The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-05-09

Ald pdlI1d. AlaS>IFS1ppI
and Georgia bearing messages OF good
NH ana urging the State TO join them
IN Iormlns a Southern C~onfederacy.
IN the other and resolutions were
received from the legislatures Of New
ork and Minnesota and Michigan,
protesting against disunion. hose from
the TWO States last named being Of
such a character that they were re-
turned without m
n leaders in the assembly were
prudent and cautious. They fully
realized the gravity of the situation,
ana despite h appeals of the seces-
Honlsts, they were not inclined to act.
Indeed it was considered that any
Dill providing for a convention would
nave TO pass by a tw~o-thirds vote,
ana as yet that vote could not be OBJ
tanned. On December 18th, such a
phi having been introduced received
but a bare majority in the House,
ana strong protests were filed gains
It by some Of the Union eaders. But
North Carolina was powerless to de-
tern1lne the course of events. and the
drift was altogether towards secession.
Ihls trend was thoroughly understood
by some of the leading Unionists, and
increased their anxiety. Abating moth
ing OF their purpose to adheIe sto the
Union, some OF them came to consider
that a convention. by firm and tenn
perate action, might bring about the
pest results 1t was in this spirit
that Vance wrote a letter published in
the Union paper at Raleigh, on jan
uary 18th: Il do not regard the call
of a convention as a disunion move
ment, but as the conducting steel to
the Northumberland cloud. Firm,
temperate and decided action may save
the rights Of the States and the Union
as well. Non-action will precipitate
us into ~disunion."
Much, however. depended on Nir-
ginia, and Virginia was opposed
TO secession and on the side
Of the Union. On January 10th that
State, whose influence was still power
full ever at the North, adopted resolu-
tons calling for a peace convention to
assemble in Washington on February
4th; and the Northern states general
ly responded by appointing delegates
to attend i. On the other hand, Ala
bama had invited North Carolina and
all OF the other Southern States to
send delegates to a convention to meet
at Montgomery on the 4th Of February
for the purpose of consulting as to the
most effectual means to secure On
certed action on whatever measures
might be deemed most desirable for
the common peace and security.
The session was now We'll advanced,
and the Ides of March were approach
ing when Mr.. lincoln would be in
augurated, and the administration pass
lIltO hGpuDIlcdD IldIuS. i 1t ilGCCSSity
For action was apparent.
To remove some objections, it was
proposed to submit the call for a con
ventiOn to the Opular vote. and other
wise the measure was made more ac-
ceptable to those who originally dis
approved of it. So, although active and
insistent opposition in the House con
tinued, eventually the bill passed the
House on January Gath by a vote OF
SO to p (p. $3.50, and IN the same
day in the Senate by 81 to 9; Dockery,
Dowd, Morehead, OUTLAW, Ramsay,
Sharpe, Spence. Turner and Worth still
holding out against 1T.
Even before that early in January,
the Assembly had determined to pro-
vide arms in case of war. and to re-
organize the militia, and to authorize
the enlistment of a force of ten thou
sand men, to be increased, If neces-
sary. by twenty thousand more-the
vote in the House being 70 to IA.
Having taken these precautionary
measures. and submitted the call for a
convention to the people, the vote to
be taken on February 2Sth, the As
sembly appointed delegates to attend
the two proposed conventions, both
sets Of commissioners being substan-
tally charged to use all honorable
means to secure an amicable adjust
ment of differences. That to attend
the Southern conference, composed of
| Governor Swain. Matthew w. Ransom
and John l. B~ridgers, OF arriving at
| Montgomery, found that the delegates
from the seeded States had already
formally adopted a Provisional Con-
stitution for the Confederate States OF
America; and they could do nothing
to arrest the disintegration of the
Union.
The other commissioners. the VEN
cradle Chief Justice Ruffin. Governor
Reid, Governor Morehead. Daniel Bar
ringer and George Davis, We're thor
oughly Union in their sentiments.
Judge Ruf1in, both in and out Of the
conference, exerted himself to the ut
most to secure compromise and con-
cessions that would restore the Union,
General Scott as we'll as President