The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-06-04

dDlC SDSCNIs =
vention. and which is the most ~
nortant feature of the reunion thus
far. Colonel Bob Lee said in part:
There never has been a more cTltl-
cal period Of American history than
hat which ushered the year 1860 upon
the worlds stage of action. The
trouble was not of recent origin, 1t
was not the spasmOdic outburst or an
hour, nor the stubborn n senseiess
resistance of a factious maintenance
of groundless opinions, but was the
result Of the existence Of antagOnizing
forces operating for a long time in the
country the seeds being first sown by
the forefathers. some in the fertile
valley of the James and some on the
rock bound coast Of New England.
Sectional differences exhibited them
selves long before the adoption OF the
federal constitution.
For the purposes Of this occasion
we care not how the African slave first
placed his unhallowed feet on southern
soil. Sufficient to say that although
the south had at one time no inconsid-
cradle career of maritime adventure,
no ship or ship master of hers has
ever in a single case been implicated
in the illicit African slave trade Her
greatest men always maintained slav-
cry to be the most dangerous element
in the. country. From the beginning
the statesmen of the south scented
danger in the great race problem with
which they were being saddled. Il
the question that was uppermost in
their minds was. what shall be done
with the emanciDated serf. Much as
l deplore slavery says Patrick Henry,
L see that prudence fOrbids its abo-
lition.' Henry Clay asserted that til
evils of slavery are absolutely nothing
in comparison with the far CREATE
evils which would inevitably follow
from sudden. general and indiscrimi-
nate emancipation And again he
SAYS: If we were to invoke the, great
est blessing on earth which Heaven. in
it's mercy could bestow on this nation,
it would be the separation of. the two
most numerous, races of its population
and their comfortable establishment
in distant and distinct Countries Mr..
Mason, of Virginia. went further i'll
/ declaring. The traffic is Internal. To
! permit it is against every principle OF
| neace and safety Mr.. Calhoun was
of the opinion that the existing rela-
| tons between master n servant
cannot be destroyed without subject
ing the 2 races to the greatest ca1am-
lity and the sections to poverty, desola-
ton and w~retchedness.' s.
"Virginia in October. 1878. and Geor-
| gia, in 1898. passed acts prohibiting
the importation of slaves. The fol-
mer act provided for a penalty of
1000 pounds, and also every slave
imported contrary to the true intent
and meaning of this act shall uDOn
such importation, become free thus to
the everlasting credit of the south,
upon whose devoted head the Walls OF
holy wrath have so unjustly and bru-
tally poured out for ~prOgating, nOur
ishing and harboring slavery, she
leads the world in an earnest attempt
to prevent the very thing of which she
is accused. = =
During the fight of 1S20-21. which
resulted in the Missouri compromise
SO little had slavery become a p0liti,
cal question and as a further proc
that the southern states had not a
an early period banded together il
support of the system. the states o
Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee
We're earnestly engaged in Dractica
movements for the gradual emanCipa
patton refused TO submit itself to hate
continued until it was arrested by 10
abolitionists. who insisted upon con
victing as criminals those who war,
so we'll disposed to bring about TIL
very result at which they themselvel
professed to aim. Promised enamel
patton refused t osubmlt itself to hate
full abolition
Finally scheming politicians irwin
chile in peace. invisible In war. too
advantage of the unfortunate state O
affairs, adopted slavery for their slogan
and a vehicle for their selfish ends
The south is charged with a desir,
to destroy the union. As fair n a
impartial a Judge as Lord Wolsle,
falls into this error when he says
Few will find fault with the mon =
the north for their manly determine
ton, come what might. ID resist ever.
effort of their brothers in the south t.
break up the union
Secession was not preached for tn,
first time in the south, as is sc wei
pointed out by the Rev. DR.. McKin
of Washington, d. C.. q gallant Con
federate soldier. It was threatened il
rho north foar times before SOutf