The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-03-17
THE QUESTION OF SECESSION
Not a Modern Idea or the Outgrowth OF
Southern Political Ideas
Raleigh, n. c., March

Raleigh, N. c., March 10.
Editor Of The Messenger:
You have occasionally referred TO the
secession sentiment at the north in the
early years of our government Per-
NIT me to cite a paragraph from Jeffer-
son, when he was president, TO show
that the right TO secede was hardly
questioned. He la just consummated
the Louisiana purchase. His idea was
that successive tiers of states would
be laid off in that territory. When we
shall be full On this side (of the Mis-
sissippi river) We may lay off a range
Of states on the western bank from the
head to the mouth, and so, range after
range, advancing compactly as we null
tiply." And that you know was what
happened. Now mark this: "Ene flu
ture inhabitants of the Atlantic and
Mississippi states will be u sons. We
leave them in distinct but bordering
establishments" Gle meant when that
generation had died out such would be
the situation.) I'VE think we see their
happiness in their union and we wish
it. Events may prove it otherwise;
and if they see their interest in epara
ton, why should we take sides with
our Atlantic rather than our Missis-
sippi descendants? 1t is the ~elder~and
the younger son differing. God bless
them both and keep them in union, #
it be for their good, but separate them
if it be BETTER Jefferson's works,
4 COL, p 500.
There is not a suggestion of the n
constitutionality of such a proceeding.
There is something else on the same
general subject that the younger gen.
GRAFTON might read with profit. For the
first thirty years Of this century the
men who were leaders in the movement
to emancipate the slaves were south
erners. Henry Clay was the president
of the Emancipation and Colonization
Society. Abolition societies then sprang
UP, and conditions changed. 1 have
just read a short sketch Of Wendell
Phillips, from which 1 make some ex-
tracts: In 1886 Wendell Phillips saw
"the abolitionists, few in number, un-
influential, despised, hated, banned and
mobbed." The mob in Boston had
mobled the office of The L~iberator," a
paper ssued from a garnet by Garri-
son. In 1887, Phillips attended his first
a~nti-slavery convention. He quickly
met with social ostracism. The aris-
tocracy Of Boston cast him out" Gle
was of the Puritan aristocracy Of Bos-
ton; rich and cultured.)
In November 1897, Lovejoy, an aboli-
zionist, was shot at Alton, Illinois. A
meeting was called at Boston to n
slider the matter. The authorities at
first denied the ab~olitionists the priv
ilege of using Faneuil Hall, but finally
assented. The attorney general OF Mas
sachusetts attended and made a speech
not expected by the agitators. He
compared the slaves to a menagerie
with lions, tigers, a hyena, and an ele-
plant, a jack ass or two and monkeys
in plenty, and he likened Lovejoy to
one who would break the bars and let
loose h caravan to prowl about the
him, and this speech sealed the social
outlawry of Wendell Phillips"
In 1874 the N. E. church (north) was
rem asunder on the question Of slav-
cry. Abolitionists attacked both church
and state. Many of the anti-slavery
apostles who started orthodox believers
became unbelievers. Mr.. Phillips
though assailed with charges of inf
deity remained firm in his belief" AZ
forwards he referred to this period as
follows: ."When the pulpit preached
slave hunting, we were called
seditious, corners Of the pulpit, trail
tors" We indeed thought man more
than constitutions, humanity and JUS
tice OF more worth than law" He ex-
claimed. My curse be on the constitu-
ton OF the United States" He there
fore became the leader OF those who
holders" My object, he said. in be-
coming a disunionist is TO free the
dawes"
In 1857 he pol part in a disunion con-
vention held in Worcester, Mass. He
believed the free states could form an
u~nstained union, strong as well as
| free" and urged his belief that the
mere act Of withdrawal would go far
to carry emancipation down to the
| gulf"
| The first gun Of the war at Sumter
| aroused the people Of the two sections
alike. Mr.. Phillips now changed. He
had been a disunionist since 1s43, now
he favored war and wished TO save the
| union"
This little narrative illustrates, first,