Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-03-09
Gov. Eili. in. Wilminrtnn !.

The Journal says:
The Governor referred to the position Of public
affairs in Congress and throughout the country-to
Mr.. Lncoln's declarations-to his sneaking into
Westinghouse the total failure of all plans of ad
justment-to the coercion policy of Lincoln's mes
sage-to the necessity of resistance and to the in
evltabe course of things leading North Carolina
join her fate with her sisters of the South and that
at no distant day He did not know how the cleo
ton in this State had resulted but however 1t had
resulted the march Of events still EDWARDS. If
we had not a convention now, we would have one
very soon. When he looked around and saw the
spirit manifested here he felt that the spirit of re.
sistance to oppression which animated the men of
'76 was still alive, and its fires still burning.
Neither the law nor the constitution gave the
President power to coerce any State and the attempt
to do so would be act of usurpation that the peo
pie themselves had the natural and indefeasbe right
to resist should it be necessary to do so with
out waiting for the forms of authority.
Old Virginia could not accept the so-called COM
promise or adjustment. She had put her foot down,
and her terms had been rejected and she must either
go out or back down. Would she back down? He
did not believe it."
Gov Ellis referred to the coercion policy of Lin
coins message" Now there is no more coercion in
Llncon's Inaugural than there was in Mr. Buchan-
ans annual message; but it did not jump with the
Governors unhoy designs against the Union to ad-
NIT this fact.
The Governor also referred to "the necessity of
resistance" But what if the State should not re-
sist, Governor until an attempt shall have been
made to subjugate the South, or until some uncon-
stitutOna act shall have been passed by the general
government-what then Are you for resistance"
now? We believe you are. Try it, sir. You also
declared III ace had not Convention Ro ace acouh
haze one soon" That is the report of what you
said as given in the Journal The Herald reports
you saying THAT if the people had defeated the
Convention they would be driven to the necessity
of reconsidering their conduct by circumstances
about to transpire which they had no control"
Great respect for the people, indeed has the Gov
ernor! They must "recOnsider their conduct "-
they must resist they must do as John W. Ellis
tells them to dol The servant has become the
master.
Our readers will now perceive that what we said
in November last is true, that Gov. Ellis is a rank
disunonist Indeed, so deeply Is he committed to
the schemes of Yancey and Others and so thorough
ly is he bent on destroying the Union, that if
Convention should not be called according to the
Constitution believe he will give his countenance
and his aid to a revolutionary movement for Con-
vention similar to that threatened to be set on foot
in Wilmington and Goldsborough. Let him at
tempt it. and let the dsunionsts attempt it If they
dare! Reverence for the law and for the Constitu-
ton is still uppermost in the hearts Of the people
of this State and if John W. Ellis or any one else
should attempt to trample on the Constitution, or
to act the part of the usurper the people will rise
in their might with arms in their hands, and con-
sign the traitors to condign punishment. A similar
threat was uttered in the Senate Of this State by
Messrs. Thomas, Burton, and Erwin; and this
speech Of the Governor proves what we thought
then, that these gentlemen were acting with him
and under his advice.
And yet Gov. Ellis claims to be Democrat He
is not Democrat. He is an oligarch. He has no
respect for the will of the people, and the fact is
proved by this speech of his in Wilmington. No
man can be Democrat-no man can be Republi-
can of the Jefferson and jackson stamp who treats
the will of the people, Gov. Ellis is doing, with
contempt The people must "reconsider their con-
ductr' Why, this Governor is as arrogant and as
impudent as Gov Tryon ever He is the mas
ter, and the people must move as mere automatons
in obedience to his gracious orders Mr.. Clingman
issued his orders from Washington that the State
"must" secede or take part with Lincoln in making
war on the South; and now we have the chief oil
garch himself lecturng the people for having voted
against Convention, and telling them they must
reconsider their conduct" and do 5etterl
The Herald also reports the Governor as compli-
menting George Davis for his casting vote in the
! Peace Conference against the Franklin substitute.
He could sOon," says the Herald, see the
| Chicago platform inserted in the Constitution as
the Peace Conference plan" This is gross refec-
ton on Judge Rufin and Gov. Morehead, and other
distinguished and patriotic members of the Con-
ference from both sections, including Messrs. Rves
and Summers, of Virginia, who voted for that
! plan.
But we will not pursue the subjectfu further to-day.
! What sad spectacle, to see the Governor Of this
patriotic UniOn-lODng, conservative old State 1oith
the oath to support the sdera Constitution fresh up
his lips cOnspiring against the Union 1chieh that
Constitution established, and ererting himself to
the utmost to increase the bitter feeling already e.
listing among our people, and to hurry them into
| the uorter Of revolution and ciUH soari