TABLE OF CONTENTS
About the Author
Bruce Chadwick, a former journalist, is a historian, lecturer, and author of 28 books on various topics including the Civil War.
Causing the Civil War
Editorials (1860-1861)
Annotation
William W. Holden, editor of the Weekly Daily Standard in Raleigh, North Carolina, was a strong Unionist in the years leading up to the Civil War. Holden tried, despite Lincoln's election, to quell his fellow North Carolinians' desire to secede, along with their neighboring states. Like other southerners, however, he believed that each state was sovereign, and when President Lincoln called for recruits in April 1861 to put down the rebellion, Holden saw this as an unconstitutional invasion of the South by the North. Holden then commenced writing editorials urging his fellow citizens to rise up to meet the "invaders."
Excerpted from The Voice of the People (December 26, 1860):
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 gratified to state that on no occasion in our long Editorial life have we been more warmly or generally sustained by the people than we are now. The voice of approval and encouragement comes to us from all quarters. It comes to us from Breckinridge men, from Bell men, from Douglas men, from Buchanan men, and from men of all shades of opinions, who are anxious for the preservation of a Constitutional Union, and who would hold North-Carolina back, at least a while longer, from the vortex of disunion now opening to receive South-Carolina. And this, be it remembered, is no voice of submission to arbitrary or undelegated power. It proceeds from men who will never submit to the administration of the government on principles inimical to the rights, the equality, or the safety of the slaveholding States; but who, while preparing for the emergency that may arise, are nevertheless disposed to "watch and wait" for any attempted overt act by a dominant sectional majority. . .
Excerpted from The News (April 17, 1861):
. . . As hostile as we may be to Mr. Lincoln, the cause of our country, now in fearful perils, requires that we should be just even towards him. But the Union cannot be maintained by force. As we said last year, in the Presidential campaign, "The Union would fall to pieces before the first touch of aggressive or coercive power." . . . A Convention of all the States could either reconstruct the Union or permit the seceded States to go in peace. As it is, we appear to be drifting to civil strife against the wish of the people of the United States, and without their having had any opportunity in their primary capacity to remove the evils which threaten all of us, both North and South, with one common ruin.
Excerpted from Proclamation by Governor Ellis (April 24, 1861):
We publish below the Proclamation of Gov. Ellis, convening the Legislature of this State, in this City, on the 1st day of May.
We think the Governor acted with patriotic promptness in refusing the call on this State for troops; and that, in convening the Legislature to take action in this great crisis, he will be sustained by the whole people of the State.
We have heretofore severely censured this functionary for his public conduct. We did this honestly and from a sincere desire to serve and save our country. We were moved to it by no selfish or personal feeling—by no disappointed ambition. We now come forward to sustain him in this day of trial, and to encourage him in our feeble way to stand like a man of iron for the rights and the honor of North-Carolina. May God defend the right! . . .
Weekly Daily Standard. Editorials. Raleigh, North Carolina: 18601861.