Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-01-10

s
lssnotors dnd Members Of tie House Of Commonss
lmnressed with deep sense OF gratitude to my
on,Tcitizens enter upon the duties of the station
Ia ,Dbich their Kind partiality has called me- nth
the earnest invocation to Almighty Goa so TO drec'
NV official conduct as to promote the Welftfe, eHe
prosperity and the happiness OF the people OF tne
State The duties of the Executive at all times uell,
cate and responsible, magnfed by the
of the crisis and should approach the fearfui task
ASSIGNED mewh greater reluctance, were 1t not Tor
the fact that find myself surrounded 10y the Legs
lative authority of the State, confded to gentle
men whose wisdom and patriotism, doubt not, VIII
be found equal to the emergency.
The misguided fanatcism of bolitionists at the
North threatens the overthrow of the Constitution
and dissolution of the Union. l he slavery ques-
ton is one of momentous Importance to the Southern
States Of the Confederacy, involving an incaleulabie
amount of property, as well as the domestic peace
and security of our people In the formation OF the
federal Constitution the institution OF Slavery was
recognized and provided for in manner just and
satisfactory to all the States. Subsequently, this
question deeply agitated the country. and the South
made concessions to the North and submitted to the
Missouri compromise. with the assurance and expec-
taon that this exciting clement OF political STRIFE
was to be forever put to rest After avalling her
self f all the adyana ges derived under that comprO-
mise, the North urged exorbtant demands which
led to the enactment of the series of compromise
measures passed by the present Congress. by which
| the South lost impOrtant rights by again making
concessions to the North The North, having avail
ed herelf of all the advantages under this compro-
mise, does not agitate the subject; and now
! threatens to repeal the only of the measures
which enuled to the benefit of the South accompanied
in many instances, by violent threats to disregard
the Constitution and the laws, and to forcby resist
their execution.
We have notbeen Indifferent to the encroachments
that have been made on our rights, yet we have pa
tently suffered item with the hope they would not
be again renewed We have just cause to fear
that this hope was Elusive. North Carolina one Of
the last States to enter the Confcderacy yields to
none other sisters in ardent attachment to the Union
She would regard its dissolution aWial calaml-
y, which she would avoid at any sacrifice consistent
with her rights and her safety. She came into the u
Mon to be governed by the federal Constitution and
secure herself against tyranny and oppression; and
SO long the Constitution is faithfully adhered to
and her rights respected she will be among the last
of the States to desert the Union. But she never
gave her consent to enter into Union which would
overthrow the Constitution, violate her dearest ri hts
and manace her with the letters of oppression. To
such Union she owes no allegiance. A solemn
sense of public duty impes to declare. that the
croachnents Of the North the domestic institutions Of
the South hare already projected to the farhest ao.r
able point. Entertaining this opinion regard it
due to candor that we should make that fact known
that brethren at the North may be fully inform
ed that we know rights. and knowing, dare
maintain them :; and that if they proceed in their
aggressonS, they must expect to meet the consequent
ccs.
commend to the General Assembly to providc-in
the event of contingency arising to justify itfor
taking the necessary steps to maintain the Constiu
ton of the United States and the rights of this State
that we may cooperate with such other States as
may determine to stand by Union governed by the
compromises of the Constitution. Pursuing this
course, we shall feel proud consciousness of the
rectude Of our cause and be justified in the estima-
ton of all impartial minds; and then if the awful
calamity must come-which God forbid!-let the
consequences fall upon those whose madness and fol-
ly have provoked it.
That the rights of the States may be respected,
the Constitution preserved and the Union. according
to the Constitution, perpeuated is my ardent wish
and the Legislature and the people of the State may
rely upon my hearty cooperation in such measures
as may tend to the contamination of these desirable
G objects.
1t is we'll worthy of consideration whether po-
lice regulations in relation to slaves and free persons
of color sufficient; and also, whether the public
interest does not require further legislation to
eecually insure the apprehension and conviction of
persons who endeavor to excite slaves to rebellion
insurrection, who kdnap pursuade them to
leave their owners, and more especially in cases
where such offenders fee to other States.
judicious system Of Internal improvements by
the State has been regarded object of i'm
portance worthy of the consideration and action of
G the General Assembly. Cheap transportation could
not fail to add to the wealth and convenience of all
classes of citizens and to the prosperity of the
State, There are various objects which claim the
consideration of the Legislature. Feeling deep in
teres in the prosperity of every part of the State,
and believing that the members Of the General AS
sembly residing as they do in the various Counties
will be fully prepared to give due consideration to
the claims OF every portion of the State, do not feel
myself called upon to decide between the peculiar
Y merits of the many objects fpublic improvement
y which demand the patronage Of the State. In car
rying out system of Internal improvements large
expenditure of money is necessarily required and it
is not to be expected that State at embark
f in all the schemes that desirable Works of this
description should be undertaken with due caution
In regard to their practcability and the adequacy
Ii the means ofthe State to complete them AS gener-
al rule think the Legislature which authorizes the
construction of works of Internal Improvement ought
at the same time, to provide for raising the means
for their completion. Whether public opinion OF
the condition of the Treasury will justify the State
as this time in embarkng in other and new objects
Il ton which is submitted to the prudence and wisdom
of the General Assembly. While iudicious system
of Internal Improvements within the means and re
sources of the State is desirable to all yet vile
and extravagant one, involving the State in large
public debt without the prospect of return of AIDE
quate advantages to the people, is to be deprecated
y Such system would for time at least, paralyze
the spirit of Improvement and with it. the prosper
ty Of the State. The laws in force for carving GU
works of Internal Improvement already provided for
" and such others as the legislature in its wisdom
may hereafter provide for, far as depends upor
my action Executive, shall be faithfully executed
u IN State like ours where the popular voice di
reefs and governs public affairs, education is a sub
o jvct of general and paramount Importance 1t i
therefore the policy of the State to foster and i'm
t. prove system of Common Schools, SO as to an
swer the laudable and benecent purpose for which
Of 1t is intended In 1925 act was passed settn1