The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-03-12

III L1NCoLN's INAUGURAL.-We publish on our
NJ outside the Inaugural Address Abraham Lincoln
delivered on the 4th of March. On Tuesday even
ing last the day after its delivery, we published
the Address in Extra and furnished it to large
number of our subscribers, as many as could be
reached
Like everything else. public opinion and the
press differ as to the character of the Address
Many view it as a declaration of war on the seced
VI ing States, whilst others give it different mean
ing 1t is certainly evasive and capable of two
constructions, and no doubt was so intended by
Lincoln himself 1t is bid for the favor of the
North and the South both while its tone is not
calculated to please either section though it seems
to US that the North ought to be much better
pleased with it than the South. 1t is not entitled
to the favor or respect of either section because it
leaves the citizens of both in doubt to the true
4 position and intentions of the author.
1t is true, he speaks of executing the laws, hold
ing Government property, and intimates that he
will collect the revenue, but he also saws, "The
course here indicated will be followed unless cur
rent events and experience shall show modifca-
ton or change to be proper" No doubt "current
events" and "experience' will show him that he
cannot collect the revenue in the ports of the
N ceding States, or hold the governpent property,
without boodshed. If he persists in his threats
Y there will be war, and it becomes the South to be
prepared for tit is the duty Of North Carolina
Il to be ready to act for and with the South
III RESJrTT The reSult of tho olaction in
this State shows that there is a majority against
calling Convention and large ma Ority of dele
gates elected opposed TO scccssion-at least this is
understood to he their position. We think this is
unfortunate, and are inclined TO believe that the
people did no: rightly understand the issue. The
friends of secession in many of The counties, if
not in all, allowed the wrong to be made be-
fore the people; they allowed the so-called Union
men to make the issue Inion or Disunion, when
really that was not the true ISSUE that was not the
question before the people according to the Act
and resolutions of tile Legislature. Some one may
say that this was the honest course to pursue if not
strictly in accordance with the agreement of those
who authorized the vote to be taken. But not so
it would have been strictly honest to say that we
desired Convention for the purpose of efectin2
honorable settlement Then the opponents eff
sion would have been deprived of the opportunity of
appealing the Union by voting against Con-
vention while at the ting the friends of secession
would have been justified in voting o- separation, if
circumstance required it, which recent
prove would have been the There ncces-
stv. say with ali due Difference older and ADLER
heads, for the question to turn Union disunon
in the late canvass for that would have been the pro-
per question discuss after the convention and
after it had passed ordinance of separation. We do
claim possess astuteness than others, but
before the election that the wrong issue was
being made and felt certain that if persisted in the
people would pronounce against the southern rights
candidates therefore stood against for long
j time, until many of friends began to think
that we had deserted the States Rights The
fact is, then believed that the one
best calculated 10 get convention and unite the State
with those South of The question of Union dis
union hurt the Convention but little in this i'm
mediate section, but it injured very much in other
portions of the State. We contended at the first that
circumstances would force the State in direction
the other and circumstances have TRANSFERRED which
require and justify secession but unfortunately we
have no Convention to take action.