The Hillsborough recorder., 1861-02-13
LETTER FROM
HON. WILLIAM A. GRAHAM.

In your paper Of the lst inst, have OBJ
served the publication of the proceedings Of
4 meeting OF " Minute Men," in the town Of
Wilmington, in which my name is used to
sanction, by implication at least, proceed
ing from which wholly dissent. The fourth
resolution Of the meetingis as iollowsi
4. Rcsoipsd, That we have seen with pleasure au-
nounceuent said TO be based upon the best author-
ty,n that the Hon. WIN. A. Graham would not " con-
descend to accept" seat in The cabinet Of Lincoln, and
il is inconsistent with the dignity Of North Carolina
statesman to accept Office under Black Republican
administration, il Is equally inconsistent WITH me ds
nity Of the free people Of North Carolina 10 he subjects
Of an administration SO thoroughly hostile to their
rights aud interests.
have not been offered seat in Mr.. Lin
coins Cabinet. have no personal acqualn-
tance with him, and have never had any cor
respondence, either with him or with any
person authorized to make such an offer.
Since the publications in the newspapers
some time since, Of my name in connection
with those Of others. as one, TO whom
such an appointment might be rendered, the
subject has been referred TO, not unire-
quently in conversations, and in two or
three instances in correspondence with my
friends. To them have stated, that such an
offer had not been made, and that il il were
made, it would be declined. From these con-
versations which we're without reserve, the
article published in the Spirit of the Age and
alluded to in the resolution, no doubt had
its origin. had no knowledge Of il howey-
er, until copied into the Fayetteville Obser-
yer of last week. While il states the fact
that would decline to accept, il does 50 in
language, which would subject me to the i'm.
putation Of arrogance had it been employed
BY me.
But while unwilling 10 become the conf
dental adviser Of President, whose elec-
tion was effected upon sectional principles
and by sectional votes, il is well known that
am FAR from believing. his election merely
i sufficient cause for the abandonment OF
the Government Of our fathers, and especial
II for It's overthrow by unlawful violence,
such as is proposed By The meeting in ques
tiDn, and which threatens obstruction alike
TO the constituted authorities OF the State, as
well as the Federal Government. All such
proceedings are based on the mistaken sup.
position, that the Government is monarchy,
and the President sovereign to whom We
owe allegiance, and who NAV regulate and
influence our destincs at his pleasure, where
as he is but the chief servant among those Of
the national household, whom the people
from time TO time, call to the performance of
duties, limited and defined hy the Constitu-
y tim and Laws. Although the person now
elected, has no claim upon our section oi the
Union, except that he has been elected ac-
cording TO the provisions q the Constitu-
ton, that Is sufficient 10 entitle him 10 induc-
ton into office, aud TO the exercise Of is le-
I gal functions" acquiesceuce in the deci.
sion Of maioritcs," saws Jefferson ION ques.
tions committed 10 majorities) Is the vital
principle Of Republics. from which there Is
no appeal but 10 force, the vital principle.
and immediate parent of dc>potism." Let
him then. be installed in Office according 10
the requirements of the Government under
which he was elected-and give 10 the ma
tion summary Of his policy. The speech
Is on the hustings are not always the guides
4 IN the practical administration Of Govern.
ment. Let us hear before We strike-there
will be no abatement Of manly spirit 70 vim
dicate our rights, after this event, from what
existed before.
The real grievances of which the South
has a right 70 eomplain--and as 10 which
none are more earnest in desiring redress
than myself-are not the result Of Presi-
DENTAL usurpatiOns; they spring from d
disregard Of the obligations OF the Consti-
tuition, among a large portion of the people
Of the non-slavehoiding States, favored in
many instances by the action of their State
az.
the present Congress fail to agree upon them,
slonld, in my opinion, be sought ~ calai
appeal 70 the people Through Convention
oI all the States. Such body has never
been assembled since the adoption Of ,h,
Federal Constitution. u would probably be
free from the asperities which have charac.
teFiLed the deliberations Of C0ngress-and
I il upon a candid comparison &c opinions oul
differences should be found 10 be irreconcil
able, II could provide Tor that peaceablc sep
aration 80 much 10 be desired. IL Il nus
come, and which Is hardly possible in an,
other mode. This may be too dilatory 10 &C
eOmplish the views Of more ardent natures
but il may be tried in Ear les. time than on
fathers spent In efforts for reconciliation
with their brethren beyond the Atlantic, be
fore the iinal severance. l. not the preser
sation of the Government 81 our ancestors
hallowed by their wisdom. and eOnseerates
% us through i thousand recollections d
national greatness, prosperity and renown
worthy of such an experiment, and thu
much delayT In endeasofing 70 study aus
understand il by the light Of the history o
the past, it has seemed 20 me that Il was
Government made for this people, and III,
people for the Government. Let rs prcserv
and regulate it il possible--not destroy il
have but little hope of seeing another se
curing TO Us 70 much freedom, prosperit'
and safety. have still less from d recon
struction, which is the fayorite idea Of il
destrsyers. Il vas difficult to procure ii
adoption by thirteen States amid cireum
stances d the most pressing necessity.
| will be still more difficult TO obtain the rati
fleation Of a new system by fifteen, with th
diverse theories of government, interest
. Ar nd aNaNs tsl.a IL Il - a.