In Norfolk.
Va., Monday night, a ‘"large and enthusiastic"’ meeting of "Minute Men" was held at which a "Chief" was chosen.
A letter was read from a gentleman in New York, asking to be enrolled for service whenever required Sironz resolutions of resistance to Northern oppression were adopted, and the meeting adjourned with ‘"three cheers for the man that hung
John Brown."’ A telegram, which brings the above information, adds: blue cockades are plentiful on our streets today‘" Below we give the latest news from the
South."’
The telegraph has mentioned a secession meeting at
Wilmington, N. C. on Monday night The resolutions adopted declare that it is ‘"the imperative duty of the
State of North Carolina to prepare for assuming her position as an Independent Sovereignty,"’ and demand the call of a State Convention.
the
Wilmington (N. C.) Journal has the following editorials with reference to this assemblage:
‘
In this crisis, the people are decidedly in advance of the politicians — the country is in advance of the town.
It will not do to represent the present movements as the mere bubbles blown by demagogues or artful political leaders.
Those who have usually occupied the position of leaders must now be content to fellow a sentiment which appears to move faster than they do. Such a feeling as is now abroad is wholly without parallel.
Its peculiarity is in its undemonstrativeness, if we may so say. There is no desire for mere talk.
That is felt to be superfluous.
The people are in earnest.
There is nothing said to either arouse or intimidate the opposing and hostile section.
The South is thinking and preparing to act wholly for herself.
The growth of this feeling, or rather of the manifestation of this feeling, in
North Carolina, is something marvellous.
Within the last two weeks it appears to have sprung spontaneously.
Relieved of the trammels of federal politics, by the close of the electioneering canvass and the success of
Lincoln, men meet upon a common platform who had heretofore stood aloof.
Party lines seem to have lost their power of separating citizens on this issue.
Last night men of both parties participated in the proceedings with equal energy.
Hon. Wm. S. Ashe made a brief but spirited address, devoted mainly to showing that our future safety depended upon us acting in concert, and simultaneously with the other Southern States.
Dr. Wm. A. Berry and
John A. Taylor,
Esq., also made brief but pointed addresses.
A large number of names was immediately enrolled as Minute Men.
After the meeting had adjourned, we had the pleasure of meeting some gentlemen from the interior of the
State, and, from what we heard from them, we came to the conclusion that the consciousness of a necessity for prompt action has had elsewhere a spread and development equally remarkable with that which is striking in this section, though it may fairly be questioned if the action contemplated quite comes up to the point reached by the resolutions of last night.
That the people of the
State want a Convention, and will shortly
demand one from the Legislature, we have no doubt, unless we are very much mistaken or misinformed, and we do not think we are.
’
The message of
Gov. Ellis, sent to the
Legislate Tuesday, is said to recommend enrolling all the citizens between 18 and 45, as militia.
A letter from
Graham Davis,
Private Secretary to the
Governor of
North Carolina, to the
Norfolk Herald, contradicts the report that U. S. troops were sent to
Fayetteville, N. C. in the solicitation of the
Executive of that state and adds:
‘ Permit me to state through your columns, that
Gov. Ellis had no previous intimation of the
President's intention, and certainly never made any such request.
The object in sending the troops is wholly unknown, and the measure is regarded as totally unnecessary by itself, and, at this time, exceedingly imprudent, as having a tendency to increase the irritation of the public mind.’
Montgomery, Nov. 19,--The fusion between the
Bell and
Breckinridge parties in
Alabama is steadily progressing.
Both sides advocate extreme views.
John T. Morgan, late Breckinridge Elector for the
State at large, and
William Philips, a prominent
Bell man in
West Alabama, were nominated this day to represent
Dallas county at the
Convention.
The meeting was the largest ever held in the county, and strong secession resolutions were passed unanimously.
Mr. Phillips has heretofore been a strong Union man, but is now a secessionist.
A large majority of the press of the
State is for immediate secession.
Old party feeling is entirely destroyed, and the
Union element will have no power except in a small portion of
North Alabama.
It is thought that
Mr. Forsyth, the editor of the Register, of this city, will certainly join the disunionists.
His recent editorials lead to that belief.
He says that the
Southern States should not be satisfied with any guarantees offered by the
Northern States, unless they repeal their State laws against the
Fugitive Slave Law. If they fail to do this, the
Southern States should dissolve the
Union.
The lawyers of
Lowndes county, Alabama, have resolved to return all Northern claims uncollected, and the example will probably soon be followed throughout the
Cotton States.
Charleston, Nov. 19, 1860.--The government arsenal is constantly guarded by detachments of the
Washington Light Infantry.
It is generally believed that the pretext about this being a precaution against popular or service outbreak is all fudge.
The fact is, that an immense quantity of ammunition is stored there, and people believe the public good requires that it should not be removed.
Any attempt to remove it would almost certainly precipitate revolution and bloodshed.
The Light Infantry patrols are not admitted within the arsenal walls, but encamp in the surrounding enclosure.
The strictest military discipline prevails among those on duty.
Columbia is much talked of as the name for the new Southern Confederation.
The Military Committee of the Legislature, which sat during the present recess, have adjourned.
They concluded to report to the Legislature two bills, said to be decisive and practical in character.
They will meet again the Monday morning, previous to the opening of the regular session.
A beautiful
Palmetto gold-headed cane is to be presented to
Captain Berry, of the steamer
Columbia, on his arrival to-night, as a testimonial for having hoisted the
Palmetto instead of the
Federal flag, in the
New York harbor.
The steamer will be received with a salute.
There is no doubt that a most active correspondence is constantly kept up from this point with
Cuba and
Europe, relative to immediate recognition of the Southern Confederacy by the foreign Powers, as soon as the
Confederacy demands recognition.
There is talk of the Legislature declaring the
State our of the
Union, and leaving the
Convention to ratify the act; but many old fogies, though hot for action, are sticklers for formalities, will probably overrule this course.
The Spanish shipping here to-day hoisted all their flags in honor of the birthday of the
Spanish Queen.
A correspondent of the Baltimore Sun, writing from
Columbia, S. C., says:
‘ There was a parade in
Columbia of the third brigade of Richland District Volunteers; the companies were all full and looked remarkably well.
Instead of Regiments, as with you, they are here called brigades.
The parade yesterday consisted of one company of cavalry, one of artillery, with two brass field-pieces, two companies of infantry and two of rifleman, all in showy uniforms.
They were marched to the
College Green, at the east end at the town, and put through a server drill, which lasted over three hours. Men of all classes and conditions belong to the military here gentlemen in the ranks as privates were pointed out to me as the owners of hundreds of negroes, with lands to correspond, whose commissioned officers were men who earned their daily bread by the sweat of their brow.
Here was a flue military display in the
United States, with a total absence of the glorious national banner.
True, the companies all carried the stripes on their flags, but the stars were wanting, and in their place was the
Palmetto.
After the general parade, one of the rifle companies went through the
Zouave drill quite creditably.’
Gov. Brown; of
Ga., has issued his proclamation setting a part Wednesday, the 28th of November, to be observed as a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer, and invoking the people of the
State to meet at their respective places of worship, and unite in humble prayer to Almighty God for wisdom and strength to meet the crisis through which we are called to pass.
On Saturday afternoon, at
Savannah, an immense crowd of citizens assembled in
Reynolds' Square, and in the vicinity of the
Armory of the
Republican Blues, to witness the raising the Colonial flag by that gallant corps Upon the flag-staff, a flag with the national stripes, but with only fifteen stars, had been flying during the afternoon.
Underneath this a horizontal staff, extending over the pavement, had been rigged to receive the new flag, which at a given signal was thrown to the breeze, amid the shouts and cheers of the spectators.
A salute of fifteen guns was fired by a detachment of the Chatham Artillery.
The banner, which measures 14 by 8 feet, bears on one side a single star, with the words "State Action." On the other side is represented a live oak tree, with the rattlesnake and the motto ‘"Don't Tread on Me."’ At the top the words "Republican Blues." The flag is handsomely painted by
Mr. Thos. W. Shea.
of
Savannah.
The steamship
Augusta, from
Savannah, arrived at New York, Tuesday morning, and carried back to that port about twenty steerage passengers, who were refused a residence by the authorities.
They are mechanics and laborers.
Three cabin passengers, who were advised to leave, also returned by the
Augusta.
A meeting of the citizens of
Culpeper county, Va., to consider the present aspect of Federal affairs and the state of the
Union, was held at Culpeper Court-House on Monday last.
Addresses were delivered by James w.
Green,
Dr. Stringfellow,
George Parnell,
Henry Shackleford,
P. B. Smith,
Horace Shackleford,
C. P. Moncure, and others.
A resolution requesting the
Governor to call an extra session of the Legislature at an earlier date than it is called together in his proclamation, was introduced and laid on the table.-- Some of the speakers made eminently conservative speeches, while others took ground in favor of secession.
The meeting without definite action, adjourned until next Court.
Ex-Gov. Wise, of
Va., in a letter written to
Rufus Dolbear, of New Orleans, October 21st, two weeks before the election, says:
‘
The election of
Lincoln is certain in event, and it is certain in effect, too — to sanction the entire doctrine and application of abolition of slavery everywhere in the
United States, in the States as well as Territories, and I shudder to say that I tear the States will silently submit.
It will be an avowal at the polls of one section that the other shall not govern itself.
There is not a sovereign, independent power upon the earth, which would or should quietly submit to aggression of such a nature — the worst which can present itself in a Confederacy.
The worst, because it comes in all the panoply of
form. The form will he
election.--the election
constitutional. That will be the pore out of which the courage of resistance will ooze.
The
substance is aggression — the aggression vital.
Your remedies would not meet the case
now. They would
once, but not
now--the case is chronic.
We must
declare war, and fight enemies.
They, too, think we won't do either, and that is the first and worst evil to be met. Convince them that you will declare war against the substance of aggression — that you won't submit, and will fight.
How! Form Committees of Safety and organize Minute corps at once, as in the Revolution.
Snuff tyranny in the tainted breezes from
Pennsylvania and
Indiana, and begin revolution again,
to maintain the Constitution and the Union, upon both of which Black Republicanism is marching.
Take no disunion stand, and make no anti-constitutional movement.
My family is too afflicted, and I am too needed at home, to go actively into this canvass.
I despair of saving the
Republic by speeches, or party organization, and am disgusted throughout with the conduct of this campaign.
It has been a petty, partizan affair, with no patriotic or comprehensive scheme of policy.
Our State, and her State Rights regime, have been sacrificed by a selfish faction, which will skulk from all responsible position.
A few must do the work — lead into revolution, or be led in halters.
I have no money to give; but land, and negroes, and myself, and all that is mine, to office up for sacrifice, rather than be enslaved by slaves.
I shall attend a political meeting in this my adopted county next Wednesday, and shall offer resolutions to form a committee of safety, and organize our Minute Men. If this could be done simultaneously throughout the
South, it might wake up
conservatives, and put Wide awakes to rest.
Hastily and crudely, but truly and respectfully, yours,
Henry A. Wise.
’
