Fayetteville (NC) Observer, "The Disunion Movement," September 13, 1860

THE DISUNION MOVEMENT. – Hon. T. L. Clingman denounces as “mean and base” any man in North Carolina who would hold office under Lincoln if elected. Of course then Mr. Clingman is for disunion in that event. For if you shut up the Post Offices and stop the mails, close the Federal Courts, and discontinue the performance of all necessary duties under the Federal Government, disunion follows. Mr. Rodman, Breckinridge Elector in Newbern District, is out for disunion in case of Lincoln’s election. The Breckinridge paper at Tarboro takes the same position. All through the South, we hear of Breckinridge men declaring for disunion in case of Lincoln’s election, and at the same time declaring that Lincoln will certainly be elected. We should be sorry to see if we had any idea that Lincoln will be elected. We do not believe he will be. The managers of the Breckinridge movement are doing their best to secure that result; but people will disappoint them. In the meantime it would be much more to the credit of these fire-eating gentry if they would advocate dissolution now. After the election, decided constitutionally, we are honor bound to abide its results, and wait for a cause of resistance. The constitutional election of no man constitutes that cause.