Wilmington journal., 1868-10-16

ceipt of your communication of the 7th instant,
requesting that troops may be sept to Whining
ton, n O., and stating that you have official in
| formation that lot of Enfield rifles has been
found secreted in Newbern, also that you have
reason to believe that arms have been sent to
Charlotte. N. O., and several other points, &c. /
have forwarded your letter to Gen. Meade for his
information
have received reliable reports legally sub
stantiated, that several hundreds OF Henry and
Spencer rifles (many of them sixteen shooters)
with accoutrements. &C., complete, nave Deen re-
ceived at Wilmington and thence distributed to
org anizatjons in this State. styling themselves
seymour and Blair " Clubs, and "K. 4. KS
From other points officers report similar move
ments, the object of which has as yet not Deen
made public. These facts have also been report
| ed to the Department Commander and nave no
doubt he will take proper action IN the matter
While, therefore, these occurrences give rise 70
questions which may possibly produce serious re-
suits, still, action in the first instance should be
taken by the civil authorities, which, in my opln-
sembly of this State. ratified August 24th, 1865,
| forbddng the conspiring of persons, by force or
otherwise, to prevent the execution of the laws
of the State, and making it high crime to en-
gage in rebellion or insurrection against the au-
thOrity thereof.
| The Constitutional right Of all citizens to the
possession of arms for proper purposes, does no.
extend to the perfectlng of organizations, armed
| with weapons of purely military character, such
| as those reported having been received IN such
| unusual quantities at Wilmington and other
formed with equal propriety: inimical to the gov
ernment, while it calmly awaits the fate intended
by those, who in 1861 pursued similar course 1t
will undoubtedly be claimed by these parties that
their motives are perfectly good and as indicating
intention to fOrcloiy resist the law or otherwise
interfere with the peace and quiet OF their respec-
tive localities. This cannot be granted In 1861,
professions of intense loyalty to the Constitution
and laws went hand in hand with concealed pre-
parations for war. Many of these men are paroled
prisoners who have sworn 20 obey the laws IN
force where they reside and not to bear arms
az ainst the government, &c. This State has been
reOrSanlZed under acts OF Congress, the sequence
| OF the rebellion, and any attempt to disturb Its
laws and prevent the re-estab'ishlnG OF Its au-
thOrity is in my opinion act of hostility and
violation of their solemn obligations, which may
justly excite action the part Of the general gov
ernt. Their rights IN asserting and maintaining
political preferences cannot be questioned but
when pushed to the present extremity, assuming
hostile positions towards tho government, prompt
condemnation on the part OF all good citizens
should follow.
This "appareDt purpose and readiness" " to ap-
peal to arms, after the experience OF the past
seven years, Is ineXplicable. It is strange that
many Of The citizens OF this State should so far
forget their interests as to court another COLI
sion which cannot but be more disastrous than
that recently ended. There is nothing in the pre-
sent political contest to excite apprehensicns on
the part OF any class or party. Two elections
have quietly occurred here within the past twelve
months rs important as any that have taken place
in the history of North Carolina, and with de-
gree of good order credtabe to all concerned, and
any attempts to excite disturbances by any par
ties. under any pretence whatsoever, are alike
foolhardy ond criminal. It probably requires no
discussion prove the entire futiity Of attem pt
ing any resistance of the Governmentin in its efforts
to perfect and complete the questions arising
from the late war. Its whole power is guaran-
teed for the manten ance OF the laws at present
constituted, and until legally changed they should
ond must be respected.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant.
NELSON A. MILES,