Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-03-08
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL.
oppresston of the South.

own people, or of bringing to the minds OF
the inhabitants of the Northern States, the
fact of the rapid destruction of all rights
heretofore supposed to be theirs, that we
touch upon politics. We are too weak tc
offer resistance to those despotic encroach
ments, even if we entertained any idea o.
what we have before proven to be futile
and the evidences are too strong to sup
pose otherwise than that the Northern people
are anxious for strong government. The
principles upon which the Constitution Of
the United States was formed are entlrely
overlooked or disregarded and the pas
sions of the moment, OF the interests O.
capitalist are paramount to either sense
of right or constitutional restraints. The
South has been deprived of every righ
which freemen ought to exercise, ant
the evident intention of all legisla
ton is to destroy any and every
thing connected with OF tending to
wards State Sovereignty. We will no
inveigh against these acts Of the rabble, OF
what is worse, the decentralization of Con
gross. In our helplessness we care not how
soon those who Cypress us by their repre-
sentatives, may find themselves deprived OF
all that makes areal freeman. And IN the tel
egraphic announcement of yesterday morn
ing, we see an act for our own oppression,
which must reflect upon it's authors or then
constituents. It is proposed to reach the
poor and oppressed Southerner, by open
ing to the Federal Courts all claims over
five hundred dollars. This doubtless was
started by some northern shylock, who
has paid the venal Congress for its
service; but we are ready to accept it, if It
will onlyapply uniformerly to all the States,
whether belonging to the great and glorl-
GUS Union, or to those now known as ''re-
bells against the best government the world
ever knew"
Experience has proven, if history demon
strates anything, that wealth and luxury
are incompatible with free institu-
tions. No country on the planet
can begin to rival the Northern and Western
States in material prosperity. Capitalist
are wise enough to see that the masses will
soon be clamoring for legalized agrari
anism; and before the mad passions of the
unbridled populace shall demand division
of i'll gotten riches, they are more than
anxious that they may be protected from
reaping the whirlwind to which their vices
and cupidity have made them SOW. New
England would gladly hail Sumner King
or Emperor provided his edicts would pro
tect its marine and manufactures, and the
West peopled by foreigners, and those who
in malice forget their own freedom, are
willing to infict anything upon us for the
moment. That "history is constantly re,
peating itself" is too true, all who read OF
study must admit, but it is only because
men will not profit by the experience
of ages, or that human nature is
too weak to endure prosperity. 1t may
be that there is enough virture in the
nation to return to Republican principles,
but we can discover no remains of it except
ing here among our crushed and despoiled
people. And let us here regret that we
find those who would, like Mr.. Johnson Of
Maryland, sacrifice principle and manhood
to the moloch of momentary expediency.-
The christian may as well compromise will
satan as patriot and statesman yield right
and principle to the passion, prejudice and
power of depraved public sentiment and
avaricious cupidity.
This malady of the mind has to run its
course. The results of such violent dis
ease must shatter and destroy the constitu
ton. The people of the North and West
will awake, too late, to find that they have
voluntarily given into the hands of unscru
pulous power, every engine of despotic OPP
preston to crafty a cowardly malice to.
ward a brave people, once their brothers.
Can we feel regret With our chains, can
we commiserate the forgers. when We be-
hold them CALLED by manacles wrought fol
us, and by their own chosen masters, fast
ened upon them ?