Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-04-04
From the New York Tribune.


What spectacle is this country to present within the
next year? Where shall be politically in the year
1862? These questions of the gravest import not
to be passed over simply because they dsagreeabe
Serious troubles threaten US, and it is cowardy to look
away from them and take no thought whittier they are
likely to lead US
Before last November threats of disunion were COM
mon enough, but no one supposed they anything
more than eeconeering tricks. Indeed, frequently
had these three IS been made BEFORE that one had any
reason to regard them of any practical Importance
They were accordingly received either with indifference
or with mlrthtul remarks and the general opinion
seemed to be that the South could forced out of
the Union. 1t argued by those who cared to ar
que at all about it, that the very existence OF slavery
depended upon the Union that no slave State would
dare to have Canada carried down its borders that
slave instructions would occur soon as the heavy
hand of the Federal Government was withdrawn from
the nsttuton and that the dread of John Brown raids
would alone prove sufficient to keep the slave States 10
the Union 1t would seem now that great ignorance
prevailed at the North as to the real situation of the
slave States At all events, reckored too rapidly
and accepted possible ultimate results as immediate ef
ecs The slave States which lie most remote from the
tree have earnestly boldly, successfully seeded and
tabllshed Confederacy founded upon slavery
The have framed Constitution established de facto
government, assumed attitude of armed hostility to-
ward the United States, and at this moment making
demands more betting conquerors than rebels. Two
tiers OF slave States lie between them and tree States
the Union, and act allies to the seeded States
The actual condition of things is pretty much as if
one OF three partners should be robbng the firm
OF its property, while second should hold the lar
gest proprietor and threaten him with death in
case be resisted The slave States which still remain
| IN the Union, with two or three exceptions will
be ready to leave it their end of shielding the
seceders shall be accomplished unless they can compel
the people OF the free States to adopt such degrading
and revolving amendments to the Constitution as shall
be acceptable to all the slave States It is true that
the Union party so called, is uppermost in the slave
States which have not seeded but it is about the
sort OF Union party that lately existing in Geor-
| gia, with Vice-President Stephens at its head IT,
/ say these Union States you coerce the seeded
| States we will take up aims against YOU.
and quit the Union If you do not adopt amendments
to the Constitution making slavery truly national in
stltution, we shall withdraw from the Union If YOU
the seceders do exactly they please and never draw
trigger on them and if you accept amendments to
the Constitution we will consent to let you number us
still as States OF the Union But if you venture to
assert any right, even to your money In the new
Conederacy or if you plead that you settled your views
on slavery last November, and can take no steps TO
make the Constitution abhorrent to your consciences
and destructive to your interests we shall instantly
leave your Union, and if need be- meet you in the field
of battle. = =
Such is the tone of the Union slave States or rather
OF the Union party in those State and the day is not
distant when they will meet in Convention and dictate
term to the people and the government Of the O. States