Tue Title Ol Tie ulSSOlullOu Oh Tue ldtC AS
sembly, and the General Elections were &C
cordingIy made on the 23rd of last month
since which as your Lordship will see in the
minutes of the Council, that Board has upon
the principles of my first opinion, stated to
your Lordship in my separate despatch above
referred TO, advised me to prorogue the new
elected Assembly, which have therefore pro-
roguei to the 18th day of September next, be-
fore which have no doubt | shall have good
reason to prorogue it further.
am bound to return your Lordship my bes
acknowledgements for the attention you have
been pleased to give to my representations Of
the misconduct of the Members of the Coun,
Gil here. At the same time, must freely OWL
to your Lordship, that fear it will be difficult
: to reform that body effectualIy, at this time
Some of whose delinquency heretofore, | have
bad the greatest reason to complain, have by
loyal adherence to Government in this time O.
disafection, restored themselves to my regard
and believe it may be found difficult TO fine
filter people to supersede the others. mus
indeed except MIR. Dry, Collector of the Gus
toms at this Port, whose imprudence and alb
surdity is such as fear will compel me, il
spite OF all allowance that can make for hi
simplicity and weakness to DISGRACE him hi