The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1845-02-07

MESSAGE OF GOV. MOREHEAD,
In relation to the History Of the Stale.


In relation 10 the History Of the State.
No the Honorable
The General Assembly Of North Carolina
4 Gentleman In my Message, a. the
Ebcg inning of the Session, called your at
tenton to various subjects In connexion
with the history Of the State, and sugges
ted the propricty of sending an Agent to
London, to procure from the proper offices
there, copies of Documents, without which,
il is impossible that our Colonial History
can ever be correctly written.
Subsequent reflection aud examination
into the condition Of the records and pa.
pers belonging 10 the Executive pnl leg.
isa,ive Departments Of the Government,
have satisfied me, that we have q work to
perform at home, Of deeper interest, aud
of more immediate necessity, than that
contemplated BY the foreign agency which
has been commended to your consideration.
The Act of Assembly, requiring that
letter books should be KEEP, in this Depart
ment, was passed in l7S4, shortly previ-
Gus 10 the close Of Gov. Martins admins.
trstion. Ga the retirement Of that gentle.
man from Office, he placed 10 he hands Of
his successors three well arranged manu-.
script volumes containing his official CORES.
pondence, during the years l7-2, 1888
and 1884. His example has been faith.
fully followed and we have, consequently,
an unbroken series Of Letter Books, from
1882 to the present time.
From the close Of the revolution, as far
as the Executive Departm mt is concern
ed, we possess ample materials for history.
To what extent the files Of the two Hous.
es, the State Department, and other off.
ces, can contribute memorials of that great
struggle, is an exceedingly interesting en-
curry which no one al present is prepar-
ed to answer.
Governor Caswors first administration
commenced with the adoption of the State
Constitution, December, l776, and extern
ded through the years III, IT'S and
1919. A memorandum, in his handwrit-
ing, found among his private papers, stews
that, al The expiration Of his term Of ser.
wee, he deposited the papers which had
accumulated 10 his office, in a chest for
preservation. The chest j. not 10 be found
IN tins Department The Interesting pa.
pers il must have contained, are probably
preserved in scattered files IN various Of
fees.
Gov. Nash presided in the Executive
apartment during the year l7sO, and VII.
iII the summer Of 1871, when he resigned
has Office. OF this brief but most interest.
ing period, memorials probably exist; bat
none II Is believed, are to be found in anv
Department Of the Government. His cor.
Tespondence, If it can be traced and secur.
ed, will doubtless afford interesting infor
nation in relation to both the expedition.
undertaken by Lord Corvallis for lI,s
sublugatlon Of 'his State; his advance /,
Charlotte, the gallant defence Of that vii
lage, the defeat Of Ferguson at King.
Mountain, and the consequent retreat q
his Lordship 10 South Carolina, are event
which crowd themselves into the hi,Ior,
oil te" weeks, 10 the autumn of 1850. Tn,
battle Of the Cowpeas, the fall Of Genera
davidson al Cowau's Ford, he anDarep
conquest Of the Safe, consunlnated BIZ III,
erection OF the Royal Standard at the sea
OF Government on the 22d February. l7sI
the defeat OF Pytes, the battle of GniI(ord
and the retreat Of CORVALLIS TO Wlm;no
ton, following IN quick succession ar
among the most promincn, events whic
give character 10 American history. Tn
course Of our patriotic State, frcm the ca
Hest period, is imperlectly known and igh
u appreciated CORVALLIS and Tarie,,
had better opportunities TO ascertain Il
true character Of our people, than al
American historian and they have Dor
bitter, but faithful testimony, Of our rcb
lions nature.
Governor Nash was succeeded by Ga
ernor Burke, ia jane, 1881. The tr
character Of his able, energetic, but IN,
unfortunate Chief Magistrate, seems
have excited bat slightly the attention
those most familiar with our history. y
hing IN relation TO him has been prescr
~ ed IN any Of The plblic Offices but his c
I& jre correspondence, preserved By his q
Mly. child, an intelligent and amlable dlue
Ter WIG still survives him, may be obtai
shed chi on the few dark b