Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-09-24
From the Raleigh Standard, April "a, Il

" We MUST FIGHT !"-1he proclamation OF Mr.
Lincoln has left to the people of the border States no
alternative but resistance unconditional SUBMISSION
| The Southern who would quietly submit TO the
doctrines uncated in that document is ut only Tor a
slave. We do not go behind that document and II Is
not our purpose to 90 behind it as long as this war
| shall last We have abored for peace on honorable
terms-we would hail it now, on honorable terms, with
profound satisfaction but, much we deprecate war,
tUar must be encountered and must be continued as
long as the foot of Federal soldier rests on our
| soil.
| It is true the odds appear to be against Us. The
army and navy in the hands of the old federal gov
| ernment That government too has name among the
nations. 1t has the command OF ready means for
offensive purposes in the way Of money and arms
than the South has and the non-slaveholdDg States
which uphold it have common head around which to
rally in their onset on the South. The latter section
has but small army-indeed, regular army-and
it has navy 1t has government OF seven States,
unreoognizad among tie nations, and eight separate
State governments making common cause with the for
But though the odds 8g INST u.s. they not
near so great as between England and the calones -
The slaveholding States bring into the field one mil
lion of fighting men, brave charged bayonet
or drew sword These men be supported by those
who remain at home, and by the labor of slaves
The South can support and tire schan itself. 1t
furnish itself with every article necessary for subsis-
tence, and it wants no luxuries in time like this In
addition TO this people will fight for Constitutional
liberty against arbitrary their homes and
hearthstones, and, it may be- for existence. S1ch
~
their country may be laid waste and their blood may
flow like water, but they be "subjugated"
than tie winds or the sea-
People of North Carolina call has been made for
volunteers. Virginia and Maryland encountering
the first burst of the storm. Their people reused
and ready for action, but they must have aid. If we
would keep the battle from doors we must unite
with Virginia, Maryland, Kentucky and Tennesse in
offensive operations. united and vigorous demonstra
ton may lead tc honorable peace, but failing in that
it will place in line with adequate force to sustain
our sister States The Confederate States will perform
their whole duty. The egons that conquered ct Buena
Vista, Cerro Gorda, Contreeas and Cherubusco, will
turn their faces northwArd to unite their efforts
with their allies of the border States. The constituted
authorities CT the State have called let citizan SOL
diery answer. They a0M! One heretofore for peace
and the Union forward to say to you that this is
just and honorable 1t is which could not
have been avoided. 1t has been forced upon We
must fight Prove yourselves worthy of those who
fought and fell at the Alamance and Kings Mountain,
and of those who surviving toled and suffered through
seven years war. Fanaticism and unjust power
one side-"God and our native land" are on the