Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-05-23
The COny.UtIon,-SCme Plain Suggest lions.


! our mountain people
| The ConveEtlom.-SCme Plain Suggestions.
When on the 10Th of April, Abraham Lincoln 49,
sued his proclamation calling for an army OF sevtny-hVe
thousand men to maintain his authority by military
force and demanded that North Carolina should con-
tribute her quota the subugaon of her southern Sis
ter States and when this act followed up by other
acts of war; equally fragrant, tyrannca and nnconstitu
tionaI the people of North Carolina arose as one man to
endorse the conduct of Gov Ellis in serny refusing to
comfy with the equson, and to sustain his action 10
taking possession of the forts and other public property,
and in adopting all due and proper measures for the de-
fence of the State This uprising of the people 10 its
uaanmity in its abnegation of SELF in its orgetulness
OF party had in it SURPRISING elements of moral grandeur
There is something majestic in the simultaneous move
ment of a whole peope-a people who for the accom-
plshment of one great end willing to forget or to
waive all intermediate quarrels and divisions.
But it should be remembered that it was for the ac
complshment of a certain ED that the people moved
thus That it was for the accomplishment of certain
end that they demand tue assembling of the Legisla
ture-that it was for the accomplishment of the same
end that the Legislature yielding to and obeyng the pop
ular impulse, Immediately passed bill for the assembling
of Convention at early day and it is for the ac
complishment of the end that the Convention is
expected to assemble.
What is that end Upon what point were aud are
the people so unanimous? For what purpose-under
what pervading Influence did they waive all their party
prejudces in the selection of delegates, and only ask
that they should be sound upon the question of
sion? Is it not evident that the desire for the prompt
no
eracy and her equally prompt union with the Southern
Conederacy universal among the people OF the State
That in the election of delegates this consideration alone
was kept in view? That changes Of the organic law
of the State, no other questions formerly involved in
party politics party contests were thought about and
that the members to the Convention were not chosen
with reference to any other questions issues than
those arising of what have heretofore been called
our Federal Relations?'
Now if the answers to our questions are in the a1ir-
mave-if the whole voice and action of the people OF
North Carolina be not deuson and cheat-f the
armipg of her volunteers actor-f her camps and
forts not made of paper then the popular decision
of the State is for immediate secession and any attempt
delay procrastnate by failing to pass the ordinance
Of secession promptly Or having passed it, to postpone
its operation until it could be submitted to the people
would be neither more nor less than a contemplate
mockery Why, we are now at war; We are in revo
u luton-our ports are blockaded-we warred upor
by Lincoln. TIL people demand the promptest actor
to carry out of Confederacy and into the other
But shall this Convention, called under such auspices
under circumstances imposing, charged with desti
- MES mOmentOus, descend into political debating
shop? Shall aspirants for future political distinction b.
e allowed to avail themselves of this opportunity to seiz
upon old devise political issues upon which tt
build up the edice of their future advancement tn
- advancement of their party their section? We
not. Would that to trust could add assurance ant
be enabled to say that know that selfish part
zan measures or motives will allowed to hold plac
D. or exert influence in the Convention to assmbI
next week at Raleigh But have no such assurance
- Men frail, and the delegates men. Politician
are ambitious and mapeuvring, and the delegates ar
mostly politicians with to grind Mind we do ro
u use the accustomed slang and say unprinciped pot
n cians and on but do say that as men and pol
u tciaRs, they trail and peculiarly liable to empts
ton it is therefore, desirable that they should act
keeping before them the prayer to be not led into emp
u ton, but delivered from evil and that to avoid th
temptation they should conne themselves strictly
what they know to have been the purposes of their ee
severance Vi from Inc OrLlern
edracy and her adhesion to the Southern Confederac
So far as this is concerned and thus far only are we
state of revolution. We not in any revoutionar
position towards State authorities nor do the eme
gencies of the times require the intervention of the bod
III to meet n Raleigh next week, further than such inte
vention may be needed to adapt us to our new Co
'" ederae relations, and give effect to the ordinances
" tablishiDg such new relations The people of the Sta
will keep sharp watch upon their servants, and 6
demagogueical attempts to introduce exraneous que
tions for political effect for the promotion of person
~ ends or ambitions, will be sterny rebuked.
NO We will tomorrow 60 more into details in regard
the measures which it may be necessary for the Conve
ton to adopt. Whatever that body does beyond VIII
may be required by pressing necessity will be aUrong
- What the Convention should do and what it shou
~ not do, are, within certain limits clear enough We,
know that it called and elected to take us from
der the formal control of Lincons Government and
o place in association with the Confederate States
We all know that it is expected that both these thin
Ill shall be done promptly the first of them at once-th
the 10th May, the anniversary of the Meckenburg j
caratlon OF Independence is regarded the auspico
III occasion upon which to take this great step in t
history OF the State. The secession should be prom,
decided nol somuch public opinion has already sett
VI down to- The prompt connection of this State with
U.s. Southern Contederacy member and not mere ally
required by public opinion and by public interest T
OF thing will be done-the people anxious for tit