New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-03-24
WILMINGTON.
Cou,,uued from First Page.

p..L<x Thai W viii remain = our homes ana ehet'
M, ,ubmt to til. authority Of the National "o'e'HI'h
,edsins to II loyal obedience and hearty supper"
R,.,red That we believe that by this course "" are pro
o,n, No, ony the interest, Of Wilmington but also OF the
gt,,. os North Csrons by doing what ' in our power 10
.ar her to the Union which she enjoye" so great pros
,rt IN the past and IN which alone 'hs c"n No o' peace
S.a Republican freedom for the future
PIr,d T. Th, assuming in good faith tie obligations Of
.,eps Of the United States do not place ourselves III we
attitude Of ,ubugated people but claim the nights and pn'
Ages guaranteed by Constitution TO American citizens and
assured to persons in orr peeunS e0h'N'" ny '"' '
ion Of the President
R,ol,,d That We call upon fellow citizens OF North
r.rorn, 10 Join with In protesting against the madness OF
,he Authorities tie State in sDg the prosecution Of 's
E,t,rds war for a cause which believe to be hopeless
hoe continuance will only render ruin more remedies
IN the end and which wsged for the sake Of government
N which the people have justly Loot ell confidence
Ro,rsd That urge them to secept the condition in
which the fortune of has placed them, and to submit to
Che national authority ths, noble state be speedily
restored to the Cpon where The Of the people have In
0eir hearts ALWAYS wished her to be-.
Rossd That il view Of the fac, that srse number oil
s citizens have been reduced poverty by the and for
,nt Of occupation Ia danger of great suffering Of be
seins dependent upou the bounty OF the Government Tor
support. we woud respectfully the e1pdenee Of afford
r to our community speedily possible such hciies oi
commerce aud industry be cou'psies Win mih'Ai'
Sovemen,s and the general Interests OF tho country
Reo,rsd T. That take pleasure In bearing testimony 10
Me s-per. courtesy and good order Of the national troops
,o,h and the pomptuess and efficiency OF the
military authorities in protecting the citizens and e'pScsy
nyir lbersity the poor and suffering IN our midst
Ressed That copies OF these resolutions be sent 10 'he
President The United States the Governor o. North siohns
And the leading newspapers OF the State
In obedience TO the request Of the Mayor, the Rev.
Nj Hepburn the Presbyterian minister. came forward
aud again read the resolutions 70 the meeting 1helf
second reading greeted with evenmore marked an
ahusssm than they were OF first Being requested to
address the meeting. MI Hepburn spoke as follows;
THE REV. MR. HEPBURN sPFEcB.
"FrrIow. CITIZENS l making no unmeanins
apologv when | say that | sincerely regret that
she duty of opening the discussion upon these resou.
irons has deyolyed upon Not that have the least
hesitation in publicly declaring my views ana Ieshnss
unon any of tie subjects referred 10 in them. Ia the
Suty of eve,y TO evow bis honest convictions
The great OF conservative men has prs t"'
have been too prudent or timid rather We ought u
be wiser in the future. But would prefer that some
Of the older citizens OF Wilmington go many OF Thom
have taken such an active part 10 TN, meeting sh"uu
address instead O ne. Still az the interests oi s
ofus are involved in the course pursued ny tLls eonnu
nifty and by State We have all right TO speak ana
10 be heard. ,.
alton We see about too much Of the figltiu
results Of for this miss many familiar faces
which We shall never behold ON earth again We see
many OF CITIZENS reduced to poverty and want we
have seen 10 day citizens OF neighoonpg STATE
brought into our midst. many Of whom were once ~
siauence who have been left homeless, and are AoS
deueudent upou the charities OF the authorities and O
cur citizens for their support He would De hard heart
ed indeed who could in the midst Of such Astounding
misery indulge in frivolous eruitstion. No, We have
come together as earnest men 10 decide on matters o
greatest importance to our whole community.
Il nay say. too. that We say nothing IL reference Il
past opinions and conduct In such large assembage a.
&his nil varieties OnlUiOD been held. II L.
disgrace for man to change his opinions il is dis
hess Is not asked b. these resolutions OF msn We
have nothing TO DO with the past. let the dead past
bury its dead all that We propose il 10 declare clearly
and firmly present views 70 tie course vhicb We
deem IL our duts 10 purSne.
"The and substance Of the resolutions is that
Tenounce The Governments under which have been
living for years and that We heartily desire that
our State may once more he restored 20 the Union.
If theIe any present who sti has any lurking
feeling that the Confederate Cove nmen has any claims
upon him let him bat review the OF It's rulers
Tor the past four years IL he prefer It, for the last
year, and let him then say what motives OF honor or
duty bud lin 10 il. Treason, gentlemen ~ cr me OF
which not merel! the subjects OF government may be
guilty; the rulers also may BE- guilty OF it. Right
minded people will always oxercis' great charity
toward their rulers. ana RD endure much from
them bnt there il . point beyond which obedience
ceases 10 be duty. When the Government becomes
unjust and cruel when rulers demand what 'reemen
dare not give then tie rulers become the traitors and
not 10 resist and renOunce them il treason ngainS; fee
dom and against humanity. What has been the
Of the Confederate authorities from the beginDing O
ell those rights which have been taught 10 regard
most sacred bat is there that they have not VIC
hated, This COniedeacy founded on the principle
of State rights; and the rgh,s OF the States were at
the very first trsmped uGdef foot Then We had q
eonseript law; denounced by some o. the leading
men Of our States unconstitutional. and az what
ought ney to BIO In nee country but the law was
passed, as sweeping. ruthless and cruel system Of
eonscription disgraced tue egitlsion Of envy
country Every year added 10 ts injustice and severity
anti At the last Mr.. Davis demanded all exemptions
Ahafld he 0kel hau shn ha
lodged the whole power Of deciding whether a man
should serve the Co1ederacy al home or IN the Held
He to detail men 70 practice medicine preach the
Goere edit newspapers. make laws, &c. What a
claim was that 10 be put forth in this free country
Then we had most oppressive taXes'the last diet wac
wrung from the clutchec hand OF poverty and owing
10 some ny s.erious bunder frand that tai 90
doubled. Had we remained much longer IN ileir
power there many here wbe would have had to sell
everything 10 pay their taxes need not dwell Oh the
reputation Of the currency tue Suspension of the writ
habeas corpus the legszed robbery called impress
meut the VI good faith 10 their dealings With our
citizens the secret sessions Of Congress- Ac. &c. To
close the catalogue Of their follies and crimes
that Slavery which declared by Mr.. Stephens the
Of the Confeceracy will soon he completely
destroyed by item. i say, tLen. what claims has
Government which has thus forsken all the principles
upon which il was founded and which has been guilty
OF prolonged and ystemsc INJUSTICE and oppression
upon cry for confidence OF support Truly do
iese resolutions declare that the IL waged for
the sake OF Government which has forfeited all claims
u our confidence and affection
I'VE declare ssC la these resolutions that Il m our
<ontetio1 that ony hope for pesce security and
freedom is 10 the restoration OF the Union IN all its
integrity. and iaat desire 10 see our State
a member q that Union. This l believe is the
sentiment Of the large msjorty of the people of North
Carolina. do not believe that she ever lost her al
tacbment % the old Government. North Carolina
never gave IN 10 the beresy 81 Secession. When the
Aour Of trial GENE when 20 be inevitable
and she called upon take sides in the struggle
abe yielded H. the strong cluns OF blood and kindred
and against her convictions she generously stepped
4. al. l,ea k.I