Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-11-21

Mr.. Cllngman'. Letter.-Had Fr. mont bee" EIscted
The Herald of The f1th inst, republshes from The
Journal, the letter addressed by Hon. Thomas l..
Clingman to Messrs VIM Phifer, R. P. Waring.
David Parks and others, of Charlotte, N. c., and
calls our attention to it's contents, addressing to US
certain queries IN connection Herewith.
We have not before answered these queries for the !
simple reason that nothing in the present aspect OF
affairs renders them their sub jec matter, OF I'M
mediate or pressing Importance and for thefurther Tea'
son that We had carefully read TIE letter refer
red to, and are always unwilling 10 commit ourselves
blindy to the endorsement of any mans Vlews' no
matter what may be his standing or lnnuehce' or
what the force or eoeuence of the language in which
such views expressed.
The burden of Mr.. Clngman's letter, already re-
ferred to- is the to De pursued by The South IN
the event of Fremonts election that being one OF The
existing contingencies at the time when the letter
was written (Oct. 10th, 1860 With Mr.. CHING
mans general views we agree We have always
though, that the example OF Fremonts eIection
as strictly sectional candidate, and the quiet
submission OF the South thereto would even
tuate in a total eubverson OF the spirit OF the
Constitutions although its forms might remain
that from the day of such an occurrence, q
new era would Commemorative would be under a
system OF government totally different in fact though
identical in name and form. The South would have
, lost the power of self government, sinking gradually
into the position of the subec 10 government, from
all real participation in which, she would be exclud
ed by the fat of dominant majority, representing
section nimicaI TO her institutions, which nstu
tons would hereafter be felt exist rather by sui
ferance than of right.
These, and more than these consequences, would
we feel confident have resulted from the election O
Fremont-the triumph of Fremontism and the quie
submission of the South thereto Not in day no
, year, nor single term, would these thing hav
I been brought about, But the vortex would bee
- entered, and its revolutions slow at first would hav
gone on with gradually increasing rapidity, unit
the occurrence of The final and inevitable catastrophe
&c Believing such to be the case, we could not hav
J. counselled quiet submission. We should have fel
called upon to arouse the people, 50 far couIc
. with view to prompt and efficient State action
and had the duly constituted authorities of the Stat
of Moth Carolina-the repositories OF her threaten
ed sovereignty-d determined upon prompt and vIgo
" Gus measures to defend that sovereignty, and with
the rights of her peo lie, we should have felt bou
u by the properly expressed will of the State and bs
:" leved tina those resisting such will, and eagueln
L with those whom the State had declared her enc
" mics, would deserve the fate and incur the condem
nation Of traitors.
= We cannot think that this can properly be treate
- as question, or that the spirit AMI intention
- the Fremont movement that movement in tt
IL front of which Fremont was placed, admit of al
u doubt, or would require the commission of any a
ditonal and future overt act, to show the Sout
do what it had TO expect, and against hat it won
~ have TO guard ror would the obligation and neces
~ SO TO guard be dependent upon such additional
n future overt act.
rd But far be it tlom Or so far we can be su
3D. posed give expression to the views and feelings
the Democratic party OF the State far be from tn
pc party, to counsel resort 10 mob violence, or ieg
i'd constran or even unwarraned denuncia agar
es any cit zen. 1t alone through the action of
Ugh State as a sovereignty, that her citizens
tor came ALSO citizens of the conederacy 1t tests ao
W. with the State to take such action as shall bind
ge- citizens in any emergency, in which she shall Jud
BED that the necessity of selfdefence and the guarda
M ship of her own rights and honor. and the rights
ich honor of her cit zens may demand modification
ad her relations 10 that confederacy, change of
to course in or out of the Union
ion ANYTHING more unwise, suicidal or dangerous
9on the interests of this section than the course OF
ice organs OF The opposition this State, upon
, TO noint, especiay it WI ud be difficult to conceive
the We ailude to the tone Of rdicue INDUCED in iowa
yay those whose circumstances DO not admit OF tt
our owning large interests in slave property, but who
Southern citizens, as organs Ct Southern opinion
themselves constrained by every sentiment of d
re- and patriotism to combat every aggression agains
ght to expose every nfdety o,an institution SO ntima
De- " connected with the daily ife-so essential to
sons vital interests of the South It's tendency must b
re- produce divisions among the people of the South
no introduce the idea that their interests dssim
all that it is presumption in any one to stand forw
rats ~ +h ACandnr IF tho sacredlv Guaranteed rich
ats pro, erty unless he should happen TO be sufhcie
way wealthy to hold large interest in the parlic'
species OF properly assailed. This is the very ii
that the New York Herald and Tribune have b
u"y harping for months past. This is what the al
ZIONIST of the North have earnestly desired
Her. . .,.rl . ga CD ~
'Pe" the Fayetteville Observer, alludng with
AVN supercousness 10 the Democratic editors of
~ State of North Carolina, not wealthy emo
to large amount of slave property, and wi
~ zeal on behalf of vital interest of their State
ting rt,Ia 1oss ,han oontaon,;h1o ~ ,;sola
Her. -. -, WI:
=, Herald at Mr.. Clngman. We cannot, of course
WIN lieve that these papers have the most distant d.
AP' to play into the hands of the enemies of their
i'o' section, and therefore their enemies, yet
~ must inevitably be the result of the they