The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1860-10-24
IFrQm the n. o. Picayunc.l
THE DUTY OF THE SOUTH.

few wen. whose character and position
give them influence, openly declare that u
Lincnln is elected President Of the United
States, the only course of the South is i'm
mediate preparation for resistance. BY re-
ss,anee is meant either secession from the
| Union OF one State or more. and defiance Of
/ the authority of the Federal Government
within its territory. or the marching upon
Washington with body Of Southern troops,
to prevent the Inauguration OF sectional
President BY force of arms.
This idea ii resistance, though II finds but
few upon whom the allegiance TO the coun-
try sets so lightly, as 10 adopt fully either
mode BY which il is to be carried into prar.
teal execution. is indirectly countenanced
by many who meet the present crisis, nut By
earnest efforts 20 crush out the spirit OF sec
tionalism. but hy the expressed desire now 70
meet the impending issue face 10 face, that
they pretend to believe is inevitable between
the inhabitants Of the North and the South.
Such men claim to be Union men. but they
qualify their position by the assertion that
inequality Of the States is not condition on
which union Is possible-Srtnally assuming
this inequality, il il does not now exist, Is
the certain result Of an administration Of The
government by The Republican party. Il is
not certain that such result may not be THE
consequence OF the concentration Of power in
the haRdsof that overbearing sectional faction.
But this grave efrris committed by all WIN
adopt cnnjectures Of what is TO happen as
well asceriained facts-that they all by their
aetion in making that reality which is now
but hazardous conjecture. They weaken
that public sentiment. which, il openly APP
proved BIZ an men with whose interest and
patriotism il accords, would forever forbid
lbe contingency 0f sectional admlnistra-
ton.
II i time for this class ofour citizens, and
indeed Tor all good men, to understand fully
what hat issue i that is indifeclll cQufted.
II j. the elrctipn 81 the chief ul tie Rep Bill
cab patty, believing that thisaprns wider The
Gull Of srpardp % between the two sections of
tie nation aud creates the occasion. nav the
necessity, l1r a hostile organization at the
South. NiIl that follow Ii Lincoln is
successful ii the electoral college-which can
scarcely be- possiblc-will be mot be elected
President BY the voice Of the people consti-
tutionally expresse,l-elected too according
! TO the ordinary nudes VI party action and
popular voting. peacefully, regularly h0nOred
with the Office which Washington, Jefferson.
and their long line Of successors have honpr
Ell. l. i Tor this reason that any man al the
South proposes 70 resist ; Are We prepared
10 disown allegiance TO Government whuse
minislraiions hase hitherto been followed On.
Is by 4 series IL uninterrupted blessing. De.
cause al sumr future time an act may b. com.
United hostile % The spirit Of the constitution:
Will such On issue De one that en- secure
Tor any movement we may commence. not the
favorable moral influence Of the world. bat
what j. Ear nure important, tie union Of the
sDuih itself
There is a public sentiment At The South
that sill forbid success IL any movement IL
this character for this cause, no matter by
whom il be originated and favored. The
more violent such movement may be, the
less favor would il receive. II would have no
foundation IN law, il would appeal tono pub.
Iic sense of necessity. II would have no
stimulus 10 the public feeling II positive
wrong done, or N the sense By individuals, Of
actual distress inflicted.
Il i time that tie men Of the South began
10 speak plainly % this subject. The South.
ern masses are not yet ready 70 initiate Mex.
leo, NOS will they, like that distracted PEG.
pie. be put in hostility 70 the legal govern.
ment BY the pronunciament0s Of any pupa
lar leader.
But u the Administration falls into sec.
tiona hands, aud measures hostile 10 the
South find countenance IN the Congress and
with the Rxecptiye-measure which, though
mt violation oT the letter, are destructive
Of the spirit of the constitution measures
rendering union dishonorable and impossible.
then the South may be relied on as one man,
10 fight the entmies 81 equality and free.
dom. not out Of the Union, but 20 long as the
North holds any considerable number Of al.
lies, 10 ihe Union, and for The faithful e1ecu.
tion Of all constitutional guarantees.
To-day every Southern man sees abgn.
tsEt indications that when such crisis ar.
rivss. II the South maintains The dignity Of
a legal position, the hrst battle must be