Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1860-05-24
From the Savannah News
A Patriotic Southern Editor.

From the Savannah News
Patriotic Southern Editor.
1t is peculiarly cheering, at time like the present.
when the great issue which involved the equality
the rights safety and honor OF the South, is to be de-
termined and when those whom her people have honor
ed and trusted and to whom they had right to look
the champions of her cause 10 the hour of trial.
counseng tame submission 10 the arrogant dctatiOn OF
her enemiesit is cheering indeed at such tme to find
who unseduced by the hope OF personal advance
ment and unawed by fears OF prescription are capable
of rising above the tbradom OF party associations and
of taking decided and patriotic stand in vndlcaton OF
the rights of their section. Such true Southron is
JOHNSON J. HOOPER, the able editor oil the Montgom-
cry MAIL the leading opposition or American paper OF
Montgomery, Ala. Happy would it be for the South
and for the country if the press numbered more such
men in its ranks. Esteemng principle above party he
is unwilling to courtenance the mean expedlent by
which the political organization to which he belongs
would deceive and deude the South. Spurning the
cowardy tactics of the late Constitutional Union Con-
vention at Baltimore he ignores its nOprncpe noml
nations and boldly and fearlessy declares his determine
ton to sustain no man for Office who does not distinctly
and unequivocay accord to the South all she justly
clalms'
We take pleasure in transferring his editorial our
columns:
Our Position.
We regret to learn that the OF the Mail, IN re-
spect to the nominations of the Union Convention Sc
rously dispasing to few OF its readers and trends
characters entities them to- the nominees OF that Con
venton we feel it to be most sacred duty we owe our
country and the South, to oppose the policy on Whch
as we understand it, Messrs Bell and Everett are sought
to be made President and Vice President OF the nlteo
States For years-at least, since February, 1906
we have steadily maintained the right of the slave States
to enter and enjoy the common Territories OF the Unon
with their slaves and to be protected there In that en-
ioyment and at the American Convention OF the year
mentioned, we in common with all the members OF the
nlVpcf m
the doctrine and not support for arg office any man VINO
failed to assert and maintain that doctrine.
And now when the South is pressed to the last eX-
tremy by her oeater the invasion OF one OF the slave
States by military force from the free States-now,
when the Democratic party has been cOnvulsed into
fragments by the discussion of the slavery subject noC
some hundred of Northern and Southern me1 assemble
at Baltimore and without daring to assert the equality
of the South (which everywhere denied by the
nominate ticket composed of gentlemen, neither OF
whom in long public life has made single et-
fort to establish the equality of the citizens of the slave
States with those of the free States Now, when every
church Except the Roman in the Union IS rent asun
der by the lever of the slavery question-when the Rep
rescnatves of the two sections are almost at open war
in the Capitol by OF the aggressons OF the Norh
upon the South-now, when every child knows that the
question of slavery alone and surges beneath our
teet-the South is cOolly asked to come forward and
vote for men who have never done anything for the
strengthening of Southern Institutions themselves and
| VII
point (proecon in the Territcries) which involves
the life or death of African slavery.
AS we have said, the Democratic party parted IN the
middle because the National party could not afford to
give the South guarantee OF protection on account
| Northern hatred TO slavery. And yet this Union
party-suddeny collected from all Understandable
ticket and ignores the slavery question if 1t were al
utterly unimportant matter
We put it to every candid reader Has the whole
South lied for the last four years. IN declaring that Tho
time had come when guarantees essential to thu
safety of the South? Have all been under delusor
in supposing that the North was bent or excluding
slavery from the territories Is the capture of Harper
Ferry fable?
Well if the South has not lied-i the orth has been
and as hoste--if ab0tonism is almost universal ant
deadly at the North how can We Southern men, wish
ing to be loyal pledges ard faithful 10 the lnst
tutions among which were born, support ticket n
snip IF which guarantees practical friend
er of which dared the equality of these South
ern States?
We quarrel with 10 man for his opinions but we mus
be allowed to entertain and express 1t pain
us part with old friends-t would dshOnOr to de
sert our honest convictions. Thinking do of th
PLATFORM and the mode of structure of the Union Cor
venton, it would be rank treason in to support ii
nominees. We say nothing in personal disparagemen
of either; we simply believe that neither is that sort
friend of the South which her present necessities
: quire. Bell and Everett may be successfu-but tn
+ question with us is, hoaO the South conquer? B
i no other question consideration influenced.
We therefore only regret tue difference of opir
ion between any friends of and ourselves We
yield right of opinion loyalty to the Soutl
Our position may lead to heavy pecuniary loss-sut
> scbers may cease to be sucha busin may DE with
draWn-the utmost punishment may be dealt US for VIVA
+ some may call contumacy-no all, we sha
stand firm without wish to think otherwise) O
the position, that the and the platform that SUP
l. port must freely and aclthoM equvOcaton accord to
! South all she justly claims.
AS we 1.-THE senior shall be absent for some days. W
have deemed it best that this explicit declaration of
views should be made at once, and in response to th
earliest notes of complaint to our course. We az
knowledge all that is claimed, to the power of tn
public over any Journalists ability to crush it out
existence, for unpopular views. And acknowledg
ing it, to the fullest extent assert right and il
tention to adhere to the dictated by justice
PATRIOTISM if reward should prove to be botte