Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1849-01-12
GOV. MANLY'S
INAUGURAL ADDRESS,,
Gentlemen of the Senate. and


/ oftie House of Commons
In entering upon the duties of the high station
to which have been called l avail myself of the
earnest opportunity to tender you and to our
common constituents, my thanks for the distinction
conferred upon me and to express my own patri-
otto pride in being deemed worthy of filling the
Chief Magistracy of my native State
To be elevated to the highest Office within their
gift, by people justly renowned for public virtue
and social order, for uncompromising devotion to
the Union, and an habitual respect for the suprema
cy of the laws; I'd the mantle of such Patri-
OTIS Caswell, Nash, Burke, Johnston and Davie..
might well satisfy loftier ambition than mine
will not be expected that SO near the termination
of your session, will present to your con sderaon
any specific scheme or policy
| The distinguished gentleman 1 am about to sue
coed has discharged that duty with zeal and ab-
y that tile most patriotic and gifted of his success
! ors in coming TIME will commend and admire.
I Whilst, then, make no specific proposition for
the future may be permitted, l trust, this first
day of the natural and political year. surrounded
by the Executive, the Legislative and the Supreme
Judicial Functonaries the commonwealth hav-
ing testified my devotion to the State by an appeal
| to the highest sanctions of our religion to bestow
no thought upon the past.
There is no heart so cold as not to consider it
meet and proper at this time, in this place. and
der these circumstances to acknowledge with devout
gratitude the goodness Of God to thank him for the
multiplied blessings conferred upon country and
earnestly to suppicate continuance of His favors
We have, most truly, just cause to be thank full
thankful for country, her climate and her soil
thankful for her Institutions, and for the aw-abf
ding hearts Of our people
Prominent among the events of the year that has
Just closed is the great political Revolution throu gh
which we have passed. l allude to it here in no
spirit of vain glory and exultation at a Party tri-
umph. God forbid that occasion like this
our hearts should swell with any ohar emotion than
love for our country, our common country our whole
country.
In the formation of the Federal constitution, there
was subject of such anxious and painful consider
alton the arrangement of the Executive department.
The elective monarchies of the old world had proved
the most defective of all systems of government
: Many vrtuous and able Statesmen feared that any
scheme by which the chief Executive Magistrate
should be chosen at brief intervals must produce
universal tnmult and confusion and prove emnently
wanting in stability and security.
The most ardent and confident advocates of Re-
publican governments, regarded it the pivot on
which the success or failure of our great experiment
in political science was to turn. Nor did the sue
cess which marked every step of our National pro
gress in its early career to dispe their gloomy
, apprchehsions.
: The illustrous Chief, to whom was first commit
ted the helm of State, can scarcely be regarded as
having passed through The process of election. His
great qualities and eminent services, had elevated
G him above all competition He, and he only without
compeer, was first in war, first in peace and first
in the hearts of his countryman" The problem re-
manned to pc solved could Institutions withstand
the shock of popular elections occurring at stated in
: tervals? Would not the difficulties increase
f population multiplied and our boundaries extended?
f With each successive trial. the hopes of the friends
of free government have grown brighter and stronger
1 The History of the Seventh OF November. lS4Ss
WILL tits believed go far to settle this question.
That three millions of Freemen, the proprietHfs
of many millions of square miles, between the rs-
ing and the setting sum- should calmly and intclIi-
: gently record their verdict upon the great issues
submitted TO them, is more stupendous miracle in
political science, than the wonderful agency in
Physics, by which this verdict transmitted in
like interval froii tie extremes the heart of this
extended Country
d Since the world began, where but here in this glo-
1ous Union, are peaceful Rerol'aions witnessed p
l. Whilst other Nations agitated and convulsed
d and the high places of power approached only
through the battle field here aloe do one BET of Ru7
lers give way to another without resistance; and
the policy of to day Quietly upturns that of yeser
= day by the peacefulmagc of the ballot Box. Though
all this may have aroused the clements OF Party spirit
S and excited the popular mind by intellectual con-
f1icts for the mastery though badges and banners
proclaim the ardor of contending hosts i'll short
. day, without tumult or bloodshed, the Struggle is
! ended.
victors and the yahguished. All is calm; and that
e civil spectacle exhibited sublime and nimitable of
and almost universal submission to the will of the
majority.
What can better illustrate the consummate wisdom
- of dur Institutions or the behigii Influence of that
spirit breathed into them by the foresight and patr
otism of ancestors? May this spirit be ever
cherished and perpeuated by the vrtuous energy and
Z, intelligence of our people,
l. Let it be remembered by the Unsuccessful Party in
" the recent Presidential election, that the triumph of
of rnh and
ia OF foes and that factious opposition will bring
" them in conflict with that Fundamental and vital
principle of republicahisn, an absolute acquescence
IL in the descisons of the majority" And let il be
borne in mind by the Successful PARTY that with us
it contest for Principles and not for the patry
rewards and trappngs of office. That our political
= opponefits are not 10 be regarded conquered
enemy to be crushed berieath the heel OF power-but
as countryman bound mp in the same destiny with
Z ourselves-oint irlhertors and owners Of comm d
Z goverhment-c6parners in the same great charter
that guarantees justice and equal rights to all-in
word Our Fell01 Citizens.
3 In the important pterogative of Legislation the
4 Executive branch of our State Government is Who'll
Il ly excluded.
Our early history exhibits on every page the clear
est evidence that no Colony under the don nion of
Il the Mother Country misgoverned and oppressed
II to an equal extent with North Carolina --Hence as
a natural consequence, no one efour State Censtu-
tons furnishes such marked proof of the jealousy Of
Il Executive power. The Governor possesses neither
Il an ititiatOry nor veto authority in legisatlon-and
the mere privilege of recommendation has been as
sumed and sanctioned by usage, in imitation of the
II course under the Federal Constitution, rather than
i derived from any provisions in our own.
may be allowed, however, to remind your honor
able body that the very object and purpose for which
our constituents have clothed you with the law-ma
ming power is that you will exercise it for hei5 good
for the Improvement of their condition, lnteecu-
T al and physical for the Development OF the re-
sources Of the state the increase OF her revenue
the maintenance of the public credit for perfecting
the systih of Education among me people ana ex
r agricultural manufacturing, and commercial inter-
d ests of our State ga. - =
s. TO stand still amidst the Improvements which ag
orandize and enrich sister States TO recede
To gaze with wonder on the achievements Of others
i cur the guilt of the Improbable servant that buried
= his talent. &c :.
expect You to do something on these subjects, and
); will sustain your honest efforts !:
I'd Let then. pray you, the mere stratagems, and
schemes Of Party; be stifed bg The voice Of patro-
ii tism which is calling you tdactonand et the pom.
. .progress' which improves ehfiches and exalts