Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1860-12-13
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL:
UhSon Meetings.

Meetings
There may be many who desire dissolution Of the
Unon for the sake of dissoution but if there be- this
feeling has grown recently and before eyes, 1t is
but the natural expression Of that alienation which years
of abusive intermeddng have not failed to produce and
which they could not fail to produce Years of insult
of depreciation, of stealing of property, finally cumi
mating in the total exclusion of the South from any share
in the executive government of the country by the cleo
ton OF men exclusively Northern and by the North be-
cause they so exclusively, and because of their
avowed opposition to the South and its Institutions
This is felt to be only the beginning Of the end-hat
end being the complete subugation of the section
to the fanatca and predatory behests of the other.
1t is not enough that the pulpit and the press, the
bench and the bar the legislative hall and the social as
sembage, at the North alike made subservient to
this habitua abuse and Misrepresentation OF the South
ern States but they made the means and the medium
of misrepresentng these States their people and their
institutions abroad How otherwise is it, that all the
statesmen the reviewers the newspaper writer's the phi
Ianthropsts the takers in Parliament Legislative
Chambers, in England in France, or in Germany have
so much to say about the barbarsm of slavery in the
Southern portion of the United States where presents
beyond all Odds the mildest form Of servude the world
has ever known and yet have little to say Of Cuba or
Brazil save to rejoice in their prosperity and foretel
their future greatness and yet there is no earthly COM
parson between slavery in the southern States and sa
very in Brazil or Cuba What the authorities quo
ted against the States Of the South? Always their
"brethren of the North. These brethren are fond
Of nveighing against the South as weak and semlbar
barousdependent upon their protection and upon their
trade while the truth is that the South furnishes all the
exports, nearly all the exports upon which the for
egn trade of the country is based gives larger market
to Northern industry than all the balance of the world
traversed by railroads. which not bankrupt, like
those of the North, and has ten millions Of white men,
who are not Mexicans, but the same kind of men
that fought at New Orleans.
While Northern legislation and Northern feeling
Northern word and ortherh act, have been and are
thus employed and directed what be done expect
ed to be done at the South The South is the attacked
not the attacking party the injured, not the injurer
is for the North to make proposals. not the South.
the North had cared for Union based on equality, this
state of things never would have been brought about
If she cared for it now, she would withdraw from he
insulting position Has she done SO has she shown thu
slightest disposition to do so?
WHY then should the South recede from the defensive
position which she has been compelled to assume, fo
even in the lest resort dissolution would be in sede
fence and could not be intended act of offence ??
What good can come of meetings held to declare at
tachment to the Union? The South has shown that
Let the North take her turn while. She is big, strong
triumphant civilized and has great deal Of piety tt
spare. The South surely has no apologies to make
The North, with all her bigness and her strength ant
her piety, knows also her interest and might, perhap
Weld something to Mat for we have found that piou
men fully understand the fact that there hundred
cents in a dollar. But the North never has believed thu
South in earnest and she don't half believe it
What will be the result Of Union Meetings.? Remem
her, we do rot say the intention but the result. Wha
will the result be? Why the North will say at one
I'VE told you so! Don't you see they are scared al
ready'
But above ALL what can be the use Of" Union Meet
ings" in North Carolina? We all know that Mort
Carolina will not be precipitate That a clear Cas-
must be presented upon which to base her action befor
she will take the decisive step Of secession. IT. as
must suppose the object Of these meetings to presery
the Union if possibly it can be done consistently wit
the honor of the State and the rights of the South
ly they present poor fundamentally for the accon
plishment of this purpose. So far as they go, the
would be regarded as arrayng us against the Souther
States that have pretty surely made up their minds
of course they would deprive US Of any influence wit
them, while upon the other hand they would strengthe
the North in its persistent course of aggression
We place much Importance upon the position Of Il
State at this time such position may seriously afe
the future for herself and for the country. If any
Der of Southern States go out she cannot stand neur
Nothing but a receding the part of the North ca
possibly prevent the secession of several of the Stat
south of us. Surely it part of our policy or int
est to take any course that might tend in any way
weaken the attitude Of the South 1t is not by weake
ing that attitude that oan hope to do any good eve
in the way OF saving the Union. And if the Unic
cannot be saved, and it surely cannot be by anythir
like acquiescence in the behess of Black Repubcanis1
there ought to be doubt as to the future course
North Carolina. Neutrality would then be both mo
ally and physically impossible.
We have endeavored to reason this matter not to q
nounce or declaim Claiming for ourselves pure motive
we accord the to others. Let US, if possible ha
unity of action, and not distraction Of councils L
harshness of expression be avoidabe if possible and
is possible. Let pride Of opinion yield to desire
promote the common good.
The Committee Thirty-three.
We have locked at, and now publish, the names