Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-09-04
Is 1t War

Is 1t War:
Every day something new crops out In
dicating with unerring certainty the deSlgn
of the Radical party, to wit to retain pos
session of power at all hazards. FRAUD
force and corruption arc used lndltterently,
either singIy or jointly, as may best serve
the turn. Our readers will remember that
the following extract from the Act OF Con-
gress was recently published by the Sec
rotary of War for the guidance Of all con-
cerned:
Be ii enacted, That all militia forces now or,
ganized or in service in either of the States OF
Virginia North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia.
Florida Alabama, Mississippi and 1exas, DC
forthwith disbaDded and that the further organ
cation and armng, any part thereof, is hereby
prohibited, under any clrcumstances Whatever
until the same shall be authorized by Congress-
We published from the Standard, OF the
26th, that Gov Holden intends promptly
to carry into execution the militia law en-
acted by the Legislature. He rt CARDS the
recent letter of Gen. Schofeld, Secretary
of War, as construed by the opposition ID
this State, as having no applicability to
North Carolina"
The same paper also speaks thus of the
Leagues
L" Tie books papers and correspondence OF the
League are in perfect order, and We are happy,
from personal examination Of the official re-
cords, to be able to assure friends that al
though the operations of the order are conducted
nOslcssly and without any parade or display, that
there are about seventy thousand enrolled mem
bers under perfect system OF organization, eX-
tending from the Eastern to the Western boun-
diaries OF the State and from Virginia to the South
Carolina line
Words cannot make the matter any
palmer. There is already body of seventy
thousand Radicals under q perfect system
of organization, portion of whom, at least,
Governor Holden intends to convert into
avowed volunteer military organizations
and detailed militia under the provisions
of the late Military bill, in open violation
of the plain letter and spirit of an act of
that very Congress from which "Gov-
ernor" Holden and the government he rep
resents derives all its authority. If Presi-
dent JOHNSON sees that the act of Congress
is executed, and Governor Holden persists
in his determination to disobey that act, a
collision is unavoidable. The persistence
and malignity with which the Radical party
urged the impeachment, conviction and
deposition of President JOHNSON for not
complying with the provisions Of an act of
Congress which he regarded as unconstitu-
tional, and the emphatic endorsement OF the
action of his party by Governor Holden,
estop the party and estOp Governor Hol-
den from assuming the power to decide
upon the constitutionality of any act which
has the forms of thetlaw. The Secretary
of War, by direction of the President, has
officially published an act of Congress ex-
pressly prohibiting the organization of any
militia force in North Carolina a0ader dny
circumstances 1chdterer. The organ of the
Governor of North Carolina declares that
no regard will be paid to this prohibition,
and in the samo issue, as if by way of inso-
lent boast, announces that the Leagues
have seventy thousand enrolled members
under a perfect system of organization.
All this has very much the appearance of
an open defiance and threat of appeal to
arms. And these are the people and this
the party that say "let US have peace
AS we have said before, we are in perilous
times. We are unorganized, unarmed and
consequently powerless, surrounded by a.
fierce, savage, INSCRIPTIONS enemy, avow
edly thoroughly organized, and we believe,
to great extent, armed. Situated as We
are, 1t becomes us to act with very great
prudence and very great circumspection.
We are not ready, and will not be ready,
with either arms or organizations, to meet
force by force. A collision will be fatal to
us. Nothing short of the most necessary
defence Of the persons and property of
ourselves and families can justify any resis-
lance. We must be prudent in speech and
in deed, sparing of words and sparing of
blows. The Importance of this line of con-
duct is SO great that we feel we cannot too
often urge it upon our people. AS far as
may lay IN our power, we ought to make
provision for our necessary self-defence
but at the same time let every Conserva-
tive aud Democrat in the State make an
implicit and scrupuIous observance of the
law the rule of his action.
Let every one remember that it is part
of the Radical policy to provoke ARRAYS
and create disturbances in the South The
election of SEYMOUR and BLAIR is becom-
ing every day more certain, and with it
the day of our political redemption. Till
then let US endure, with what patience we
may, all the ills that press down so heavily
upon us.