Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-10-04
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL.


thankfulness It's action being now complete and
definite it is more properly subject for review and
criticism than when in its initiate or transition state
Of course for the present. at least the interest of the
people of the South concentrates in that series of
measures framed whether we'll or i'll, for the o.
tensiblc purpose of avoiding the sectional dangers
and difficulties arising out of the discussion of the
slavery question and it's collateral issues. These
measures have now become laws. 1t still remains to
be seen whether and how far the people will acqui-
esce in them. In plain terms, for it would be nom
sense to mince the matter whether not the Union
is to be dissolved
We wish to place this matter plainly before our
readers The alternative is, acquiescence or dis
union, neither more nor less; there is middle
ground Whilst North Carolina or any other State
remains in the Union, her officers are sworn to sup
port the constitution of the United States and that
constitution and the laws and treaties made in pur
of it, the supreme laws of the land. This
thing of a temporary seccssion-a slight disuniOn-
is amusing little fiction delicate mode of ex-
preston, pretty much on par with the newspaper
announcement of twenty men being slightly killed
by steamboat explosion The mischief of it s that
whom d man is cncn Llod, --L-tLe~ -l:sLtlv oh
erwise he Says killed. So is with State States
secession means Observation-Disclosures is SO I'M
derstOOd by of the people of both sections
The question then is:-Are the people prepared for
dissolution, and does the crisis demand it!
We have observed the current of events as care
fully as any one could do-more coolly, we believe
than most-and the conviction has been irresstibly
pressed upon US, that single State with the
exception, perhaps, of South Carolina, is prepared
for dissolution Even in Georgia, not secession but
commercial non-intercourse is the remedy proposed
and beyond ali doubt that is the very utmost that
will be recommended by the Convention to assemble
on the 10th of December next. But yesterday we
talked with an intelligent gentleman, and demo-
Graf, of this State, who had been out in Georgia on
business and who had enjoyed the very best oppor-
tunities of becoming acquainted with the views and
wishes of the people, and he gave it to his de-
cided opinion, that nne-tenths of the delegates to
the proposed Convention, would be Union men. We
also notice that the democratic papers in Florida
while they protest against the gross Justice of
ny of the measures enacted by Congress- still ac-
knowledge the necessity of acquiescence. Our OBJ
ject to state the facts they are not to draw fam
cy sketches The cold, sober truth of the matter is
that substantive measure ofresistance
will be adopted and carried out by any State. In
view of this state of the case, what is the duty of the
press Can its conductors do any good by denoun-
cling the ority of their fellow citizens traitors
and submissionists Would such conduct be demo-
cratic =? Would it be respectful to the South
Let boast of their for Southern rights
and Southern honor, whilst they make Of Ian
guage like this. We all have opinions, some of
us, we think, are very much mistaken in them, but
no man worthy of the name, is to be converted by
denoupcing him and threatening him with grape
vine. While measures are pending, we oppose those
Of which we disapprove to the fullest extent of
humble abilities. When they are passed, and sub
mitted to by majority of the people, who alone have
right to decide the question of their reception OF
rejection we feel it our duty to obey. We opposed
and still oppose, many of the measures adopted by
the Congress which has just adjourned. So did a
majority of the Southern people, but that maj orty
fit to submit to these measures.
We had almost forgotten to allude to the Nash
Vile Convention, which is to rc-assembe the Sc
cond Monday in November. Who is to call that
body together, we do not know. Judge Sharkey, the
former President. has backed out and we fear that,
under any circumstances, the attendance will be
meagre, and its influence limited so that, in fact it
hardly be said to form element in the calcu-
laton. Had the people at first, irrespective of par
ty rallied to its support, it might and would have
been productive of much good the matter now
stands, it will be posthumous sort of afar-a kind
Ofjury of inquest-whch may return verdict as tc
how the thing was done, without having any infu
ence upon the manner of it's doing. Upon the whole
the question to whether the people are prepared
for dissolution, may be answered in the negative
Neither Georgia, Mississippi Texas will secede.
The question again occurs-Does the crisis demand
secession Has such violation of the constitution
been perpetrated to call for dissolution the
ly remedy? One reply to this may be found in thu
non-action of the Southern people They do no
think disunion called for. They feel do, tina
deep wrong has been done us, but they awar
that that wrong has resulted more from Executiv
interference than from Congressional action One 0
the most obnoxious of the measures passed by Con
grcss is the admission of California and yet where
in consists the outrage contained in this Ccrtanl
not in the bare fact of her admission free State
1t is in the mode and manner of that admission, an
in the undue and improper influence brought to bea
upon the formation of her constitution. Californi
never had territorial government nor defined lin
its, but who was responsible for this Certainly no
California, for she importuned Congress to give he
government. 1t the eight Southern Wings
three of them from North Carolina, who defeated tn
territorial bill of 1848, and thus kept the subjec
open hobby, by which to elect Gen. TAYLOR: tina
produced great part of the difficulty. 1t was
BUTLER KING that did the rest. So far California
is concerned, the Wing party and the Executive ar
alone responsible. They deprived California of
government, and then intermeddled in her affairs
Nothing more natural than that California, re
fused legal protection by Congress- should form som