Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-12-12
The Message and its Effects.

All eyes have been turned to the President
of the United States for some weeks past,
with the desire that in his annual message to
Congress some bow of hope would be pre-
sented that could be accepted by the South
as well as the North, as a token of returning
comfy and justice between the two sections.
But every one who has perused that dOcu-
ment is, no doubt, disappointed in that hope.
From it comes no CLEAN of sunshine to gild
the storm-clOud which hangs over the Ma
ton. The President is either at a loss to
know Ohat to propose, or he is too timid to
recommend efficient and ~resolute measures
against those who have plunged this great
and prosperous national once and with one
fell swoop-into confusion and hostility, if
not into anarchy and ruin. Thank Heaven,
the South is able to take care Of herself; and
though embarrassment and a monetary pres
sure may retard her onward progress, it will
be nothing when compared to bearing the in
suits, oppression and wrong which our in
fatuated "brethren" of the North seem deter
mined to heap upon us.
We heartily and sincerely deprccate the
necessity that may arise to compel us to
bid farewell to a union that has conferred so
many benefits to all the States-but certainly
more to the Northern than the Southern
members of the family-but still, if we can
not dwell together on terms of amity end
equality, the best alternatiye-which is none
of oar own choosing, but has been forced upon
US by the unfr loneliness of the opposite portion
of the households to divide on friendly
terms; each section parting hands with a
sincere desire that, though We could not live
together as brethren, we can be friendly as
acighbOrs.
1t is possible, however, that some ~paciica-
tory measures may yet be devised, by which
the Union may be preserved; and we sincerely
hope so, thought is like hoping against hope.
Let every effort that can be made without
compromising the rights and honor of the
South, be listened to by our representatives
bat let not a 1.-THE Of what Justly belongs to
us be ~relinquished. Then if separation MUST
E como, in the language Of the great New Eng
land Statesman, in the days Of the Revolu-
S ton, we can call Heaven to witness, and say
: to those who ask US to surrender or rights
: set 10 eome and we can say e repeat
ii, let it come"
. We have been betrayed into these length
ened remarks, by the intensity of our feelings
:, In this trying time. We intended simply to
G give the following. as the index of public SEN
G timent at Washington, as to what viii proba.
bly, be the end of these things
While the Presidents Message is laudcd
e by the residents of the border slave States, as
e a grand and statesmanlike effort it is receiv.
: by the Northern and Southern extremists
with uDmitigated condemnation.
The spirit evinced by the members to-day
y in defining their positions, has fallen like
death pail over the hopes of all who ardently
N hoped for the restitution of amity and cour
&c tesy between the North and South.
n The last hope, based upon the reported
: willingness of the Northern multiplying States
1t to rescind their obnoxious enactments, have
vanished, by the assertion of several Repub
lican leaders that Lincoln, being constitution
10 ally elected, will administer the Government
according to a strict Republican interpreta
VI ton.