Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-01-03

It is rather amusing but painful exercise to con-
trast the position of some politicians at one time with
the position of the same politicians at another time.
Now, there is Gov. LetcIer, of Virginia. who is now
said to be opposed to secession denuncatory OF South
Carolina, against State Convention in Virginia, and
nominay in favor OF Central Republic. We say NOM
naly, for we honestly believe the whole thing to be
gag game of certain leaders, taken up by mercenary
yepers or innocent but verdant followers unacquainted
with the ropes
Here is what Mr.. Letcher put forth in his pamphlet
of speeches, when candidate for the Governorshp of
Virginia.
RESISTANCE AND DISCRETIONARY this Union cannot be
preserved upon equality. and the territory of
this country acquired by the common blood and common
treasure not to be open alike to the North and the SOUTH
then we desire to be Informed of the fact and whenever
the crisis comes the Union must be diSSolced oodteUer may
be the regret that aCU det ats dissolution u for one, re-
garde0 of the most conservative men in my own
State and unwilling believe that there settled pur
whenever these shall be forced upon the people
of the North shall stand by the rights of the land in
which born and in which, trust, my bones shall
pose. ask nothing here bat what willing to accord
to others and long have life, voice, to
and honor of the glorious So The Union has its benefits
and blessings acknowledge them all but Union based
other principles than those of equality has
for from State which has maintained her rights
in times past and which will stand by them in all time to
come with equal rmness. Whenever al attempt Is made
to strike down her institutions and interfere with the rights
of her citizens, the North will find that Virginia and
will exhibit a spirit of STERN RESISTANCE that she will
| stand by her rights and institutions to the deah.
Why, this very contingency is upon US. This very
exclusion from the Territories is the precise thing claim
ed the result of the election of Lincoln. 1t is the
precise point, above all others, that the Republicans
claim as having been decided by the action of the North
ern majoritcs. We never did join in the extreme ex
pressons used by many Southern politicians, and
| olo to no b1tpv do of
large words which some of them have used in advance
and their large talking against action, that the
own named contingency has cone, is ridiculous, il no
The South must stand up now or be forever es
topped from saying anything The issues are upon US
Goodness is not only right but it is absolutely ndispen
sable but important it is-indiSpensable it is
it is secondary in Importance now to the exercise
of frr1ness and decision.
EsG" Our neighbor of the Herald appears somewha
dissatisfied that in our sccount of the investigation he'll
here last Monday before Judge French, tie young
Scion Larkins, should have got off so easily.
Now we did not make the law, nor expound it.
Judge French found authority under the Statute TO
binding him over said he had no doubt acted badly
but discharged him from custody. hat the Her0h
would have had done We do not know II it thinks th
young man siouid nave been more severely down up
than he by u.s. why that is the Herald's own busi
ness 1t can speak of the matter as it pleases. w
don't see any very great amount OF good that com
of doing So We think that what is past ought TO be
warning. The age OF the youth is, as stated l6 to II
We have rever seen tie letter addressed to the Gov
ernor by the parties in New York. We might hav
published the letter sent to Anthem it offered il
evidence but not happening to get copy in time w
stated its contents from notes taken at the time of read
ing as we did also the statement made by the young
as well as other matters.
We prettn to make Official detail OR publication
but to give we believe, statement of fact
for the readers of the Journal II there be any pare
who deem it their duty to make official statement w
can have no objection. We are satisfied with having
given an essentially correct one.