Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-08-21

| but by his own consent and the consent
of the whites he will no longer hold Office.
all this will be done, if it is done, in peace
and constitutionality.
| August 9th, 1868
The Future-Is it War:
MANY of our best and wisest men seri.
ously anticipate strife and bloodshed as
the result of the coming Presidential cam
paign. They think they see in the signs
of the times evidences of state of affairs
that, Judging of tho future by the past.
must necessarily result in violent conflict
of parties, if not CT races. We confess
that the future, in one event, presents a
most hopeless aspect If the present most
iniquitous government shall continue in
power there is sound and substantial reason
to think that the white people of North
Carolina will be reduced to state of such
degrading and debasing vassalage that 10
respectable man will, if it be possible to
emigrate consent to remain here. In
every measure, no matter whether Of State
or national legislation, so-called, the Radl-
cal party has evinced determination to
place the white race at the mercy Of the
black race, not because, however, of any
cause it was by this means only that the
success of the Radical party could be rem
dered certain. We propose this morning
to do no more than state this general pro-
position, and in connection Herewith re-
fer to the last act of State legislation as the
browning proof. It is we'll known to our
readers that the Police Bill, in it's original
shape, was defeated in the Legislature, and
in its stead an act to organize militia of
North Carolina was passed
Section of this act declares,
The Governor is hereby authorized to accept
and organize regiments of volunteer infantry, not
exceeding six He msy also accept and
organize volunteer battalons of cavalry, not to
exceed three, and one volunteer battery of artil-
lery.
Sec, 8. The Governor is hereby authorized at
the request of any five Justices of county to
direct the Colonel commanding therein to DETAIL
organize and equip from the men liable to mill
tary duty in his command, sufficient force to
preserve the peace and to enforce the laws, which
force shall be known as the detailed militia of
North Carolina.
Sec TO- The number of said militia shall not ex-
coed 80 to each member of the House of Represen-
tatives, unless the Governor shall deem said num-
Der insufficient for the preservation OF the peace
or the enforcement of the laws.
The said detailed militia shall be provided with
proper arms and badges.
These sections confer upon the Cover
nor the authority to organize and equip
force of six thousand detailed militia with
leave to increase the number at willy and
an additional volunteer force of six regi-
ments of infantry three battalions of cav
airy and battery Of artillery.
It is significant fact, that the Legisla-
ture has persistently refused to make pro-
vision for holding elections for Magis-
trates for the several townships. When
this is done there will be, in form, at least,
some check on the power of the Governor.
Now, all he has to do is to commission such
Magistrates as will conform TO his wishes.
The postponement of these and other cleo
tions shows, beyond a reasonable doubt,
that the intention is to place in the hands
of the Governor the means and the oppor-
tunity to arm and equip and organize into
military body the Radical party of the
State. If proof was lacking that such is
and has been the design of the Radicals,
it is afforded in the late call for Grand
Republican Rally in Raleigh on the 10th
September next, and published in the
Standard of the 18th instant This call
states, among other things, that 'Volunteer
Companies formed, whether organized with
officers or not, will be present without
arms. A number of bands
will be in attendance, but the delegations,
and especially the volunteer companies, are
expected to bring their own music, if con-
venient." This then, is the programme
for the arming and organizing the whole
Radical party. With Radical volunteer
force, and Radical detailed militia, it is
hoped to keep the whole people of the
State in terror, and to hush their voice at
the polls. Verify, the war cloud lowers
darkly over the land. There is ground to
applehend strife and bloodshed The
trumpet gives forth no uncertain sound"
The act authorizing the formation of vol.
unteer companies WAS only passed on the
18th August, and yet a call is made for
these companies to appear on the 10th
September with their music, even, but
without arms. The work of organization,
it is evident, will be pushed forward with
yigor, if the companies are to be equipped
and organized and transported to Raleigh
in thirty three days after the passage of the
law If not to be armed by that time why
the prohibition to bring arms OR does the
prohibition about the arms extend only to |
their presence in the procession? &C., &C. |
We are in perilous times. Are we prepared
to 10 est them as men We earnestly coun-
sci our people to be forbearing to be ex-
ceedingly scrupulous in their conduct to
avoid by all possible means all collisions
and conflicts !; to handy no words and to
strike no blows, save in the most manifest |
and by every means in their
power to strive to avert conflict which,
when once begun, must end in blood. We
repeat, We are in perilous times-are we
nraOared tn meet them Q