Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-08-28
How 40 We stand In sor,h carolina !.

How DO we stand In NOrth Carolina
Before this war had commenced, and even after
it had progressed for some time the issue possessed
character essentially different from that which it is now
too evidently assuming.
The same motives and considerations that might have
caused the North to pause at first, might have caus
ed her to retrace her steps at early period Of the
war; would have little weight now because fercer pas
sons have been aroused and fresh complications have
been introduced: Wounded pride-embittered hate
the desire for revenge-bave been superadded to the
other considerations with which both parties entered
upon this war:
At first the North itself disavowed the idea OF a war
of subugation. It believed affected to believe that
the movement of the South wss not popular move
ment-hat the great body of the people in the South
ern States WITH perhaps the single exception of South
Carolina was in favor of the Federal and opposed to
the Confederate Government. They saw or affected to
the elements of strong Union party at the South
and especially in North Carolina. They thought the
severance from the government of Mr.. Lincoln was the
work of oligarehy." They thought that the peo-
pie were divided among themselves and that it only
qued the Federal standard to be set up within Dor
ders to majority to rally around it. They were
mistaken but who who watched the movements of par
ties politicians political newspapers, shall say they
were blindly mistaken Did not leading papers and
politicians within cur borders speak fippantly of
secession ogarchy," of precptators" and all that
sort of thing, Bennett Greey-the N. Y. Herald
or Tribune could have done? Bot for this apparent
division could Lincoln ever have dreamed of putting
down the rebellion with seventy-fve or ten times
seventy-ive thousand men? The early knowledge of
the truth By the early presentation of united front
the part of the South might have caused the North to
pause and consider before entering upon contest in
which the highest measure of success in could al
debts incurred. Had this united front been at once
presented-had the North at been enabled to see
what it now sees, who shall say that it might not then
have paused iu its mad career We do not say that it
would, but we DO think that it might, and that the
chance was that it eOould. At any rate that chance
was the best as, indeed, it the only to avoid
the outbreak of hosties and the terrible contest which
is upon O on nee of sach hostilities. On
niscence alone can see tue end from the beginning in
any undertaking, and especially does this apply to
war; Lincoln and his 7sers far from possessing
omniscience. He thought it was light matter. No
body was hurt The South was not in esrnest-the
Union party would "put down " the rebellion"
He went into it blindfod. He is now thoroughly IN
deceived but it is too late for him to retrace his steps
too late for US to reap the advantages which prudent
bodness might have secured at first.
AS soon as we saw that dsunion was an inevitable,
yea, accomplished fact, We also that North Car
DINA must later take her position with the
South. We thought and we still think that the more
promptly, the mere boldly and unreservedly this
done, the better, and repeat that thought then
and think now that Enthusiastically united front On
the part Of all the States who ultimately did must cast
their fate with the South would have tended greatly to
have brought things to understanding thereby pre-
venting altogether the outbreak of the hostlties which
desoae both sections and whose probable limit no man
can dare to foretell.
Deeming prompt action the part of prudence, since
action must come and any with his eyes OPEN must
have that, certainly did advoca tie secession by
North Carolina 10 the spring of last year. We advoca
ted it calmly and by constitutional means WE'LL while
the means we supported were in progress-to wit -
Appeals to public opinion through the press and
through public meetings and conventions Mr. Lincon's
proclamation out calling for seventy-fye thousand
men to coerce the then Confederate States Remember
his call for uen not to coerce North Carolina for
he was not then Confederate State. This reused ALL
because it presented practically the very contingency
which We mad foreseen must soon arise. It demanded
Of North Carolina TO decide whether she would fight
alongside OF Abraham Lincon5 abolition government
against the South, or alongside the South against Abra-
lam L'ncon's abolition government. Yet the leaders
Who acoud not see this until it practically forced
lpon the people, and the people compelled them to see
and act it, which they did, with very bad grace
co. in cases. instead then of joining heart and
soul with all their fellow citzens-forgetting past ami
nosties and closing up past division still sought to keep
lp these animosies and widen these divisions But for
hesc previous divisions but for the doubt about the
course of the great States Of North Carolina Virginia
md Tennessee, who could suppose that Lincoln would
rushed reckessy into this war; which being once
n, every step has involved him farther until now the
original matter is forgotten in the vehement passions
and interests of the conflict and withdrawal is imposs
de
True conservatism would certainly have counseed
calculated to heal all divisions among the PEG
ole-assuredy not the drawing of distinctions, or
he revival OF old ones and this course we counseed
and have adhered to since. Yet we, because we saw
the storm-cloud gathering, and favored prompt meas
lres either to dspae it, or to guard against its Effects
we're Immediately stgmatized by the dIatory watch
and wait leaders, who assumed to themselves the name
Of conservatives being among the desructves,"
the precpitators," as though by oreseeng, and urg
ing preparation to meet impending crisis, we had
brought that crisis; whereas, the contrary the
latoriness and apparently wilfu blindness of parties
in this and other Southern States really encouraged the
North to precpate the commencement of hostilities
the end If which no man can look forward to with any
confidence that abiding one which we have never