Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-01-31
TIE WILMINGTON JOURNAL
From the Daily Journal of yesterday.
The Meeting Last Night.

The Meeting Last Night.
Pursuant to notice public meeting was held last
night at the Theatre to consider the present position of
the Country. The attendance was large and the feeling
enthusiastic. T. G. Miller, Esq, being called upon
to preside explained the object of the meeting to be the
promotion of union among OurSelveS-of Southern |
Union The union of Southern men in defence of their
rights their liberties and their honor against the
gressions Of fanaticsm and reckless ambition on the
part OF the North. DR.. A j. DeRosset and Dr. w. |
G. Thomas were appointed Vice Presidents and W. q.
Fergus Esq, requested to act as Secretary.
o. P. Meares, Esq, was called upon and responded in
an earnest address. He said that the time had in
which behooved all Southern men to look the crcum
stances fairly the face and to let sentimental devo
ton to Union which was once the source of so many
blessings blind him to the fact that that Union no
longer exists-that the constitutional guarantees upon
which it alone could exist had been volaed-that all
demands for our rights, all proposals for arrangement
had been scoed and secuted by the Republicans until
not one hope remained and the time contemplated in
the resolutions Of the Union meeting held in Town
Eal had arrived, when secession had become pract-
cal necessity. Ie therefore felt it his duty to take
firm position in favour Of the secession OF North Caro-
lima from the Northern States aud her union with a
Southern Confederacy. lie deprecated tie diatory
course of the Legislature the convention question as
Injurious to the honor the influence AID the interests OF
North Carolina lie did not apprehend that any grfat
attempt would be made at coercion did be any
great reason for Gead if such attempt aCere
made. The threat Of coercion an idle menace and
should be treated with contempt Any effort at coer-
cion should be sternly repealed.
He secuted the idea of there being any antagoniSm OF
interest between the shareholders and the nonsavehold
er OF the South or any difference In their loyalty to
their Satetheir jealousy OF her honor and their devo
ton to her institutions
Joshua g. Wright Esq, was the next SPEAKER. lie ap'
p:ooched tie discussion Of the question involving the
right OF secession with considerable dhdence lie DID
not pretend to be great Statlst-he had no profound
acquaintance with aOSIuse questions Of ln'erhatlona
or constitutional law but as ala"yer lie would say thai
If he always had as plain case to argue before petit
jury could be made out III favour OF the right OF SeceS
sion, be would feel little apprehension OF losing his
causes Mr.. Wright then proceeded to argue the qu2s
ton ably aad at some length, reviewing the history
the formation OF The Union and citing the best auhorl
ties bearing upon the subject Mr.. Wright said that h
laid peculiar st ess upon the right il this CASE as feeling
how much he Consciousness OF being in the right contrl
butcd strengthen the uphoders and defenders of
cause or course Of action.
Mr. Wright then glanced over the history OF our pre-
seat poAucdi complications, brought ABOUT Oy person
and sections anlnated by lust o. power or STIMULATED
by an unrca5onn5 ianat'cI5n Or fharsalcaI sei-4s
TEEN. Inns 'hin9 lad teen done deliberately oy ines
people Ihey had Dsen warned OF IT, lhey haa Deer
Appealed 10 ~ all Inc cOh'iue!@IOhS tnat ought 10 h1'
had "e'SAI Win parrots ah0 Pll@h P'S' ouI the!
haa nenef stopped nor "''eeu Ill theF onward nafcl
Oh aggression. Ou94I 'nc 0ou'n 10" 70 Sop Or ll'e
When cehId upon 10 take up arms III her own oeIehce
MI III" referred 70 tne ABUSE "hlcn had oeel
heaPcd upon oo0lA Car0lna' ana Pald glowing an
eloquent u'Ou'e u tn"I generous anu nlSh-sPHlte
state one may nave oeeh pEccPl'"Ve' ou' IL ONE
STATES hau also oeeh pIeciPate' IL all The oouIner
States had taken 'hc PoSiIoh 10 "nIcn oouh Caronf
months ago. invited tnem our rights would never haV
peen REUSED nor secession rendered necessary
spoke OF the reYoluon&ry glores OF Fort Mourle, an
OF the recent hr1nnesS anu decision OF South Carofn
IN nfln8 upon vessel win fchlorcemen'S Tor FOL
Sumter.
lie oegged mat al his tme' "hen harmony anon
ourselves was SO esSeha 10 our rights ana 10 cur sal
~ 'naI all aOuSe' aI oenuncaioh' oil onenSl'e
as aPPAeu ny 0ou'neEn lnen 10 eacn other Snoud
sluolousy aVolded. Nltna hrn' united 'front.' we won
secure peace Or '"An8 IL 'na' We could oely "or
IN arms
A M WaddeiI' Esq next addressed the meeting
having been warmly called for lie said that he pr
posed to state his views briefly and plainly without ar
attempt at eioquence or any nourlSh OF rhetoric d
felt that the position he occupied IN the community
one whose views went daily to the public would Pc
q
his present position, as well as his future course
DeVolediy a'acheo 10 Inc Onion' lie had ac'ed open