Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-03-21

It's consideration -
Resoced That the Secretary War be require co in
form the Senate what forts arsenas yards other
public works within limits of the States of South Caro-
lima, Georgia, Florida Alabama, Mississippi Louisiana and
of the United States and by what number of men each
garrisoned and held and whether renfocements
ment has the power and means existing laws
ply such within such time the exigencies
defense and protection of the United states and their inter-
ests make necessary and wise retain military posses
Key West and Tougas and to recapture and reoccupy
others the United States have been deprived of by
any end than the subjugaon and occupation of
those States which have assumed the right secede from
public property situated And such be the motives
for recapturing and holding the other public prop
would be necessary enable United to reduce
the States aforesaid and such others supposed to
sympathse with them to subecton and obedience the
laws OF the Unon and to protect the federal capitol.
The answer to this resolution would afford Mr.. Lin
coin the opportunity of developing his policy whether
for peace war, to the enlightenment if not to the sat-
isfacon Of the people Mr.. Douglas contends that Mr.
Lncons policy is or peace and that such the ind
cations of his Inaugural.
TO some extent this may be so. He may be inclined
prefer peace but not inclined to accede to the terms
or adopt the course by which alone peace can be
eued The great question that must bring on the issue
d
ter with the administration, for upon that depends al
most the existence Of the government at Washington.
The United States Tariff recently adopted and known
as the Morrill, Tariff is highly protective Its average
rates are higher than any bill previously passed The
tariff of the Conederated States is very low as low as
the compromise tariff Of 1928. If the ports of the
seeded States left open the foreign importatiens
for the whole South and West will be made at such
ports and may feel well assured that goods imported
at Charleston, New Orleans Mobile elsewhere in the
seeded States, will find their way into orth Carolina
Tennessee, Kentucky, and indeed the whole valley of
the Mississippi even into the Free States. The blow
that this would strike at the pecunary OF the
government would be most parayzng while at the same
time it would seriously affect the business of New York
Boston, and the other Northern ports through which
most of the importing of the country has heretofore been
carried on.
Of course, goods coming through New York, or 9TH
ports of the Union subjected to the existing
rate ofduties could not compete with goods coming
through the ports of the Confederate States paying
ties comparatively speaking, merely nominal. There
would inevitably be smuggling the line.
How is Mr.. Lincoln to collect the revenue? He
cannot collect IN the ports of the seeded States be-
cause he has officers there He cannot without ex-
press legislation collect it outside. Even General Jack
sol, willing he to take the responsibility never
went lar as to take that responsibility. 1t would at
best be clumsy, inefficient and expensive system.
We presume the proposition which would next be con-
sdered would be the introduced into both houses of
the last Congress- repeating the laws establishing ports
of entry in any Of the seeding States-decaring the
ports closed, and then bochadng them
In order to have resort to any of these means, Mr..
Lincoln must first obtain the authority to do from
Congress, and to obtain that authority he must call
extra session. The turning point of his policy will be
found here. Upon the calling or not calling of ex-
ira session. the whole subsequent of events may
possibly hinge. If an extra session is called, it can
have but one meaning-that of obtaining additional
means, and the authority to use them.
Depleted as the Federal Treasury is, and still more
depleted it is likely to be- coercion will be ar uphill
business, but that speedy arrangement and recogn
tion of the New Confederate Government form the
alternatives. With treaties of amity and commerce
sting between the Union and the Confederacy
rangements might be made measuraby guarding against
smuggling, and confning the loss of revenue to the
amount of imporatons required for consumption in the
seeded States diverted such will be from their former
channels through Northern ports.
For these and other reasons which might be urged
we anticipate an early solution of the vexed question
peace or war. The present u is allowed to go on fol
fear of prematurely alarming the border States. They
once fixed, the mask will be thrown of.
Since writing the above paragraphs, we have turneC
to the New York WorLd strong Lincoln paper, in
which we find an article urging the call OF an
extra session of Congress- for the purpose of passing
laws to enable the President to collect the revenue and
lays great stress upon the abolition OF the Southern
ports of entry 1t says The only possible way to man
age this matter is for Congress to authorize the Pres
dent to issue his proclamation declaring all the ports Of
entry in States where the duties cannot be peacefully
collected in the ordinary abolished" This will
most probably be done and thus the issue be inevitably
brought on.
North Carolina has Congressional delegation, and
would be unrepresented in any extra session held before
August We have more than called attention to
his interregnum with the view of having the time for
the election of Congressmen fixed prior to the 4th
March, so that we could not be so situated, but moth
ing has been done yet
AcoU1rrED.-Messrs. Charles H. Latham and George
A. Latham charged with the murder of Mr.. John W
Gris in the town of Washington, Beaufort county, or
the 4th day of October 1860 tried at the Supe
ror Court for Pitt county, held last week. The Jurors
retired to their room and in the of half hour
returned with verdict of not guilty. The prisoners
were discharged upon payment of their costs.
His Honor, Judge Bailey, presided.
Henry, slave belonging to Mr.. Bryan Grimes o
Pitt county, was tried and convicted the charge
having murdered Miss Lucretia Adams, young lady
keeping house for Mr. Grimes during his absence in Eu
rome He Ia to be hung on Good FRIDAY.
The REAcTIoN.-We hear good deal about the re
action North. New Hampshire affords specimen
She voted this week for Governor members of Congress