Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-05-08


timely and important aid rendered me BY the
Governors of Virginia and Spu'h-Ca1 DINA
towards placing our Publications on the sea
coast in a .defensible condition. cheeiully
reciprocated this favor to the extent OF my
ability by sending to the Governor Of y virginia
a portion Of the arms II our possession ana
which could conveniently be spared.
The Northern Government Is DOW concen
tratiDg a large force in the Districts OF Colum-
bia, oStens;bIy to protect the seat OF Gov
ernment, but such a force cannot he allowed
to remain within the limits Of Maryland and
on the borders of Virginia, without serious
ly endangcring the liberties ofthe people OF
those Staes. Ifthey be eonqneredan md oyerrpn
North Carolina viii become the next prey to
the invaders. Policy then, as well assyfnpathy
and feeling Of brotherhood, engendered by a
common interest, requires us to exertoMr ener
gies in The defence of Maryland and Vir-
ginia. Every battle fought there will be a
battle fought in behalf Of North Carolina,
and there our troops should be speedily
sent.
There can be no doubt that the people of
our State are now fully united as to the
policy to be pursued with reference to the
future Northern Government. It is a settled
i Ioff CttO III III puOllC tlllSd biidk ttiC tiliiC
has arrived when we must separate from the
people of that section of the country. They
have drawn the sword against US and are
now seeking our blood. They have promised
to partition our property and the earnings
of our people among their mercenary soldiers
after our subjugation shall have been effec-
ted. Even those among them who professed
to be our friends are now most Jealous in
this wicked crusade against US. All fraler-
nifty offeeling is lost between us, and them.
There must be a separation at once and for
ever.
With the view, therefore. of the secession
of North Carolina from the Northern Govern.
ment and her Union with the Confederate
States, at as early a period as practicable, ]
would respectfully recommend that a Con-
vcntion of the people be called with full and
final powers. The powers of The Convention
should be full, because the sovereignty Of
the people must be frequently resorted tc
during the war and it, therefore, becomes
necessary that it should he temporarily re.
posed in the Convention. The action of the
Convention should be final, because of the
importance of a speedy separation from tht
Northern Government, and the we'll known
fact, that upon this point our people are as 3
unit.
| cannot close this communication without
congratulating you upon the harmony o
feeling and the Union of purpose now exist
ing among the people in every part of NORTH
Carolina. No sooner was it seen that oul
liberties were menaced by the usurper, thar
all party feuds were forgotten, and th'
patriotic fires that burned in the bosoms o
our ancestors were rekindled in the breasts
of their descendants. The hearts Of thu
people everywhere are prepared for the con
test before US. Let us fervently implor'
Almighty God, that united c~ounsels ant
harmony of purpose may prevail among US
that we may be enabled to preserve tn
blessings of liberty that we have inheritet
from our fathers.
JOHN w. ELLIS.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
Raleigh, May lst, 1861.