Year: 1861




ers but we were not able then to give it more
than passing notice. The Address we doubt
| not was written by Mr.. Judd, Lincoln's private
secretary, and carefully revised and amended
by Mr. Seward, and it boldly takes the posi-
ton which we have for some time declared
would be taken by the administration. Coer-
sion is not vaguely hinted at but it is boldly
expressed in language which he who runs NAV
read. Lincoln contends that the COMPACT en-
tered into between the States was intended IN
be perpetual that he does not recognize the
action of the seeded States; that it is his
sworn duty to enforce the law in all the States
and he means to do it if he can get the means
The Compromises which have been thrown
out at the last moment as bait to satisfy the
border States, not only amount to nothing but
are insulting alike TO our common sense and
our patriotism. They moan nothing nor were
they intended to mean anything, but were sim
ply manufactured as part of the policy of that
party, IN It's war upon the South, whose leader
has declared that this country must become
all free or all slave" We saw to the neonle of
the border States and of North Carolina now
as we have said betore-if you stay in the old
Union and continue your fraternal association
with the people of the North you must do so
upon such terms as this Lincoln administration
may think proper to dictate You must con-
tent yourselves with the Constitution and the
decisions of the Supreme Court as iaterpreted
6y them. You must continue to submit to the
existence of the personal liberty bills and to





the forcible rescue Of fugitive slaves whenoycr
higher law" mobs disposed to aid them
in their pursuit after liberty under difficulties
If you remain in you must also submit with a
quiet grace to hear your people and your Sec
ton villified, abused and libelled on the floors
OF Congress and elsewhere, and be made to feel
continually that you are sneered at and despised
by a majority of the Northern people on ac-
| count of your connection with slavery More
Lincoln tells us the laws must be enforced and
| the revenue collected in all the States. If YOU
| continue under Lincolns flag then, as loyal
citizens you must march on the seeded States
to assist in enforcing the federal law whenever
Lincoln orders you. There is no escape from
this-you must either go with the South and
risk yourselves in a Revolution for ndepend-
ence, or you must hold yourselves in readiness
to fight against the South whenever called on by
your Government to do so.


Any unprecedented man will admit after
reading Lincoln's Inaugural that the time has
come for North Carolina to take a stand, and
she must either cling to Lincoln and his GOV
ernment with the understanding that she is to
assist in coercing the seven seeded States at
the point of the bayonet, or she must at once
renounce her allegiance to the old government
and connect her destinies with the new one.
The cry of Union and Secession will not avail
now. A president has been inaugurated who
swears his determination to make war upon the
seeded States unless they undo all that they
have done and submit to inequality under the
old government; and the choice now is between
enemies and friends, between the North and
the South; between slavish submission to Black
Republican dominion or bold stroke for South
ern Independence. There can be no shrinking
no lodging; there is no middle ground to occu-
py-there are but two positions, and each in
dividual must now decide for himself; he is the
friend of the South or he is the enemy of the
South! Is there one native born or naturalized
citizen in North Carolina that will countenance
and defend the cOercire policy of Lincoln and
| thus place the brand of Cain upon his brow !?
We will not believe it. No! no! mol A thou
sand times no! True we have differed and
quarrelled among ourselves because we all
could not see the dangers which threatened us
in the same light, but all differences of opinion,
all disposition to censure each other and to
abuse each has fled, and now in the majesty OF
our strength, as patriots who know our rights
and who dare maintain them, we stand forth
determined to do or die for the South!


| North Carolina is conservative State and
she has been true and loyal to that Union
whose downfall none will deplore more sincere
| ly than she will, but now that taunts, insults
and aggressons have driven her to the wall
and she is compelled to choose between oppres
sion, slavery and wrong under the old govern
ment, and justice, freedom and independence
may not be able to refuse tear to the memory
of the past will turn their backs to the setting
and their faces to the rising sun.


| Federal slaves and Abolition thieves may
creep through the thinly populated portions o
our territory numbering and robbing as they go


they may burn, plumber and murder, but they
can never subdue people who with patriot
indignation have determined to throw off til


yoke of oppression and risk their lives; fortun


and sacred honor in struggle for independence


Lihcoln's message ought to, and we hope viii


stop all discussion in North Carolina and tn


other border States. All that has been wan


ing to make us unit was the occasion, circun


stance or act at which all would rebel, and thu


has now been given us. The Virginia Conver


tion may be expected to act within few day
and we feel assured that when she takes a stan


it will not be among the enemies of the Soutl
But North Carolina, our own mother, whs
, will she do what can she do? Her peop
5 not realizing the great danger of the occasio
,, have most probably refused to call Conve
, ton; and her Legislature having adjourne
: what can she do? Indeed her condition. und
p the circumstances, is deplorable, but still n
bolploce Wa Sha11 he sZoar hit wa shall