We learn from the Journal that Gov. Ellis was in Wilmington on the 5th, had a reception at the hands of his brother disunionists, and made a speech—The Journal says:
“The Governor referred to the position of public affairs in Congress and throughout the country to Mr. Lincoln’s declarations to his sneaking into Washington to the total failure of all plans of adjustment to the coercion policy of Lincoln’s message to the necessity of resistance, and to the inevitable course of things leading North-Carolina to join her fate with her sisters of the South, and that at no distant day. He did not know how the election in this State had resulted, but however it had resulted the march of events was still onwards. If we had not a convention now, we would have one very soon. When he looked around and saw the spirit manifested here he felt that the spirit of resistance to oppression which animated the men of ’76 was still alive, and its fires still burning.
Neither the law nor the constitution gave the President power to coerce any State, and the attempt to do so would be an act of usurpation that the people themselves had the natural and indefeasible right to resist, even should it be necessary to do so without waiting for the forms of authority.
Old Virginia could not accept the so-called compromise or adjustment She had put her foot down, and her terms had been rejected and she must either go out or back down. Would she back down? He did not believe it”
Gov. Ellis referred to the “coercion policy of Lincoln’s message.” Now there is no more coercion in Lincoln’s Inaugural than there was in Mr. Buchanan’s annual message; but it did not jump with the Governor’s unholy designs against the Union to admit this fact.
The Governor also referred to “the necessity of resistance.” But what if the State should not resist. Governor, until an attempt shall have been made to subjugate the South, or until some unconstitutional act shall have been passed by the general government—what then ? Are you for “resistance” now? We believe you are. Try it, sir. You also declared “if we had not a Convention now, we would have one soon.” That is the report of what you said as given in the Journal. The Herald reports you as saying that if the people had defeated the Convention they would be driven to the necessity of reconsidering their conduct by circumstances about to transpire, over which they had no control.” Great respect for the people, indeed, has the Governor! They must “reconsider their conduct” —they must resist!—they must do as John W. Ellis tells them to do! The servant has become the master.
Our readers will now perceive that what we said in November last is true, that Gov. Ellis is a rank disunionist. Indeed, so deeply is he committed to the schemes of Yancey and others, and so thoroughly is he bent on destroying the Union, that if a Convention should not be called according to the Constitution, we believe he will give his countenance and his aid to a revolutionary movement for a Convention similar to that threatened to be set on foot in Wilmington and Goldsborough. Let him attempt it, and let the disunionists attempt it if they dare! Reverence for the law and for the Constitution is still uppermost in the hearts of the people of this State; and if John W. Ellis or any one else should attempt to trample on the Constitution, or to act the part of the usurper, the people will rise in their might, with arms in their hands, and consign the traitors to condign punishment. A similar threat was uttered in the Senate of this State by Messrs. Thomas, Burton, and Erwin; and this speech of the Governor proves what we thought then, that these gentlemen were acting with him and under his advice.
And yet Gov. Ellis claims to be a Democrat. He is not a Democrat He is an oligarch. He has no respect for the will of the people, and the fact is proved by this speech of his in Wilmington. No man can be a Democrat no man can be a Republican of the Jefferson and Jackson stamp, who treats the will of the people, as Gov. Ellis is doing, with contempt. The people must “reconsider their conduct!” Why, this Governor is as arrogant and as impudent as Gov. Tryon ever was. He is the master, and the people must move as mere automatons in obedience to his gracious orders ! Mr. Clingman issued his orders from Washington that the State “must” secede or take part with Lincoln in making war on the South ; and now we have the chief oligarch himself lecturing the people for having voted against a Convention, and telling them they must “reconsider their conduct” and do better!
The Herald also reports the Governor as complimenting George Davis for his casting vote in the Peace Conference against the Franklin substitute. “He would as soon,” says the Herald, “see the Chicago platform inserted in the Constitution as the Peace Conference plan.” This is a gross reflection on Judge Ruffin and Gov. Morehead, and other distinguished and patriotic members of the Conference from both sections, including Messrs. Rives and Summers, of Virginia, who voted for that plan.
But we will not pursue the subject further to-day. What a sad spectacle, to see the Governor of this patriotic, Union-loving, conservative old State, with the oath to support the federal Constitution fresh upon his lips, conspiring against the Union which that Constitution established and exerting himself to the utmost to increase the bitter feeling already existing among our people, and to hurry them into the vortex of revolution and civil war!
Semi-Weekly Standard, Raleigh, NC