Newbern weekly progress., 1861-02-19
Letter from Hon. w. A. Graham.

! and distinguished sons was addressed to the
| Editor of the Wilmington He.ald 1t is bold
and manly and will be read with much inter
| est:
To H. H. WaddeU Esq. Wilmington Herald :
| In your paper of the 1st inst, I have OBJ
| served the publication of the proceedings of a
meeting of minute Men, in the town of Viii
mington, in which my name is used to sanction,
by implication at least proceeding from which
l wholly dissent. The fourth resolution of the
meeting is as follows:
f. ResotUed, That we have seen with pleasure
an announcement, said to be based upon the
best authority" that the Hon. VIM. A. Graham
would not "condescend to accept seat in the
cabinet Of Lincoln, and if it is inconsistent with
the dignity of a North Carolina statesman to ac-
cept offi.e under Black Republican administra-
ton it is equally inconsistent with the dignity of
the free people of North Ca1olina to be subjects of
an administration SO thoroughly hostile to their
rights ard interests.
| have not been offered seat in Mr. Lin
coins Cabinet l have no personal acquain-
! tance with him. and have never had any cor
respondence, either with him or with any per-
son authorized to make such an offer Since
the publications in the newspapers some time
since, of my name in connection with those of
others, as one to whom such an appointment
might be rendered, the subject has been refer
red to, not unfrequentiy in conversations and
in two or three instances in correspondence with
my friends. To them | have stated that such
an offer had not been made, and that If it were
made it would be declined. From these con-
versations which were without reserve, the ar
ticle published in the Spirit of the Age and al
luded to IN the resolution, no doubt had its ori-
gin. L had no knowledge Of it however, until
copied into the Fayetteville Observer of last
week. While it states the fact that [ would
decline to accept, does so in language which
would subject me to the imputaton of AFRO
gance had it been employed by me.
But while unwilling to become the confdea-
tial adviser of a President, whose election was
effected upon sectional principles and by sec
tional votes, it is we'll known that | am far
from believing, his election merely is a suffi-
cient cause for the abandonment of the Gov
ernment OF our fathers, and especially for its
overthrow by unlawful violence, such as is
proposed by the meeting in question: and which
threatens destruction to the constituted author
tiles Of the State as we'll as the Federal Govern
ment. All such proceedings are based on the
mistaken suppostion, that the Government
is monarchy, and the President a sovereign
to whom we owe allegiance, and who may reg
ulate and influence destinies at his pleas
ure, whereas he is but the chief servant among
those of the national household, whom the peo-
pie from time to time, call to the performance
of duties, limited and defined by the Constitu-
ton and Laws Although the person now
elected, has claim upon our section of the
Union, except that he has been elected accord
ing to the provisions of the Constitution, that
is sufficient to entitle him to induction into of
flee, and to the exercise ofits legal functions
"acquieSccncc in the decision of maioriticS" !"
SAYS jefferson (on questions committed to ma
jorities) is the vital principle of Republics from
which there is no appeal but to force, the vital
principle, and Immediate parent Of 'iespotsm.'
Let him then, be installed in Office according
10 the requirements of the Government under
which he waS elected and give to the nation
summary of his policy. The speeches on the
hu$tin|S arc not always the guides in the po-
tjcal administration OF Government. Let IgS
hear before we srit<e-thcrc will be no ahate-
ment of manly spirit to yindirate our rights,
after this cn>ucS from what existed before
The real grievances of which the South has
a right to camplain-and as to which none are
more earnest in desiring redress than myself
are not the result OF Presidential usurpatons :;
they spring from disregard OF the obligations
of the Constitution, among large portion OF
the people of the non-slaveholding States, favor
ed in many instances by the action of their State
Governments. The remedies for them, if the
present Congress fail to agree upon them should,
in my opinion, be sought by calm appeal to
the pcople-through Convention of all the
States. Such body has never been assembled
since the adoption of the Federal Constitution.
1t would probably be free from the asperities
which have characterized the deliberations of
Congressman if upon candid confession of
opinions our differences should be found to be
irreconciable, it could provide for that peacea-
bic separation so much to be desired, if it must
come and which is hardly possible in any other
mode. This may be too diatory to accommo-
date the views of more ardent natures, but it
may be tried in far less time than our fathers
spent in efforts for reconciliation with their
brethren beyond the Atlantic, before the final
severance. Is not the preservation Of the Gov
ernment of our ancestors, hallowed by their
wisdom, and consecrated to us through a thou
sand recollectons Of national greatness, pros
perity and renown, worthy of such an expert
ment and thus much delay? In endeavoring
to study and understand it by the light of the
history of the past, it has seemed to me that it
was a Cover -lment made for this people, and
the people for the Government. Let us pre-
serve and regulate it if possibe-not destroy it.
[ have but little hope of seeing another securing
to us>so much freedom, prosperity and safety.
I'have still less from q reconstruction which is
the favorite idea its destroyers. It was diff
ficult to procure its adoption by nineteen States
amid circumstances of the most pressing nee
essity. 1t will be still more difficult to obtain
the ratification of system by fifteen, with
the diverse theories of government interest,
and safety which pervade them. All these
risques of the future, 1 shall, l trust be as
ready as other men to encounter, if the public
interest, or safety or honor shall require it. But
would have North Carolina to signalize her devo-
ton to that constitution, which her people have
loved SO WE'LL and whose covenants she has so
faithfully kept, by moderation, forbearance,
and abstinence from precipitate action-to
mediate and pacify if possible-to prevent the
disintegration of the Confederacy at least until
its different members shall have sufficient time
and opportunity in candor and spirit of
justice, to understand the positions and ideas
of each other. When this shall have been done,
| do not despair of seeing return of peace,
amity and union. If not, and the destruction
of the Government becomes a necessity, we
shall at least have the consolation to know
that our best efforts were not wanting for its
preservation.
Very Respectfully Yours.
w. A. GRAHAM.
Hillsboro' Feb. 5th. 1861.
A PARTING.-The wives and children of the
oil of EnrfS SI1Do -ho rod in Nov