The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-03-12
GOV. ELLIS Ar WILMINGTON.
From the Wilmington Herald.


His Excellency. Gov Ellis, arrived here on the
train Tuesday evening from Goldsboro, and mus.
have been somewhat surprised at the reception
with which he met at the depot. 1t being an
nounced in the afternoon that the Governor would
be here the different companies were ordered out
and at quarter past six o'clock the battalion un-
der command of Col John L. Cautwell, formed in
front of the City Hotel, and marched thence to
the depot of the vii, & Vel Railroad, where a
large concourse Of citizens soon assembled. The
battalion was composed of the German Volunteers
the Wilmington Light Infantry, the Cape Fear
Rifemen, the Rife Guards, and a detachment Of
Capt Heddick's Company of Artillery.
The arrival of the train welcomed with a
salute from the artillery, (Which kept up the fire
for some time,) stirring air from the band, and
the shouts of the multitude. After short aud
informal reception of good many of our citizens,
the Governor was escorted to a carriage which was
in waiting for him. and conducted, under escort of
the battalion, to the City Hotel, where he was in
troduced to the large crowd by Acting Adjutant
A. NJ. Waddell The Governor made speech Of
some length, In the course Of which he alluded to
the condition of the country, and commented on
Abe Lincolns inaugural address. He said it was
impossible to tell whether the people of North
Carolina had called Convention until the. Official
vote was counted The contest very close
one; but of thing he well assured, viz :
that if the people had defeated the Convention
they would be driven to the necessity Of reconsd
cring their conduct by circumstances about to
transpre, over which they had no control They
would be driven out of the Union by the policy Of
the incoming administration Our affections, our
interests, and destiny with the South
and the people, sooner or later would 90 where
those led them. Mr. Lincoln had just made his
inaugural address. 1t meant coercion: it meant
that he intended to collect the revenue in seeded
States, and to hold the government property there
And that meant war-and the first blow that was
struck for independence at the South, would put
US all side by side Such action the part of the
administration would be a usurpation of power
which the people of North Carolina as frcemen
would have right to resist, without waiting for
Convention to be formally assembled He (the
Governor) had recommended Convention in his
message to the last Legislature because he thought
the condition of the country demanded it; and he
hoped the recent election had given practical
shape to his recommendation. He had confidence
in the people of North Carolina and he could not
but believe that they would 6rd it necessary for
them to 90 out of the Union.
He thought it had been demonstrated that we
could not live with the people of the North peace
ably, and in the full enjoyment of all our rights
He alluded to the action Of the Peace Conference
and paid the Commissioner from Cape Fear-Geo
Davis, Esq.,-a high compliment for his patriotism
and sagacity in casting his vote against the plan
submitted by that body. He would as soon sec
the Chicago platform inserted in the Constitution
as the Peace Conference plan. It had been de-
feated in Congress-therc settlement of
our difficulties, and as if to add to the national
troubles, Abe LincCln's Inaugural Address
nounces the Chicago platform as his guide and
coercion as a part of his policy. The Governor
paid the people Of the Cape Fear region compli-
ment and said he rejoiced to that the
spirit of resistance to tyranny which animated
their ferefathers still animated them. He thanked
the people of Wilmington for the handsome and
cordial reception which he had always met at their
hands when visiting this part of the State in
official character; said he was here this occasion
more for recreation than business, as his health
was not good, and-expressng the pleasure it
would afford him to meet his fellow citizens socially
he again thanked them, and closed his remarks
amidst cheers for the Governor, secession, &C., Sc