Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-03-28

L
citizens of this State was held at Godsboro on Fri
dav and Saturday. the 22d and 23d inst. The object
in view was to take initiative steps for the organization
Of the Southern Rights Party of the State of North
Carolina
In many respects the meeting assumed dimensions and
took representative character far exceeding the anti
cipationg of those engaged in getting it up. 1t was
more Of State Convention than meeting hasti-
" assembled there being representatives from all the dis
trics in the State but two and they too would have
been present had the time ofnoce been sufficient to
bic them to get there In other respects also the meet
ing was representative one far as the elements OF
which it was composed could make it one embracing
it did, Southern Rights men of all previous shades of
opinion on other TOPICS and from widely different
tons of the State. 1t also presented remarkable
blending of young America, old America and middle
aged America, from the ardent and impusive youth
Just crossing the threshold of manhood to the venerable
Weldon n. Edwards, who has already passed the allo
ted theescore years and ten yet without any abate
ment OF bis ardor in the cause whose success he believes
to be essential to the honor and the interests of North
Carolina.
We had hoped to have received the Rough Notes this
morning, with the proceedings OF the meeting OF which
we failed to obtain copy before leaving on Saturday
afternoon the Secretaries having been unable to COM
pete their labors at that time We presume we will
have them tomorrow. In the meantime we would re-
mark that those who supposed that any effort would be
made to organize any party upon revolutionary basis
or upon any other than strictly legal and constitution
al one will fad themselves WOefuly mistaken. We
never saw more earnest united feeling among any
number of people in lives. The expression OF that
feeling was in eject this" We convinced of the
fact that North Carolina cannot consistently maintain
her present anomalous position. We think that the
same facts and arguments which produced this cOnvic
ton in our minds would if fairly and fully presented
to the people Of North Carolina them CT large
majority OF them to agree with in opinion There
fore do we form an organization for the purpose Of fully
and fairly presenting the issues involved before the peO
pie of the State and each and every county therein, be-
evirg that when this is done the people themselves will
demand chance to give new expression Of opinion
through the legal and constitutional modes prescribed
This is the whole treason involved. This is all that
these Iawloss men at Godsboro' aimed at. There
will be a fuller and more formal Convention held at
Charlotte on the goth day Of May next the annVersa
~ of the Mecklcnburg Declaration. With fair effort
every County in the State may there be represented
In the meantime, let meetings be led for County Or
ganzaon ana for the sending Of delegates to Charlotte
There are counties in the State that have yet since this
agitation commenced to hear a single Southern Rights
speech-in which meetings have been held-in which
no documents have been circulated and no Southern
rights papers taken Only one side has been presented
and that too often unfairly and discngenuously.
The meeting or convention organized in the Court
House at . o'clock p. NJ on Friday, by calling Hon
Weldon n Edwards of Warren to preside, assisted by
one Vice President from each Congressional District
represented The members of the press present
quested to act as Secretaries, VIM. Benjamin Smith,
ESQ.,, Of the Tarboro DIercuy officiating as reading
clerk.
The opening speech of the venerable President in
planning the objects of the meeting, marked by a
yigor and ability that elected warm response from the
audience and showed that if the SHOWS Of age
on his brow the fires Of patriotism still glowed warm
within his heart.
Hon. Il. j. Moses, of Sumpter District S. c., Com
missioner from that State being in town, committee
was appointed to invite him to address the meeting,
which he did in able and eloquent Speech in which
he referred to the natural afintes existing between
North Carolina and the other slave States Of the South
and Of the danger to all her interests it, disregardng
these a1ities she still adhered to the Northern Con
deracy lie spoke of the close ties that ought to unite
the two Caroinas and begged his tellowcitizens of
North Cerolina-for Still he could not regard them
oherwise-he begged them to turn deaf ear to those
who would endeavour to ealouses between those
who have so much in common. He went on to explain
the provisions of the Constitution Of the Confederate
States and demonstrate its advantages He pointed out
the security peace and ratcrnal feeling which awaited
North Carolina in the of the Southern Confedera-
cy compared with the uneasiness danger and insecurity
which must be her fate while she continues member of
the present Union. Mr. Moses remarks were enthusiast
tcalIy appIauded.
Hon. Edmund Ru1in of Virginia, was next intro
duced to the meeting and spoke some length and with
much force and earnesne in favour of his views on the
subject Of secession. Mr.. Rufin has long been an
ardent secesonist, but he is certainly reasoning and
rejecting one and the mputation of fanacism will not
apply to rational and cearheaded speaker as he is
General John A. Young of Charlotte was next cali
ed upon and entertained the audience with speech con-
ceved with his usual good taste and expressed in forc
bic and eloquent language He went in strong for cast
ing the desnes Of North Carolina with her sisters of
the South.
Having been engaged on the business committee on
Friday night we did not have the pleasure of hearing
any OF the speeches made but understand that the meet
ing addressed by Victor Barringer O. P. Meares,
- Shenck, and D. K. McRae Esqrs. and perhaps
by others. The compliment of a serenade paid to
Col Moses to which he responded. We understand
from those who had tie opportunity of hearing these
gentlemen speak, that it good to be there, and
can well believe it, the reputation of the speakers being
sufficient guarantee for the character Of the speeches.
On Saturday morning Hon. Burton Craige, from the
committee on business reported certain resolutions for
the action OF the meeting The report was received and
with some slight verbal amendments unanimously adopt
ed. State Executive Committee was appointed con-
sisting of two from each Congressional district O. P