Year: 1868




There is one matter, the consideration of
which the Legislature cannot afford to post
pone. We mean the organization of the
Militia. 1t is now clear that the rebel pro-
gramme in North Carolina will be to impede
and embarrass the operation of the Constl-
tuition and the laws at every point. They
have solemnly declared that the present sys-
te-A must prove failure, and they are de-
termined to leave no means untred to bring
about their predictions. They believe that
the present Government is usurpation and
a tyranny, and they teach that resistance to
the Government is the will of God.


The Government must be supported at all
hazards. 1t is to be lamented that the best
support of the government is not the affec
tions of the whole people. But it is never
tneess fact, and the public safety impera-
lively demands that the necessary precau-
tions should be taken to enforce the laws
and to maintain order. This cannot be done
pithout tile assistance Of an efficient military
organization. The protest of the late provi
sional Governor Worth when he surrendered
the Executive Office was the beginning of
trouble. He issued his protest after full de
Liberation and counsel with his friends. 1t
was no hasty document written in the
heat of passion. What did that protest
mean? 1t meant that he had been de-
prved of his Office by violence and
without authority of law. There are a
thousand other elected office holders in the
State who believe the same thing, and who
are poisoning tie minds of the people with
the same seditious teachings. There can be
no doubt about the result. There is no
question that the seel thus sown will cropt
out in violence. And there is no telling
how soon the outbreak may take place, or to
what fearful lengths it may be carried


1t is no vain alarm when we tell the Leg
iSature that there is trouble brewing. The
political horizon already grows dark and
threatening. Timid men waver and like
the silly ostrich bury their heads in the sand
that they may not see the impending dan
ger. The madness of secession is again re-
peating itself The Southern heart is being
fired. A spirit of hatred to the government
is being sedulously fostered. Passions which
had well nigh subsidized are being famed in
GA fierce fame That fatal hope in the
Northern Democracy is again becoming
cardinal article of faith. Seymour and Blair
are the cheitains and champions who will
carry the torch of revolution through the
South, release her from her thraldom and re-
new the days of the Confederacy in all its
glory. 1t is confidently expected and be-
lIeyed that the storm will burst in Missis-
spp between this and the Presiden-
tal election and sweep the South like a
tornado overthrowing every State Govern
mcnt and slaughtering their supporters with
mercy. Does any one doubt that such
spirit exists, or that there is deeply laid
design to carry these purposes into effect?
Read Blair's letter TO the New York Con
ventlon, defying the general Government;
'Ae"i Ihe speccueS Ol reDei OTatorS, reau the
rebel newspapers; listen to the conversation
you may hear on the streets and in the pub
lie places; nay, observe the burden of the
social circle itself and then, unless you are an
idiot, doubt if you can. The bitterness of
the hate which Southern rebels feel towards
Southern Republicans is ten fold more in
tense than the hate which projected rebel
Steel against Sumter


And DOVE know these things to be so
and still remain unconcerned? Can we rest
III ease when we know that the mine is be-
meath our feet Shall we sit in stupid in
difference until ruin and degradation are
HAed upon us? Our enemies are active and
'igllant and daring as the arch fiend himself


But they will rage in vain unless we basely
surrender our advantages Our friends con-
''oi the national government and will sus-
'"ll Us II we make the effort to sustain our
sI''eS We control the State, and may rem
"e' our enemies powerless for evil if we have
Tilt enargy and the courage. Du-