Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-11-28
paper.
North Carolina and the South.

Our Country, at this j~uncture, is terribly ex-
cited. The States South of US are IN a tenn
pest of commotion, and we hear Of little else
but secession, disunion and resistance. We
trust the cool, sober thought Of the people
will lead to cool and wise c~ounsels To North
Carolina we look with hope and confidence
kOur fate is bound to hers. What she deter
mines to do, we viii abide by. Our voice IL
still for moderation, and calmness, but also Tor
firm decision.
The political aspects of this question, how
ever much itmay concern US personally, does
not come within our province, editorlaiy.-
The material and moral interests of North
Carolina and the South, concern US more
What then is our condition in these respects :
By a most blind, and as we think, mdirectcd
policy, while the South has been carrying on
a most threatening and agitating controversy
with the North for thirty years. she has been
making little OF no material preparation Tor
a crisis which her public men have constantly
warned her was coming. Almost entirely 10
this hour. the South is dependent upon the
North for clothing, necessary implements OF
agriculture, mechanical skill and to a large ex-
tent for food. 1t is said that Alabama has
not food enough of her own production, to
supply her people until the first of March
North Carolina and the other States are bet
ter off. but not by a great deal independent
Of the North for food Georgia, in the mum
&c H- mn ocbUnioo1 ShuTS
and her manufactures, as well as the state 0
her treasury, stands at the head of the South
ern States in the substantial materials for il
dependence. North Carolina, in all that
essential for home provision, stands next I
her.
Whether the South will hastily take Il
step of disunion, and whether that step n
cessarily involves angry collision with Il
} North, are not questions for us to decide
{ But common prudence should dictate tn;
: the South should prepare for the worst. An
( what is our condition in regard to a supply
: the munitions of war? Were our soil inv
ded by a foreign foe, we should not tremt
D for the result. But are we prepared
cio1 Waa? Are we in possession of t
J means of producing within any short tim
u the necessary agencies for a bloody, inter-
. and protracted contest?
IL What we do should be done cody. Wi
e deliberation, and with a firm conviction IL
our course is Just and right. Above
{ what is done, should be done by a uui
l. South. Hasty and ill-concerted plans of
> cession or disunion by the tew, must certai
= ly involve the maany, at least, in a share
the injury and ruin that must follow.
E. Should the Cotton States resolve III
le secession, a universal commercial panic m
I'd follow, which North Carolina must feel Sc
C ly. The value o~fproperty must decline en-
e mously. Moderate livers and the poor m
be the greatest sufferers. The interests
or our internal improvement and education
III schemes, must be almost wrecked. And v
can calculate the immense damage to sol
III morals and the interests of religion ?
With such a prospect before us, our read
~ in North Carolina especially, must SUITE,
a. word of council. Let the people be c,
y E~.heagh.lal= and soesnssiiddssratesmuaAyoi yb9 sala
traFagancies, produce what you can in v
" own families. Make yourselves as linden
dent as possible. If you are in debt he h
est out don't force your property into n
:, ret hasuly. Hold on to your property to
last extremity. By no means sacrifice y
Slaves sharpers may stand ready to d
=, them at the lowest price, and hold them NJ
" the panic is over. Hold on to them-wa
over them, and goUern them. And let
rs ABOVE all, look to God for direction and co,
sci. nv w
n