Year: 1860

The Voice of the People. ~.
We have never felt, in any previous contest more
in need Of the sustaining voice Of the people than
We do in this; and we are more than gratifed to
state that occasion in our long Editorial life
have We been more warmly or generally sustained
by the people than We are now. The voice of ap-
proval and encouragement comes to US from all
quarters. 1t comes to us from Breckinridge men,
from Bell men, from Douglas men, from Buchanan
men, and from men of all shades Of opinions, who
anxious for the preservation Of Constitutional
Union, and who would hold North Carolina back, at
least while longer from the vortex of dsunion
now opening to receive South Carolina. And this,
be it remembered is no voice of submission to arbi-
trary or undelegated power 1t proceeds from men
who will never submit to the administration of the
government on principles inmical to the rights the
equality, the safety of the slaveholding States
but who, while preparing for the emergency that
may arise are nevertheless disposed to 'watch and
wait p" for any attempted overt act by dominant
sectional majority.


friend writing from Greensborough, Alabama,
says:


Would to God you had not lent your support to
the Breckenridge Electors. You have aided in car
.rylng North Carolina for the seceders' ticket and it
is now claimed by the Yanceyites here as triumph
tor disunion. The cotton States are moving heaven
and earth to secede The plan is for the cotton
States to SO separately and then the border States
will be forced ont as they were at Baltimore. IF
they thought they had to go out and stay out by
themselves, they would not do it; but they intend
to put the ball in motion, and drag you after them,
The border States are much more interested in this
question than the cotton States. Do all you can to
arrest the runous and fearful movement"


A friend writing from Alamance County says:
"You have always been true to Democracy. You
are one of those who with Reid stood by the flag
and sustained it in the dark days years ago They
have put naturalized Englishinan you, who
has done nothing Of consequence for the party and
they did it because YOU would not 90 for disunion;
but hurrah for Holden they cannot put you down.
Let the fireeaters ume and rage, but expose them,
and we, the people, will sustain you. | am sorry
that Lincoln has been elected, but it has been done
according to the Constitution and we are bound as
| honest men and good citizens to try him. God is
furnishing North and South for our wckednesS.
Let us bear it the best way can, and do better
hereafter. If all the denominations of Christians
had been true as the Old School Baptists, all
! would have been right. They have abolitionsts
among them. Your course pleases both Wings
and Democrats in this section. Go on, and all gen
une Democrats and true patriots will sustain you.
The old war-horse, Bedford Brown, is doing noble
service" 81


| A friend writing us from Charlotte says


"Our people greatly prefer peace. and large ma
! jority of Mecklenburg County would oppose any
proposition to dissolve the Union until every other
means has been exhausted to obtain rights
And whilst the election Of Lincoln may not DC con-
sdered Of itself sufficient cause for dissolution yet
ft,ip f!,ofir fhn xrhD
before the country, it had better be settled finally


do earnestly hope the Legislature will not act too
hastily in deciding to the best course to pursue
| for the peace and welfare of the State The mem
bers Of age and experience whose fires are burning
down, ought to take the lead. They are not so ex-
citable as young are, and will be apt to think
well before they act. They will take time to look
back on the past history of the world, ard what
has been and is the condition of other disrupt
cd governments What peculiar interest have
Engishmen in the affairs of our government just at
this particular time that recommends them so high
ly to the Legislature of North-Carolina? l see in
the papers that Englishmen are stationed at differ
ent points III the South, tanning the flame of dis
union as in that way they best serve England.
Mr.. SpeIman made application to our last April
Court to be permitted to take the oath of allegiance
to the United States. ,hy b came here to take
the oath is not explained. Tire oath was admins.
tered to him. and the ink with which the record was
made was hardly dry before he was taken up by a
certain set o! politicians and elected YOU who
have done more to build up the Democratic party
in this State than any twenty members of the pre-
sent Legislature who voted against you.
like the course of the Hon. Bedford Brown in rela
ton to the Union, and hope he will stand firm in his
position and persevere the end. He one of tho
most reliable Democrats in the State, and there is
no position in the government for which would moi
vote for him cheerfully.' ......


A friend writing from Wilkes County says:


"The bone aud sinew of the Democracy about
here are with you and for the Constitution and thu
Union. You are serving your country we'll in ex
posing the seceders. Go on-the people are witt
you" ,......-....... .


friend writing from Forsyth County says:


1--WE can still fight the battle for the Union anc
our rights within the Union, if we will only be true
to ourselves. The stand you have taken las gainct
you many friends in all ranks. The crisis demand
ed some bold and competent man to take the helm
of a Cniun movement in his hand, aud steer the vcs
sci without fear or favor Go on and fear nothing
We are in tins midst of perous times, when thu
true man will show firm front. May the Lord on
God give You wisdom and strength to do ever,
thing for His glory and the good of our beIovct
country, is the prayer of your devoted friend"


friend writing from Guiliord County says:


"What few Democrats there are in this ncighbor
hood endorse Your course to man. st,s =
/ A friend writing from Surry County says: ..,
4 ~ am truly glad to see the conservative cours,
you have taken at this critical time, and think i
will meet the approbation Of large majoli ity of tht
people Of this County" ' -s,s


We have many other letters in hand, from which
we will give extracts hereafter. ass,el s!
! x.-. f'..s.- SOulh.CarOlina.