Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-03-28
For the Journal.
shall our Government be Destroyed:

For the Journal.
shall our Government Destroyed:
I'm to attempt to the proposition that the
American Government-the Government under Wnich we
have vede N Ten Oh oa[ ha the world has
ever SEEN or that human wisdom ingenuity ana
devise. Our history is the evidences % With
the representatives of few scattering ia
the wilderness Of an unknown lano' Inc Inc;
empire has arisen whose nant power Le naons u
the old world with dismay Our @ as ped ond
pie, meanwhile progress in all the ars Oh peace anu
advancement in civilization, nave oeen
while justice prudence and rmness have maze war an al
most unknown sound to
We are now in the midst o. great revolution ms gov
of fathers glorious in its history anu r n
in perfection, is being changed and aoosheo' anu
government weak and contracted ID us sP P
icy and fundamental principles is to be substuteG III
stead These grave assertions, and their starpg IN
demand the serious consideration OF every
What is the constitutional position of the government on
the nesoss whether cultivation of tobacco right or
not whether building railroads IS or not
whether Jews should be eligible to state oces as 10 Inc
extent and duration a parents civil authority over ms
child or whether saveholdng or non siaVehoiung Is
best? simple reference to the CONSTITUTION Is al
v and without fear of contradiction, that
these questions attitude of the Government as precD
ed by the Constitution is that of perfect neutray True,
the idea that the Government may position OF an
to slavehoding is expressly negatved by the
clauses requiring the delivery otugve slaves pu we are
not to infer that aside these points, the position OF the
Government prescribed by the Constitution any other
than that neutrality and total Indifference on the
Question whether savehodDg non-slavehodng is best
But a new party-the revolutionary party-are in posses
sion the Government 1t is partyrepesenng secnon
of the that will long continue to be the most
section and the ascendancy of this sectional party Is
fore destined continue and the impress CT its character
on the Government to be permanent The leading princ
pie, the idea, and the unanimous aperVadlng sen
men of this party that the Government to the
position of urreentng hostility to slavery 1t Is to say 10
people the States of section OF the naton
are chershng institution which the Government regards
as social moral and political evil; our fathers did wrong
declaring be the CONSTITUTIONS; ana all Inc
weight and prestige of the Government shall be
brought bear not expressly prOnlDeQ ny
the Constitution to place in the course OF ultimate eXhc-
ton an institution which you believe be nseperaby
nected with your welfare and progress To this idea
every other be subservent and secondary to ths
every distinctive feature of national policy foreign and
domestic our and influence abroad our happiness
and prosperity at home are all to be sacrificed 1t 1oy
other distinctive features Every intelligent who is
acquainted with the history of the late presidential cam
pagn knows that opposition to slavery was the only prlnc
pie which that party was united wv
We have called the Government revolutionary. We
repeat it, How can the constitutional position and duty of
the Government on subject constuonay changed?
Clearly change of the Constitution alone How can the
thirds of each House Of Congress- three ourths of the
States But Government has been changed not only in
the face of the Constitution but against the will major
ty of the States-changed by bare majority of the people
of minority of the States. IS not that an overthrow OF the
revolution? If the Puritans New England to obtain
possession Government and openly WELD all its
and influence to stigmaze and crush out the Methodsts
any religious denomination how long before we would
discover that the Government and resist
it to the bitter end? The cases are precisely analogous
Then what duty IN the premises, as American c'
zens North Caroinans lovers of racer Laying
the transcendant Importance of States Rights
duty submit to the overthrow and destruction of the
American Government and American principles, shall
resist the tyrannica revolutionary government at every
point and defend and cherish the genius and spirit and
egy of the established by fathers though
shall find resting place in North Carolina alone? If to
accomplish this object necessary to sunder the union OF
States be it If carry out involve the separation of
States that should be in principle and sentiment be
SO; and with God be the consequences.
In casting about for friends to assist in this laudabe
and patriotic purpose cannot look to the North 1t is
rhO have inst he mpOt
In Union of all the Southern States who resist the des
ruction of that Government the disruption of the
Union is only hope: If in the past example has
been beacon of hope to all the world then all the world
will justify and applaud efforts to preserve the
spirit and the genius of American liberty. Union of the
Southern States sentiment interest and purpose
fail if fail will at least be clear of the guilt
having been after the fact the destruction
the best form of Government earth, by remaining il
union with its destroyers.
We have addressed argument to States Rights men
in the uncture of affairs none necessary But WI
attempted show that duty American citizens
allegiance and fealy to the American Government am
position the leaders of human progress and entran
chsement all forbid to remain longer in union with
who elected Lincoln in the face of solemn and
protest Demagogues may blind and msead the peopl
q while; but later the popular judgment viii
vindicate ITSELF Nay that vindicaion not too late