Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-01-10

rnnion as to what constitutes an overt act than they
are fast becoming to be in reference to Lncolns
election. coupled with all its antecedents The leaders
of the majority of the Northern people not rash Tools
It is true that relying upon the pusilanimlty oil the
South they did risk much in the election OF an Adolf
ton President They knew that upon the cast OF that
die was all the hazard They elected him. and IN the
belief that the South would tamey submit they boldly
proclaimed that the victory was won that the election
of Lincoln was the downfall of slavery. Mr.. Hall
here read telling extract from the Congressional Her
ald of Chicago
Yes, sir, the irrepressibe conflict wage now across
the border is to be transferred within the limits OF
North Carolina The President will hold the golden
kew to unlock the gates of citadel Every little
post Office light house, custom house, and place OF
Federal patronage within limits, will become
nest to hatch black republican eggs, and nucleus
around which will gather black republican squad
Say what you WILL every North Carolnlan who holds
office under Ii coins appointment becomes Uar1e Of
fci the apoogst of his administration and the down.
ward steps from apology to Defence and then to adVo
cacy, not far distant. Jealousy between the slave
holder and the non-saveh0lder will be t0sered and
fomented. The minds of the uneducated Will be sys-
tematicay demoralized upon the subject. The aboh-
ton eaven, which may now exist 10 North Carollna
will then begin to find its business to work upon
After while black republican ticket may be run In
North Carolina and may have the honor, eventually
of occupying upon this floor with black Republican
Senators. In the meantime, our slaves themselves now
happy contented and faithful, their friends and they
ours, would amid the turmoil the excitement OF debate
and the clashng of interests be aroused to sense OF
ancied wrongs tue smouderng brutal instincts OF their
would be appealed to, all the power OF police re-
gations would be Intellectual at times to suppress out
breaks and thus foes without and foes Within with IN
surrecOns and OF lnsurrectlons, with rlots DE-
tween the different classes of white population, our
whole social convused n the agOnles OF dlsSOu
ton famine staring in the face from the prostratlon
of commerce, the whole world against US In sentiment
and government our most bitter and unrelent-
! ing foe-great God, what hope would there be -? AS
we stood at bay, frenzed, maddened, but despair
! ing, with our wives and children cllnglng to US
pale and panic stricken-death itself would be refuge
Sir, it is bad enough for fifteen equal States of this
Union to be practically excluded from any controlling
| influence in the administration OF this government
even the avowed policy of that administration to
protect their rights and foster their interests. But
when the avoWed policy of that administration is to
deny them equality to strike at their dearest interests
to destroy the domestic tranquility and eopardze the
lives Of their people watch and watt for me, sir
shall not invest Mr. Lincoln with the imperial purple,
put into bis hands the wand of power, and then lay
the fatering JUNCTION to my soul, that after all he will
prove himself perjured liar, tasy his whole record
and betray the party which elevated him. No, sir,
will take him and the immense northern majories who
elected him their word, and I'll resist them nolC
| They have crossed the rubcon. They must 60 back
If they want to treat they must do it the other side
| The crisis which for years has been threatening has
eliminated. The great issue whether will 1t or not
|
conflict is being fought. Let US stand firm, close
up in serried ranks and lock Shields 1t is due the
honor and welfare of North Carolina God bless her, it
is due to manhood it is due to children and
children children, that nov, noW, when We have the
might and the strength should conquer upon this
! question everlasting peace. Cause the Northern
mind to react, the upted Northern to stay
its death blow by doing nothing but watch and wait "
Why, sir fer all practical purposes you might as well
take your seat upon the banks of the Mississippi and
| n mOhtv fail nj
his current and roll up the pillows of the Atlantic
upon the summit of the Rocky Mountains.
have thus far argued, Mr. Speaker, that it the
duty of North Carolina to have assumed attitude of
resistance to the administration of Abraham Lincoln
the day his election asceraned upon the abstract
merits of the between him and the Northern
States without reference to the action of the Southern
States any of them, before, at since that time.
l come now to consider what this Senate should do
with reference to the present state of affairs and with
| the lights now before u.s.
| South Carolina has taken her destiny in her own
hands, has dissolved her connection with the General
Government and claims to stand before the world
eregn free and independent State. 1t is unquestona-
bly, her determination at this time to reunite that
brotherhood of Union with the free States 1t amounts
almost to certainty, that in few weeks Alabama
Georgia, Mississippi, Florida and Louisiana will take
position in line by her side. The probability is that
Arkansas and Texas Will follow What may be the &C
ton OF the other Southern States matter of specu-
lation. Sir not the very foundations of our State
being shaken in the midst of mighty events? And are
to sit here poor Pllcoddy like waiting for some
thing to turn up and idly permitting gallant ship of
State North Carolina, without flag at her masthead
without compass in her pinnacle, without chart to
steer by to be made the sport of every blast and drift
upon the current OF events and float upon the surface of
the occasion until she strands God knows where dis
mantIed hulk? No sir should act, and with W hat
View? Why sir, with a view to restore if possible and
then perpetuate the Union of fathers the Union of
the Constitution-that Union which was ordained to
establish justice insure domestic tranquility provide for
the common defence promote the general welfare and
secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our DOS
terlty That is our duty. Sir, disunonist per
Se am not yet secessionst recoect that the golden
band OF the Constitution fastened around the old
thirteen to perpetuate and preserve to each of them
the inestimable treasure of liberty recollect that
treasure purchased at the sacrifice of life and blood
and bitter, bitter My memory fingers with pa
rloc pride on the gQries OF the battle fields of Bunkers
| Hill, Moores Greek, Monmouth and Coypens-battle
fields which have been whened by the bones of the sons of
massachusetts, New Jersey and the Caroinas as they
fell lighting side by SIDE feeling of reverential awe
steals over me as fancy pictures the great and good
Washington, as ne led the suffering people of the Col
ones through the long, dark perlous night of the Rev
oluton, into the MONDAY sun of Independence
revere the memories of the iusrious men who suisse
quent thereto framed the Constitution and the Union
duly estimate the wisdom, the sacrifices and the con-
cessons through which they were created and the mani
told blessings which they have conferred love that
Union give me but it, and would stamp upon it este
perpetual. Would sir, that like some could think and
live but in the past will at least, drink inspiration
from Its memories But sir, stern sense of duty to
myself and those who to come after me, bid that
should
Trust no future, however pleasant,
Let the dead past bury its dead,
Act, act in the living present,
Heart Within and God ove head,
Sir the Union of to-day is not the Union of our IA
theirs Gentlemen may say, critically speaking that the
edera government has committed no overt act upon
TJnh hot 10
strict accordance with the forms of the Constitution
but sir was it not utterly totally subyersiye of its spr