The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-02-03
North Carolina rs. JEFF. Davis.

A large proportion Of the people of North
Carolina are evidently heartily sick of the
course pursued by the rebel government, and
are disposed to make their way back into the
Union with the least possible delay. Their
first business is to throw of their allegiance
to ,the confederate government JEFF. DAVIS
and his associates, recognizing the right oil
State to throw off the restraints OF Its gov
eminent at any time it may think 1t VIII be
for its interest or pleasure to do SO, VIII not,
of course, raise any objections to North Car
olina changing its allegiance at any time it
may desire.
We do not see, says the Providence Jour-
nal, how collision between North Carolina
and the Confederate government is long to
be avoided. The expression of d:safiection,
ia which the leading journals of the State in
dalge, are SO emphatic, those Journals SO
clearly represent large and influential por-
ton Of the citizens, that conflict with the au-
thorities at Richmond seems inevitable. The
Governor protests against the taxation OF
State property by the Confederate govern
ment, and is reported by the rebel papers to
have drunk to the stars and stripes at ban
quet on Christmas eve. One OF the newly
elected members Of Congress asks that the
State be allowed to depart in peace, unless
the Confederate government will keep its
promises to her. The people are holding
meetings in various counties, calling for a
State convention. The Raleigh State Jour
nal sees direct connection between these
movements and President Lincolns amnesty
proclamation. The Raleigh Standard and
the Progress have both declared in substance
that il the CONSUMPTION law is to be executed
the State will not remain in the confederacy
The Progress says that on this point the con-
fict between the State and the Richmond
government will begin. We quote its Ian
guags;
men who have furnished substitutes in this
State, writs of hdbeds corpus will be APP
piled for. Those writs will be granted, and
the persons so enrolled will be released, and
then, the Governor being pledged to enforce
the decisions of the Judiciary, the conflict
will commence; and should the presence of
every soldier we have sent to the field be nee
essary to uphold and defend the decisions of
our Supreme Court, the Executive is pledged
TO employ them for that purpose. And the
issue will arise. The men will be called for,
and the Judges will decide adversely to the
action of Congress. Then the authorities at
Richmond must back down or we must, or
collision must ensue; and for all this the uu-
thinking, unreasoning body known as the
Confederate Congress, will be responsible.
But after this question we shall have anoth-
err. Browns propositions or something like
them will be passed. A levy en- mdsse from
Is to IS or go will be made, and the whole
people will be required to submit to militia
ry despotism. Such is the tendency Of the
action Of Congress and to such extremes are
we likely to be driven. Will our people sub
init? We hope not. We would do anything
for independence, but we will not willingly
enslaye ourselves. Let our rulers and legis-
lators beware"
Unless these papers entirely misrspresent
the people Of North Carolina, JEFF Davis will
find bis subjects in that State about as trou
blesome as the foe.