Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-12-15
For the Journal.

-..-,y=-zss-zz=- For the journal.
MEssRs EDITORS Enclosed [ send you few ex-
tracts from letter received by yesterday from
native North CaroIinian-one who though public ser
vice has in denatiOnalzed him, yet In heart
aDd soul loyal and iege son. Our country is In DAN
ger The enemies of the South not satisfied with empty
gasconading have made bold attempt to put in prdc
tce their horrid principles Base treachery robbery
and murder are their chosen instruments OF action The
late foolish tragedy at Harpers Ferry furnishes ample
evidence on this point. Who can read the parting ex-
hortation of the assassin Brown to his accomplcesan
exhortation made as it was, under the gaOws" not to
betrau their friends" and still doubt that the conspira
tors were the tools of the Black Republican party?
do not refer the deuded and ignorant of that party
but strike at those who their counseors and abe
tors-men high in authority.
have heard distingu shed Senator from New York
declare that in his opinion it proper to assist slaves
in escaping from their masters. This is the universal
sentiment of the Republican party This feeling caused
the outbreak at Harpers Ferry. We have but very
few friends up North outside of the Democratic party
which party has been badly beaten every late election
They are too few and too weak to help US; must
be our own defenders Colonial vassalage is far prefer
able to Northern dependency. Would you entrust the
lamb to the wolf for safe keeping ?" Under the Consti-
tutiOn-a constitution which has proved rich in ben
es and blessingslet adhere faithfully ADHERE to tie
UniOn-but without it must again SOW
ereignty and be independent
am no alarmist but sincerely believe that our coun-
try in danger and that prudence patriotism and duty
ourselves all unite in urging to prepare for the worst
Have we no secret enemies among us Are there
not those in midst who take advantage of their
standing and influence in society to circulate and give
weight to reasonable opinions Thtse, above all,
should be cared for--a it will be from such we will re-
ceive heaviest lnury. Let the intelligent and the
strong, both in the country and in town, form them
selves into parties OF patrol of which should nces
sanity be the alert to bring to light those who have
no sympathy with SHAREHOLDERS. 1t is only by rid
ding ourselves of these that act unit-evtry
should be strained to distinguish friend from foe
ALI that not with are against Our situation
does not permit ukewarmness The sugg sons oftFe
cOmpanyng letter will be received for what they are
worth They the thoughts of who has the same
at stake as every Caronan, but who, being accustomed
to scenes of danger and trying times is more likely to
take calm survey of political horizon than whose
heads are hot with passion and hearts sweed with zeal
The of the South should lose organi-
Zing and drilling effective military force pertectng the
and quarter Masters departments and estab
fishing arsenas and magazines in secure places difficult of
access yet convenient This should have been done
North began agate slavery for political purposes The
seeing Northern statesmen during all that time and
since have carefully kept among themselves the arsenas of
construction for arms seemingly allowing III the South
Harpers Ferry within one days march of Pennsylvania,
though they affected liberay by building dpots in
divers places for few stands of arms calling them Arsenas
The Arsenal at Fayetteville the work of Maj Bell of
North Carolina, who then in the Ordinance Office
Washington and the chief working man. though his colonel
present He furnished the military arguments to Gen.
Mckay (he representative of your dsrct) in favor
Fayetteville. They the most friendly and conf
dental terms and worked together North Caronans
and carried against the hostility of the South Carolina
delegation The original plan to make the Fayetteville
Arsenal of construction for arms and maintain it
vity but the opposition of Ponsett Secretary War;
dwarfed it down to a depot
The original plan should be carried out, and not only
would this State be materially strengthened thereby hut
also Virgil ia, South Carolina and Georgia 1t is not suf
cen to have workshops and machinery. They would be
quite worthless without the sku artisans constantly there
mparting their skill to Others famiarizng the community
with their art and enrichng it at the time by their
dustry.
don't know in all the South who is capable of
leading in great emergency-a of action decision,
vigor and discretion. If the South should be called
establish another government should have strength and
force enough to perform every and all of its functions with
out faterDg or being pased by discomfort opposition
Her enemies without and Within perseverng,
active bold and seeing and be successfully
tered only by an almost despotic power.
1t would be fearful step for Virginia. Kentucky Missouri
and Arkansas to to make their thriving plains
battle grounds between the North and the South Hence
they would have delicate and vital question de-
eide if called to secede than any other slave States
remember you had old friend belonging
tquaran society in Vermont, who remarked you my
presence that New England he AbotiOnists) looking
towards the South for colonization ground that the West
getting too remote. There is the whole question
shell. Those sagacous the Abolitionists
clear the of the by setting him free and hasten
ing his decadence."