Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-05-03
MIR RoBINso. MS REPLY.

M.. President and FeRo,c Citizens Il hav
listened with profound attention $3.50 ro,,
the gentleman who has just adj et %o 80 =
commend that speech for it's elOqut ~" 0IiC -
beauty, but it reminds somewhat OF as "a ~
dote | once heard up IN my country about 90 -
preacher: There was an old man named L, @e:'
an old negro preacher, very piOus, good, clev,
old soul. And there came along another preacher
who had great reg ard for elOquenc0 and for pi-
ey The old man invited him to preach. The
old man called on to pray the Lord for many
good gifts. as well as for great many wants, and
he sent 10 his prayers. and among other things
he SAID: Eve thank you that you have called
him to preach for Us, but, oh Lord, it is windy
and he needs priCkinS."
shall therefore devote myself to pricking this
somewhat lengthy speech of the gentleman who
has just sat down, and shall join with him
the question of the late civil war. They claim
that the SOuthe States without any cause sepa-
rated from the federal government, and Cndear-
Ored to establish separate existence He tells
you also, that no overt act had been attempted,
that the republican party which controlled the
government intended no violence to the rights OF
the South.
Feow-ctizens, to understand this question OF
responsibility, it is necessary we should go back
and examine the history of The country during
the latter part OF Mr.. JetfersOus admlnIstri tlOn
Foreign dissensions rendered it necessary that no
embargo should be precluded, and soon after, du-
ring Mr.. MadisOn's administration, a wal broke
out with England. A blockade was proclaimed;
this as did the blockade which existed during the
late war, kept out foreign goods Of every descrp-
ton and rendered the establishment Of home
manufactures necessary in the North. And I'M
der these circumstances, they grew up into great
prosperity. During the progress OF the war the
federal governme t had contr acted a very heavy
debt. To iquidate that debt, it was necessary
a tax should be levied. The manufacturers OF
New England and of the Northern States gener-
ally, went before Congress and proposed that q
tax on all foreign goods coming into this country
should be levied. Congress agreed to levy that
tax and thereby formed for the manufacturers OF
the North an incidental protection, but a revenue
raised from this was so great that IN avery
short time that debt was paid and it became no
longer necessary that such a system of taxation
should be levied The North insisted that man
ufacturers should be protected. The South OPP
posed the imposition of that tax, and that was
one of the first questions raised between the two
sections.
Why, year after year, the fight was waged in the
Halls of Congress, beteween the North and the
South, in regard to taxation. 1t was not ques-
ton of patriotism between the two sections but it
was question of dollars and cents. 1t was an
appeal to their pockets-such an appeal has never
failed to produce contention. The two sections
were engaged IN this way for thirty or more
years. Tue North, although it had a superiority
of numbers, saw that the South was rapidly gain
ing in strength which would soon invest her with
power which would enable her to establish this
system, and it therefore became the duty of the
North to crush and cripple her resources. Slavery
was an element of strength to the South, 10
destroy that strength, not from any philanthropy,
love or friendship for you, have they devoted
their attention to the discussion and destruction
of slavery. The question was not whether slave
IT,,
be restricted to certain territories. The North
claimed that Congress had right to legislate
that slavery should not enter the territories
The South claimed on the other hand, that the
Constitution gave hem the right to carry slavery
wherever they pleased, and it became evident il
1860, that this conflict must end IN the overthrow
of the South. The South saw she had to contend
against powerful and aspiring North in the race
Tor wealth, and knowing that she would be thrown
at the feet of her great rival she, to prevent that
Contingency, and not to prevent the abolition OF
slavery, appealed to the arbitrament of the sword
for protection.
The Government was then in the hands OF q
resident VINO belonged to the Republican party
Inc senate was held by some of the leading mem
bers OF that party who favored similar course o.
action. There the South stood environed on eve
ry side by her enemies, who were inspired by bit.
ter malice, determined to crush her out and make
her lay suppliant at their feet for her rights IN
der the Federal Constitution.
Now, fellow-citizens, before the war commenced
the gentleman did not love the old flag any better
than did. My ancestors fought to establish thai
nag IN North Carolina, and in many place they
met the British and fought OF the principle thai
there was no right to taxation while people Were
teIC wlthout the right of representation. loved
mat Union and Constitution and that old flag a
tne time as much as he, and whea it became ne
-Gessary that the South should retire from tina
Union. no man, care not how much he may hav
1oVeo tho Union, regretted the necessity of tina
step any more than l. l was what was called il
the South an original secessionst, and belonged
20 class OF men who were not the men most il
@aYor o. slavery, but Who, nevertheless, though