Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-09-04
SeIGDefenCe.


pursued by the Conservative and Demo
cratic people of North Carolina is begin
ming to have its effect. The assurance that
each mail bringsof the triumphant election
of SEYMOUR ard BLAIR, and the knowledge
that with that election ends the reign, if
not the residence. of carpet-baggers and
scalawags in this State, make the Radicals
resort to every measure, no matter how
desperate or how pernicious III its conse-
quences, to avert the destiny that awaits
them Among the many causes producing
the mighty revolution in the sentiments of
the Northern people, not the least potent
is the peaceful and quiet demeanor of the
Southern people under circumstances so
we'll calculated to excite riot and dlstur-
bance, and the respect and regard paid by
them to laws in the highest degree uncon-
stitutional, odious and tyrannical. This
incontrovertible evidence Of the condition
of the southern mind, though for long
while withheld from the Northern people,
has at last been laid before them, and the
result is the great reaction we see going
on, and which threatens the entire destruc
ton of the Radical party. The Radicals
know full we'll the condition they are in
and the causes thereof, and hence their
constant aud continuous efforts to create
disturbances by every meaus in their pow
er. For this purpose they have been and
still IRE instilling into the willing mind Of
| the poor ignoIant negro mortal hatred
for his old master, in the hope that this
hate will bear it's Legitimate fruit in deeds
of violence and lawlessness that will pro-
woke acts of retaliation on the part of the
whites that may be tortured into, and mis-
represented as, an evidence of hostility on
our part, both to the negro and to the
Federal Government.
For some time the general outline only
of their scheme was to be gathered from
their public avowals. Now, however, time
presses and the emergency is great, and
they do not hesitate to specify the details
of their plan for bringing about collision
between the races. We commented yes
terday upon the proposition of the Stand
ard for dispossessing the land-holders of
their lands for the benefit of the negroes.
The transfer of She personal estate is to be
effected in the mode indicated in the fol-
lowing extract from the Standard article
above referred to -:
The law of self preservation must necessarily
be obeyed. Or course it is not to be
supposed that men and women and children will
starve to death while is still standing in the
fields and while hogs and cattle are not kept I'M
der lock and key. Bot these matters of min
or Importance and are to be expected, however
much the necessity may be deploreJ.
The transfer of each species Of property
is quite complete and is no half way mes-
sure, at least in our section of the State.
The negro is not only instigated to commit
the crime of larceny, but is plainly taught
that it is nc crime. "But these are matters
Of minor Importance and are TO be expected,
hoereoer much the necessity may be deplored'
ment party in North Carolina should pub
Hcly avow that the larceny of corn, hogs
and cattle is matter of minor Importance
and to be expected, and should have words |
of regret, not for the commission of the
crime, but only for the assumed necessity
for it.
But it is not our purpose to comment
upon the morality of the action of the |
Radically party. Wepropose to deal only with |
the result of that action, to wit: a col |
llsion between the whites and blacks. It |
not to be presumed that one man will |
allow another, whether white or black, to
steal with impunity either his corn. hogs
Or cattle, whether standing in the field or
under lock and key or not. Every man
who has pound of meat or bushel of corn |
will be obliged to arm himself to defend |
his property, and when this is done, the |
rogues, being taught that larceny is a matter
of minor Importance and to he expected, |
and being unable to see any difference, in
moral point of view, between larceny
with arms and larceny without arms, will |
next step will be the banding together of
rOgues on the one side for robbery and |
murder, If necessary, and on the other of |
honest men for the defence of themselves
and their property-in other words, auaq.
These being the facts of the case, it we'll |
behooves us to maturely CO nsider what it is |
proper for us to do.
Situated as We are, we can expect secu-
rity and safety only from the Federal |
authorities, and from such action on our |
own part "s We may be able to take in |
furtherance thereof and obedience thereto. |
All that we can do is to prepare ourselves
to act efficiently in obedience to the lawful |
authorities for the protection of ourselves |
and property. We have not only the right |
to do so, but, in our opinion, it is our duty |
to do SO. The Radicals are thoroughly |
organized, and they do not hesitate to
avow it. Of the nature of their purpose
there can be no doubt. 1t is human ma
ture, depraved human nature, for the
strong to attack the weak Men are SO
constituted that while strength and power
compel respect and Difference, weakness
and feebleness invite attack and aggres-
sion. Our only hope, then, is by show of
strength, through the strong arm of the