Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-03-20
The South and the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

J
mencing with the Inauguration of General Pierce
and ending with the Inauguration of Mr. Buchanan.
AS we saw MIR. Pierce entered upon the discharge
Of bis public duties under political sky apparently
without cIoud-he retired from bis high position
with all the leading of his policy approved
by the country and sanct Toned by the courts. Yet,
in the interval what fierce opposition did he have to
encounter, 10 what unlimited denunciation was he
subjected We dislike 10 use the word crisis, since
it has been perverted to mean anything or nothing
but if ever in peaceful times there has been crisis
in the affairs of this country. there was one during
the closing half of Mr.. Perces administration.
That crisis is PASTOR time. at least-yet those
who dream that it is past forever. read the signs OF
the times but unskillfully Neither the law of the
land, as announced by the courts, DOR the distinct
settlement OF vexed questions upon constitutional
principles by Congress- secure the country against
the disturbing agencies be set at work by those
who preach higher law" than the constitution
who pretend to recognize obligations paramount to
those which that instrument imposes
Is it not, under these circumstances. duty which
the people of the South owe TO their country, 10
avoid as far as possible all unnecessary causes oi
division among themselves Must they not feel that
Mr. Buchanans administration will have to stand the
brunt of attack and opposition from the concentrated
force of the abolition power of the North that the
blows thus aimed at Mr.. Buchanans administration
will be- in fact, blows aimed at the rights and inter-
ests of the South Surely these things Surely
the fact that they ought to impress upon the
people of the Southern States the necessty-nay, the
duty-of sustaining the administration against the
attacks of sectional fanaticism
How is the administ alton to be sustained, now
that it has been placed in power by the almost unan,
imous vote of the Southern States? Certainly not
by the election of its opponents to Congress, but by
sending 10 both Houses such men will give to 1t
cordial and hearty support-who will rejoice IN It's
successes or mourn over ts defeats-who will not
simply 90 with it in some matters, but with it IN all
essential measures of policy.
The anti Administration Congressman of the North
are a unit. There may have been talk once of ere
publicans'' and Americana, and all sorts of dis
tincont, without any appreciate sort of difference,
but now all that is merged in opposition to the South;
and of the men elected from the North to seats in
the next House, the South has not friend that we
know of outside of the Democratic party. Does 1t,
or does it not appear that, mere matter OF policy,
it would be best for the South TO send delegation to
Congress that can fully affiliate with the only friends
we have from the North, who can concert measures
with them and of course cooperate efectually
10 hold ahoitonism in check than could men divided
from them by political jeaIouses and anragonisms.
Is this proper time for dividing the Southern
people by exhuming from the graves TO which they
have been consigned, schemes which have been repu.
dated by the country time and again, and which can
no only share the fate, after having been the
occasion Of possible excitement and division?
The battle at the North is mainly over for the
present. AT any rate, all, nearly ALL of the Con-
gressional elections in the Northern States have been
held Surprising the Southern States yet 10 elect. to
send precisely the character of delegations to
the next Congress, that they sent to the last then
the Democratic party will still want votes of a
majority in the House The strict Democratic vote
in the last Congress was some ssventy-fve seven
ty-six In the event of no change being made in
the States yet 10 elec, the Democratic vote in the
next House will be one hundred and eleven. One
hundred and eighteen is majority.
1t will he seen from this, that there is already q
very great gain from the state of things at the open
ing of the Congress whose term expired by Limitation
on the fourth OF this month This change has main
ly been brought about at The North by the reaction
of the constitutional feeling of the country agains
the isms of the day. If the North has already gone
so far 10 sustain this conservative administration, may
we not reasonably expect that the small balance o.
gain necessary to bring the House, the Senate ant
the Executive into position of harmony, can easily
be given by The South? 1t is our purpose to exam
inc into the issues to which we have REFERRED as be-
ing brough, forward to distract the Scuthto expose
gain their off exposed fsllacies, and show how anc
why the South should reject all these attempts made
to divide her, and come up to sustain
those who sustain her; but the ateDefs of the hour
and the length 10 which this article Las alread,
grown, admonishes us to close for the present.
IA There used to be two old.world notions tina
ovoIo g.