Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-10-02
From the AshevlIle News.
HON. I. l.. CLINGMAN'S LETTER.
70 The VOTERS OF BDRTH CAROLINA
AsHEvILLE, Sept. IS, 1868.

| present policy and condition of the conn
| try
Having been representative in one or
the other House of Congress for sixteen
years Immediately preceding the com
| mencement of the late civil war, [ regard
1t as duty to comply with these requests.
AS my present health and the limited
| time between this and the Presidential
election will not afford me an opportunity
| for general canvass, I adopt this mode OF
| addressing you.
maintain that neither of the old great
| parties of North Carolina, nor even any
| considerable number Of individuals arc re-
sponsible for the late troubles.
| Let us, before discussing the pending
issues of the day, take a brief retrospect
into the past to make this manifest.
1t was the long COZ tinued agitation of
the slavery question that gradually de-
stroyed the two great parties into which
the people of the United States had been
SO long divided.
1t had its origin IN the attacks on our
institutions by the abolitionists of the
North. The people of the South stood on
the defensive, though lt may with truth
be said that we did not always defend our
selves wisely or we'll, and that the conduct
Of many Southern men strengthened our
adVerSaries rather than weakened them.
In time, however, this agitation progressed
until it sectionalized the political feeling
Of the country to a great extent and de-
stroyed the two cid national organizations.
The great Wing party was first overthroWn
because q majority OF its supporters in the
Northern States abandoned it and joined
a sectional anti-slavery organization. 1t
thusshappened that in the year 1856 Mil
lard Fillmore, 4 man Of great and deserved
popularity, was beaten In every Northern
State by an obscure democratic adventurer,
who was supported by the bulk of the old
whig party. The democrats, though weak
cned by losing a portion of their members,
still retained strength enough to elect, with
q general vote of the South, their candi-
date, Ar. Buchanan. In the contest which
succeeded in 1850, however, they were de
feated, mainly III consequence of the di-
vision which occurred in their ranks. It is
known to many OF you, fellow-citizens,
that | thought it was the true policy of the
South to unite on a single candidate, Sc
lectinS that man who was likely to obtain
the largest Northern vote Such candi-
date [ then thought might be successful
but even II he were defeated | felt conf
dent that the fact Of the whole South cast
ing its vote solidly for one man would cause
the republican party either to give satisfac-
tory guarantees OF lead to q peaceful sepa-
ration. [ did not then, nor do [ now be-
HeTG that Mr.. Lincoln would have been
willing to make war on the whole South,
united as it would have thus been. In
spite, however, of the efforts Of those who
thought as did, q different course was
tall< Il.
Though it was obvious that the whig
party was weaker in the North than it had
been four years previous, when it had failed
to obtain for Mr.. Fillmore single electoral
vote ; yet number Of its leading men pre-
sented MIR. Bell as its candidate. The de-
mocratic party soon after at Baltimore was
finally divided and placed two candidates
III the field. With the conservative vote
thus divided between three candidates the
election of Mr.. Lincoln, the republican
nominee, was rendered certain.
The wings of this Congressional District,
and most others that met, seemed to re-
gret this condition of affairs, while outside
Of the delegates who seeded at Baltimore,
[ did not meet & dozen Democrats in the
State who did not condemn their action.
It thus happened that, against the wishes
of almost our entire population, a condition
of things was produced that rendered GER
tain the election ot 4 man who has repeat
edly declared that "the Union could not
endure part slave and part Free" and who
also added that " he did not believe it
would be divided"
All his antecedcnts and his surroundings
made it evident shat, when elected, his
power would be eXer5ed to promote the
abolition of slavery. How the vote of
North Carolina might be cast in that con-
test seemed Of 50 little consequence that,
though willing 10 vote with my political
friends for Mr.. breckenridge, / did not
think it worth while to take any part in
the canvass until | ascertained that, in q
speech at Norfolk, Douglas had come out
Tor what was pOpuiarly known as the doc
! trlne Of coercion" Subsequently at
liaIeigh he was still more emphatic in de-
claring that the election of Mr. Lincoln
should be submitted 80, and that any re-
sisting on such ground should be '' hanged
as high as Raman." Believing that if
after such declaration any considerable
number of votes should be cast for him il
the South. such TACT would tend TO en-
courage Mr.. Lincoln to adopt a policy Of
coercion rather than one of Cancellation
canvassed the State with n view of re
ducing Mr.. Douglas vote as much as pos
sible.
On calm review Of our history it vii
! be seen if there was error il the action O.
North Carolina up to this time, it was ,
mistake in which both of the great parties
! cOnCurred.
The attack came from the antisla7er.
organization and We were on the defensive
and it can only be said we did not defend
ourselves wisely, and that, in common will
the other Southern States we made divid
ed and injudicious fight, when we shoulC
have made unit ed resistance.
HOW THE WAR WAS COMMENCED.
The election of Mr.. Lincoln, rs a candi
date of a sectional anti-slavery organiza
ton, presented to the South an alarming
issue. Several Of tho Southern States tool
initiatory steps TO secede, and at the tim
of the meeting of Congress it seemed as i
a similar feeling was about to run over th'
entire South. In view of such 4 result
leading Republican Senators and other
said to me I'VE 90 not wish to part witt
you-only let US know your terms and W
will grant them." Mr.. Crittenden's pro
positions were brought forward and MI
Toombs. of Georgia, and Mr.. Davis, o
} Mississippi, declared that they would b
5 satisfactory. It seemed at first that tn
difficulty would be finally arranged on
falr basis. But there appeared soon to b
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