The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1861-05-01

himself, entertain any present design Of ex-
tinguishing slavery in the South. Their
sweeping generalities, that the Government
could not endure with country half slave
and hall free, and that there was a necessary
conflict whether freemen should cultivate the
fields OF The South, or slaves ill those Of the
North, was the rhetoric Of the hastings on
which they were canvassing for free.soil
votes. But this rhetoric had its effect ia
influencing, If not forming public opin.
ion among the masses, and as often hap
pens. those who blow up fame are unable
70 blow il out. regard war Of the Gov
ernment Of the United States upon the Sc
coded States, therefore, with the design OF
compelling their submission 10 the laws, and
return 10 the Union as in its consequence, a
war upon The Institutions Of the Southern
States "a general
The course ofthe President has compelled
virginia TO sever her connection with the Tn.
ION, contrary TO what had seemed to be the
wishes oi her people, and leaves North Car.
ulina no other alternative but to take the
same step. Indeed from the action Of Vlr-
GINA aud that OF The other States on our lin
us. this severance is now but matter Of
form. Tennessee being the only cotermin-
Gus Statcwhich has not declared her separa-
uoa. aye must therefore acquiesce in a
necessity which our best efiors could not a.
yert.a dissolution Of the Government Of the
United States. The announcement Of this
Tact inspires in me no feeling but painful
sadness. believe SO great catastrophe to
the whole country aud to the world. could
have been. and ought 70 have been prevented.
and that even now, il The people Of the two
sections. wh0se armies are being marshalled
IN hostile array. cuold be allowed to com.
mune together. and compare opinions in c~lm
deliberations, IL they could not agree on terms
of reuniun. could az least devise measures
Tor separation in peace. But let US yield
10 no feeling Of dependency. but grid our
lcins Tor the duties imposed on us by the
presen, and awaiting Us in the FUTURE North
Carolina with only less than a million Of in
habita1ts. with her vast resources ioi war or
f'r peace. can readily maintain her position
asa separate power Of the earth. or as q
member ofany new political organization ID.
10 which she may enter. What condition
in this respect she may resolve to occupy
must be left to the future 10 determine. Her
first care at present must be addressed ~ the
impending war. in shich, fit must come.
she can bear no neutral part. but must ally
herself with her sister States Of the South. at
least until the recognition Of her aud their
common independence. Until that is achicy.
ed let Us postpone any differences which may
separate Us as to the responsibilities and
causes Of the present condition Of affairs. and
the new agencies for the taking care ii our
national interests uhich we may 6nd il ex-
pedient 20 adapt In expressing these SEN
timents. have changed no opinions, aud en-.
terrain no regrets a. 10 the recent action OF
the people II the State. | concurred in the
decision which they made. aud IN nv opin-
ion wisely made sgaiLst the call Of Con,
vention. Aud ahaie,er opinion may Ne held
IA relation TO its wisdom, II was enyhenlly a
decision Of the people themselves The Leg
islature, the public presses and ppbtIc men
Of al parties with but rare exceptions we're
tor a Convection. .ith no very clearly deiin-
ed IDEAS u what il wa 70 accomplish except
on lhe part u ihnse who favored immediate
secession for then existing causes. The
people regarded the proposed Convention as
q measure TO eHeet revolution. and nni hav-
ing exhausted the means Of reconciliation
and peace, which in the sincerity Of their
lave Tor the Constitution and the Union,
they desired TO see attempted. they rejected
the measure al the polls. But il would be
sltDgether false Interpretation Of that de-
cision 10 say that IN i there were any sanc-
ton or encouragement 10 the use Of coersIsr
measures against the States which had with
drawn. On the contrary. such a course was
universally condemned aBd pronounced to
be just cause for resistance by the opponents
of Convention. Had the dissolution Of the
Government resulted from ConsentIon then
called and Tor Then existing causrs, they
would have felt that the blame might be i'm.
putsble 10 themselves. Coming as II now
must. from the high handed action Of the
President, lhes feel acquitted irnn is de.
structian. aud will meet The issue with no
Il oubting hearts. The decision aud the de-
lay therefore have placed The Government
Of the United States 10 the wrong and re
lisved ~ from any intestine divislanA
Mr.. Graham made other remarks. on di.
rsetiRg our whole energies to the publir de.
fence, snd on demonstrating 20 the world that
II we had not been swift To- enter the quarrel,
We Should 50 bear il, that the opposer may
beware Of Us.