Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-08-20
From the Salisbury Watchman

Dir. B1mey-Dear Sir Allow me, as one of your
subscribers to thank you for your article upou the
Peace movement, which two misguided trnals
in Stat essay to inaugurate The views and ar
guments you present. certainly those which
bic and rejecting men are bound to entertain. Who
does not Peace? certainly every good citizen is
watching anxiousy for It's crepuscular brightness-but
when do they look for it? The cloud gathered 10
the North, and it s from thence the has been
raging upon u.s. and certainly it is only there that the
star of hope appear. Who desired in this
greet political movement certainly the South id not
as is shown in having made preparations for i
in advance OF oar separation from the old Union. The
Convention of NORTH Carolina, composed of the sagss
of the State the leading spirits among whom had
been the advocates Of those doctrines of States Rights
which tended to separation from the Un0n found 1t
necessary exercise its sovereignty and withdraw the
Stale from the Federal compact, in order, if possible,
to save it from the ruin which inevitable, il It
manned under the Lincoln Government The danger
Of remaining in the Union consisted 10 the fact that
the avOWed purpose of the L ncoln administration
disregard to the constitutional rights of the ouhern
States ard the fact that had already been declared
against those which had determined to take OF
themselves by Withdrawing from a Government whose
open declaration was, their destruction. For North
Carolina to have remained, would have beer servile
submission to the power which held her the sword
of desruction and forfeiture OF all seirespect and
claim decent regard of those who threatened
Us. By the action of the Convention the State took
the position which duty required and in doing so she
made no declaration Of upon the old Union, but
simply attempted to direct her affairs peaceably.
But the Government from which she had withdrawn
declared war upon hershe has been energetioaly de-
Tending herself.
| This is now the condition Of affairs. And what
change, symptom of Change has been dis covered in
the policy of the Lincoln Cover mt towards us, which
will Justify State in mai:ng overures of peace
None has been suggested What then ! sLalI we de-
clare that Convention acted in bad faith in placing
tie State in the Confederacy? Shall we blurr the
bright page of history written in TIE blood Of be
rCes who sleep upon every battle field of the war
Shall We declare to the thousands MANNED for ie that
those scars and those amputated limbs instead of at
testing your patriotism and DEVOTION to your rights
shall witness for you through time that yoa have neen
the unfortunate dupes OF weak wicked Convention
which, without due appreciation OF Lincolns power
incurred his dreadful WRATH Shall say to the mourn
ing mothers and widows that your and husbands
have been the victims of stupendous mistake? For
North Carolina to make propositions of peace to de-
clare all this.
But suppose this peace movement succeeds to the
full of the wishes of those who agitate it, what
then? Will our soldiers withdraw from the army of
the Confederacy and fall into line with those detested
enemies before whom they have for two years stood in
battle array? Never, never! To be neutral is i'm
possible then the State will necessarily be regarded
as in hostile condition to the ConfedeEac7, and in
stead of standing shoulder to shoulder with tne South
in keeping out invading army, which has in every
instance, where it obtained power shown itself to be
controlled by the most beasy characteristics OF van
dasm or at once be occupied by both contending ar
mics in deadly conflict for the possession of SOIL
Devastation and utter ruin will necessarily be the fate
of our mother State. and having forted all claims to
respectabity, no impulse of sympathy would move a
human heart towards US.
All good men will entreat you to hold steadily to
your purpose of ayertng from Us this terrible run