The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-01-01

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more fighting than other people, nor those who ap-
pear timid to do less-al may have to stand draft
but they want their representatives to act and
say what is to be DONE Calling a convention will
not be hasty action, but it will prove to be the
means of preventing hasty action-it will produce
some general understanding and to a great extent
satisfy the public mind. North Carolina cannot
remain silent in this crisis, and if the State does
not secede, she must make formal demand on the
North and say what she wants that section to do
If the people of the North refuse to accede to the
demand, then people will be convinced that all
reasonable efforts to preserve the Union have failed
and we can more readily unite on some course of
action in the future.
| PUBLIC MEETINGs.-We refer the reader to
the proceedings of public meetings in another
column.
A mass meeting of the citizens of Orange county
was held at Hillsboro on the 22d of Dec Gov
Graham, from committee appointed at previous
meeting, offered resolutions declaring that they re-
greet the election of Lincoln and whilst they shall
vigilantly observe his course and shall be prompt
to resist encroachments on southern rights they do
not consider the fact of such election sufficient
cause for abandonment of the Government; that
the antifugitive slave laws in the free States must
be repealed as indispensable to future Union; that
resistance by force to unauthorized injustice and
oppression is recognized right, but we should
act in concert with the other saveholding States
especially with Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky and
Missouri; and the Legislature is recommended to
make appropriations for the purchase of such arms
as may be necessary for any emergency.
Mr. Norwood offered an additional resolution for
the call of convention. 1t rejected by
small majority.
Gov. Swain addressed the meeting in favor of
convention but opposed to the establishment
of Southern Confederacy He was for fighting
for his rights in the Union and was ready to
/ shoulder his gun and march to the border Of the
Northern States and defend the Constitution.
! The resolutions offered by Gov. Graham were
adopted after considerable debate.
| a meeting was held at Chapel Hill and partci
pated in by Gov Swain, F. Phillips, and others
| Resolutions in fave of Convention and for arm
ing the State were passed.
THE RESURRECTION PLoT.-Ten II days
| ago some noise made about insurrcctionary
plot said to have been discovered in New Hanover
county. The matter thoroughly investigated
| before Judge French in Wilmington last week,
and it turns out that young man in that county
named Scion Larkins, for the purpose of getting
money from the abolitionists, wrote to the Sccre-
tary of an anti-savery society in Philadelphia for
/ $500, saying that he had rebellion plan on foot
! in which $50 negroes and 40 whites were engaged.
The letter returned to Gov. Ellis, hence the
investigation 1t appears that the young man who
wrote the letter only wanted to fool the abolition
lists, and had idea Of assisting any plot in fact
it ascertained that plot Of the kind existed
or was contemplated. The writer of the letter
acted very indiscrcety, for which he has been pro-
pcrly rebuked
| CoNGREss.-Mr Pugh of Ohio, has submitted
a resolution recommending the Legislatures of all
the States to apply to Congress to order the hold
ing of Convention to amend the Constitution. Mr.
Douglas has proposed sundry amendments to the
constitution, which referred to the special
committee. Mr. Pugh advocated a consultation of
| the people of the States. He said that any at
tempt to coerce South Carolina would cause war;
| y bill for the admission of Kansas has been I'M
der consideration in the Senate Wilson of Mass,
introduced a bill to etfectually suppress the
! slave trade
In the House of Representatives, although the
South Carolina members have resigned, the Speaker
directed that their names should be kept on the
roll and called as usual [Old Pennington means
by that not to recognize the act of secession.
Mr. Haskin3 of New York, offered a resolution
instructing the judiciary committee to inquire i'll
to the relations existing between the General Gov
ernment and South Carolina, and the duty of the
Government under present circumstances, and what
action Congress should take to enforce the laws
and protect public property.
The South Carolina delegation withdrew from
Congress on the 9th, after expressing the hope
that amicable relations would be maintained be-
tween Sonth Carolina and the Other States.
WASHINGTON, Dee. 27.-The House Select Committee
on the crisis, have rejected the proposition of Mr. Rust
for the extension of the Missouri Compromise line
the Pacific All the republicans and II. W. Davis of
Md, voted in the negative. Other schemes pend
ing.
DEATH OF AN EDITOR.-Mr Thos, j. Holton,
of this place, Editor of the n. G. Wing, died
Thursday last from the effect of in ures received
by being thrown from his buggy while on his way
to Monroe some weeks ago. He was about 50 yrs.
old and had been publishing paper in Charlotte
for about 80 years Those who knew him init