Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-03-13
RALEIGH. N. C.. WE'D NESDAY. MARCH 13, 1861.
Gov. Ellis in Wilmington.

Gov. Ellis in Wilmington.
We learn from the Journal that Gov. Ellis was in |
Wilmington on the 9TH had reception at the hands |
of his brother disunionists, and made speech
The Journal says;
:" The Governor referred to the position of public
affairs in Congress and throughout the country-to
MI. Llncolns decarations-to his sneaking into
Washngton-to the total failure of all plans of ad
Justment-to the coercion policy of Lincolns mes
sage.to the necessity of resistance and to the in
evtable course of things leading North-Carolna to
join er fate with her sisters of the South and that
at no distant day. He did not know how the cleo
ton in this State had resulted but however 1t had
resulted the march of events was still onwards. If
we had not convention now we would have one
very soon When he looked around and saw the
spirit manifested here he felt that the spirit of
76 was still alive, and its fires still burning.
Neither the law nor the constitution gave the
President power to coerce any State and the attempt
to do so would be act of usurpation that the peo
pie themselves had the natural and ndefeasble right
to resist even should it be necessary to do with
out waiting for the forms of authority.
Old Virginia could not accept the so-called COM
promise or adjustment. She had put her foot down,
and her terms had been rejected and she must either
90 out or back down. Would she back down? He
did not believe it."
Gov. Ellis referred to the coercion policy of Lin
coins message" Now there is no more coercion in
Llncoln's Inaugural than there was in Mr. Buchan-
ans annual message; but it did not jump with the
Governors unholy designs against the Union to ad
init this fact
The Governor also referred to "the necessity of
resistance" But what if the State should not re-
sst Governor, until an attempt shall have been
made to subjugate the South, or until some uncon-
stitutonal act shall have been passed by the general
government-what then! Are you for resistance"
now' We believe you are. Try it. sir. You also
declared IF zoe had nota Convention ao,o ,ce ooud
haze one soon." That is the report Of what you
said as given in the Journal The Herald reports
you as saying that if the people had defeated the
Convention they would be driven to the necessity
of reconsidering their conduct by circumstances
about to transpre. over which they had no control"
Great respect for the people, indeed has the Gov
ernor! They must "reconsider their conduct !"-
they must resist they must do as John w. Ellis
tells them to do! The servant has become the
t master.
Our readers will now perceive that what We said
in November last is true, that Gov. Ellis is rank
dsunionist Indeed SO deeply Is he committed to
the schemes of Yancey and Others and so thorough
ly is he bent on destroying the Union, that if
| Convention should not be called according to the
Constitution, believe he will give his countenance
and his aid to a revolutionary movement for Con-
vention similar to that threatened to be set on foot
in Wilmington and Goldsborough. Let him at
tempt it, and let the disunionists attempt it if they
dare! Reverence for the law and for the Constitu-
ton still uppermost in the hearts of the people
of this State; and if John W. Ellis or any one else
should attempt to trample on the Constitution, or
to act the part Of the usurper the people will rise
in their might with arms in their hands, and con-
sign the traitors to condign punishment. similar
threat was uttered in the Senate of this State by
Messrs. Thomas, Burton and Erwin; and this
speech of the Governor proves what We thought
then, that these gentlemen were acting with him
and under his advice.
And yet Gov Ellis claims to be Democrat He
is not a Democrat. He is an oligarch. He has no
respect for the will of the people, and the fact is
proved by this speech Of his in Wilmington. No
man can be Denocrat-no man can be Republi-
can of the Jefferson and Jackson stamp who treats
the will of the people, Gov Ellis is doing, with
contempt The people must "rsconsider their con-
duct" Why, this Governor is as arrogant and as
impudent as Gov Tryon ever was. He is the mas
ter and the people must meve as mere automatons
in obedience to his gracious orders! Mr.. Clingman
issued his orders from Washington that the State
"must" secede or take part with Lincoln in making
war ON the South and now we have the chief oil
garch himself lecturing the people for having voted
against Convention, and telling them they must
"reconsider their co1duct" and do better!
The Herald also reports the Governor as compli-
menting George Davis for his casting vote in the
Peace Conference against the Franklin substitute.
"He soouM as soon" says the Herald, see the
Chicago platform, inserted in the Constitution as
the Peace Conference plan" This is gross reHec-
ton on Judge Ruffin and Gov. Morehead, and other
distinguished and patriotic members of the Con-
ference from both sections including Messrs. Rves
and Summers, of Virginia, who voted for that
plan.
But we will not pursue the subjectfurther to-day.
What sad spectacle, to see the Governor Of this
patriotic Unon-lou'ng consercatire old State 0ith
the oath to support the federal Constitution resh up
on his lips conspiring against the Union hich that
Constitution esta6lished, and ererting himself to
the almost to increase the bitter feeling already
isting among our people, and to hurry them into
the eortsr Of recolution and ciui1 0ar!
tW We learn that Mr. Bell, of Tennessee, and
Mr.. Gmer, of this State were offered seats in Mr..
Lincoln's Cabinet Mr.. Bell replied that under the
circumstances he could not accept unless the ncom-
ing President would furnish him with written pro.
gramme of his policy; thatif this should be done,
and he should be thereby assured that no move.
ments would be made By the President and Cabinet
inmical to his section and he should be also thus
assured that he would be able to act harmoniously
with the administration, he would accept place in
the Cabinet. Aspecial programme was not furnish