Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-03-14

evening says that 70 counties officially heard from give
over seven hundred majority against Convention. The
other counties vii hardly vary this result much
&c. for the present. the long agony is over. But cir
Cumstancs compelling the people to reconsider their
action. Any at all acquainted with the people in
this section knows how much stronger Convention and
Secession to-day than they were week ago knows
that prominent Union men week since are active
Secessonists now. Nobody can mix at al with the
people, without being able to name changes within his
own circle, effected within the last week. If the
election were to take place Thursday of next week,
instead OF having taken place Thursday of last week.
few intelligent and candid men but will freely admit that
the result would be different from what it is.
The question is asked-what are we going to do mou
that the State has voted against Convention? Are
we to fold arms and spite OF all that has occurred
or may hereafter occur to tamey submit-aban-
don our principles and dsbaDd organization if an
organization it be Called where really there no
organization worth naming We think not We know
that there is spirit abroad that will submit to no such
arrangement.
Who ever heard of people really in earnest abandoning
any great at the first checkyeding to the first
adverse influence? What great measure even would be
carried in that way? Who supposes that because Con
vention has been defeated by nominal majority, the
State will remain PROSTATE at tie feet of Lincoln and at
the disposal of his partzans and apoOgists? If there
be any who suppose so, are not among them.
Looking at things calmly, we see at that there
is ground for depression but the contrary, every
thing to inspire confidence the ultimate course of the
State.
North Carolina is proverbially slow to move Why
she sO or whether this very sowness may not be an
oJy will Ot stO TO
tent ourselves with stating an admitted fact The first
distinctive secession meeting in the State was held in
the Court House in the town of Wilmington little over
three months since. The issue and startling
one. In many counties no speech was made-no meet
iDgs heldno newspapers read but such sung peans
to the Union and assured the people, as Abe Lincoln
does that nobody is sufering-that nothing is wrong
After the Legislature had passed the Convention Bile
there was little time for canvass-none adequate
to the requirements of the case, which was new one
Yet, in view of all these circumstances and in spite of
them nearly fifty thousand votes were poled for Con-
venon and this party of only ninety days DID, almost
equally divided the delegates to Convention.
We say that the rapid growth and amazing strength
developed by the secession party of North Carolina is
of the most surprising political phenomena of the
day. It is without parallel in the history of the State
realization of such undispued supremacy as will bring
about the holding of Convention in spite of all obsa
cles And all this can be done fairly legally constitu-
tonally and have doubt but it ayH be done. If
the people rise in their might to demand Convention
or to demand another chance for the expression of their
will upon that subject why should not their demand be
complied with? Why, indeed! There is fair legal
and proper way Of making the demand, and Of comply
ing with this demand also.
How this is to be done will be hereafter considered
The first thing to be discussed the course now to be
pursued by the States Rights party of North Carolina
We need not say that that is neither of fac
tous opposition Of tame and spritless submission
defeat The simple fact is that the election lost for
want Of a canvass. A fair and full canvass will more
than restore twill carry the State irresistiby, end
wipe out the imputaon of submssionism which the re-
suit of the vote against Convention appears to have cast
upon her. We know of no cause that has gained so
much by discussion as this Let it therefore be discus
sedtruy and candidy dscassed-et the facts and the
figures the history and the arguments be placed before
the people by the printed page and the spoken word
1t only requires that these things should be brought
home to the people ani made familiar to then-
Let us waste not time in bandyng abuse retortne
the impotent threats of those who stgmatze all who
differ from them this point as traitors and ogarchs
and all that sor of stuff These threats and abuse art
alike idle Plain, short pamphlets setting forth pair
facts with the authorities and references that cannot bt
disputed, will do much. Weknow that such pamphlet;
have effected important changes in own section
Now that the immediate excitement of the contest il
over, the truth will be attentively examined anC
allowed to exert greater influence.
For the sake of the State and every man in it. ricE
poor STAKEHOLDER nonsIavehoder truth and reason
must be used to combat and arrest the tendency to
one class against another-the nonslavehoder agains
the STAKEHOLDER, the reverse, the case may be.
requires only truth, fairly and nationally presented tt
do all thstO show that the interests of all classes art
the same-if indeed there be said to be such thns
classes, where constant change is going on as
is always doing with us, whereby the non-slavehOder
to-day may be the STAKEHOLDER of the next day or thu
next year. There is nothing more susceptible of de
monstration than the close connection of all the inter
ests of people, nor anything than can be more plain
y shown than the fact that in all probability attacl
successfully made upon the institution of slavery would
be senstvely felt by the nonsavehoder than by
the STAKEHOLDER. This having been shown to demon
sratiOn, the history of recent events will easily prove
that neither the interest of the South in this institution
the equality of her States in the Union nor the honor
safety of her people and her property any onge
safe while the present connection is maintained with thu
Free Soil North.
Circulate the documents Let the people hear AM
read both sides for themselves and the result will soo
be apparent in simultaneous and nearly unanilnou
uprising of the people. Abe Lincoln will be very apt
IN carrying out his programme and that of Salmon
r Chase the ma1 of most character and nerve in hi
cabinet to make this demand imperative on the part
the people of North Carolina at an early day.