Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-01-25

The slavery AxitatIOn-A Southern Convention.
II would be folly to deny conceal the fact that
most painful and dangerous excitement now per-
vades the entire Union upon the subject of federal
interference with the slavery question is said to
be the remark of the oldest Senator's both from the
North and from the South, that they never witness
ed anything of the kind in the history of the
try and that the excitement preceding the Missouri
compromise was mere bubble in comparison. Con-
gress has already been in session nearly two months
and yet one of the Houses is still not perfectly
ganized, and nothing-absolutely nothing-has been
done towards forwarding the business of the session
Even the debates in the Senate have been character
ICED by unwonted acerbity and personal feeling; and
the extent to which one idea absorbs mems minds is
seen in the fact that no discussion be started
matter how trivial Indifferent the subject, that it
is not certain to character of sectional in
terest and excitement. All feel that it is crisis Of
deep and peculiar Importance both to the South and
the Union and that this question must be met and
combatted notC if it to be successfully met at all
Under these circumstances it behooyes the people of
the South of all parties and persuasions to lay aside
every political partizan prejudice, and far
this question is concerned to know party but their
countryno principles but resistance to aggression
We have been opposed to undue excitement upon
this matter, and we are opposed to it now. Enough
and too much, has been said. 1t is now time that
something should be done-that some action should
be taken. What shall that action be! This ques-
ton seems to have been already answered, in the
Spouse given by the majority of the Southern States
to the proposal of the Mississippi Southern State
Convention, held some months since. That body
proposed the holding of Convention of the South
ern States at Nashville Tennessee the first Mon
day in June next; and delegates have already been
appointed from Virginia and from nearly all the
States South of US. Shall not North Carolina be
represented there! She ought to be, and we believe
she will be. The power and efficiency of such Con-
vention must, in great measure, depend upon its
representing the united South and presenting d.
yided front. No member of the Southern confedera-
ey should be absent. Such Convention would con-
vince the North that the South is in earnest. 1t
would give an emphatic and authoritative endorse
ment to the position assumed by Southern represen-
tatfves In Congress- and at the time strengthen
the hands of those at the North who may still be in
cined to adhere to the compromises of the consttu
ton and even in case of the worst happening, it
would still promote concert of action among the
States of the South in the peculiar position in which
they would then be placed.
The plan suggested for the election of delegates by
our friend of the Standard is good any other
that is that delegate for the State at large shall
be chosen by tho Democratic and Wing State Con-
ventions respectively and the remaining nine be cho
sen bv the people of the several Congressional Dis
trlcts, without distinction of party.
We had enterAined doubts of the practicability of
such measu in this State, but we believe that the
position of airs calls for it, and the people will re-
spond to n not IS party measure but as Southern
measur6-not as a scheme to dissolve the Union but
topvEserve it.
Since the above remarks were penned, we have re-
ceiVed the proceedings of meeting of the citizens OF
Duplin county, held at Kenansville on Tuesday last
They recommend the holding of Convention in Will
mngton, on the first Monday in March, and that the
other Counties of the District appoint delegates to
said Convention We would call the attention of our
friends of both parties to this matter.
The Meeting In Duplin.
The Associate Editor of this paper had the plea
sure of attending the meeting held at Kenansville
on Tuesday last, which, although got up upon very
brief notice, was remarkably large, crowding the
Courthouse. Old Duplin came forth in her strength
and it was evident that however much her citizens
mightd upon other subjects, upon the great ques
ton of Southern rights they were one.
MIR. WNsLow addressed the meeting in speech
distinguished by force of argument and chastity o
language. He had just returned from the North
and what he had seen there had satisfied him tina
the South must stand together and that if the Uno1
could be saved at ALL it would be by united action
the part of the South and especially of North Caro-
lima. That the North calculated upon division
among the people of the South, and that this delu
sion must be dispelled that must prove that il
resistance to aggression one and tn earnest.
Mr.. HOLMES followed in speech eminently practi
cal in its character. His remarks went to show tina
this issue was not confined to shareholders alone bu
that every citizen of the South STAKEHOLDER or non
promises of the Constitution had been alike violated
When Mr. HOLMES sat down, there call 70
Mr.. TooLE Mr. T. said he thought it was under
stood that his business was triting and not speaking
and that he was then hoarse, he would, therefore
call upon Mr.. REID. That gentleman declining, MI
TooLE spoke about ten minutes, taking very stron
grounds-much stronger, it appeared than either
the gentlemen who had preceded him.
The resolutions passed by the meeting afford tn
best indication of the spirit which animatedit The
are strong and emphatic, but no stronger than tn
occasion calls for, containing expressions whic
the people not willing to stand up to, and, W
doubt not their sentiments will be adopted by NEE
ings throughout the whole State. The time for aco
has arrived and men feel that something must be don
that a stop must be put to encroachments-ths
the South must say by her Deeds thus far sha
thou go and no farther"
r VEETRILo0UIsM, &c.-We dropped into the Masor
III