North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-01-04
inaugural Address Of Gov. Reid,

Delivered before the two Houses of the General
Assembly Of North Carolina, the LIST day Of Jam
uary, 1851
Senator's and Members Of the House Of Commons
Impressed with deep sense Of gratitude to my
fellow citizens enter upon the duties of the station
to which their kind partiaty has called me, with the
earnest invocation TO Almighty God TO direct my
official conduct as to promote the welfare, the pros
perity, and the happiness of the people of the State
The duties of the Executive all times delicate and
responsible, magnifed by the importance of the
crisis; and should approach the fearful task assigned
me with greater were not for the fact that
/ find myself surrounded by the Legislative authori
ty of the State, con6ded to gentlemen whose wisdom
and patriotism. doubt not, will be found equal to the
emergency.
The misguided fanaticism of AboItionists at the
North threatens the overthrow of the Constitution
and dissolution of the Union. The Slavery ques-
ton is one of momentous importance to the Southern
States of the Confederacy, involving ncalcaable
amount of property, as well as the domestic peace
and security of people. In the formation of the
federal Constitution the institution of Slavery was
recognized and provided for in just and sat-
isfactory to all the States Subsequently, this ques
ton deeply agated the country, and the South made
concessions to the North and submitted to the Mis-
souri, compromise, with the assurance and expecta-
ton that this exciting element of political strife
be forever put After availiHg herself of all
the advantages derived under that compromise, the
North urged exorbant demands, which led to the e.
nactmeni of the series ofcomPromise passed
by the present Congress, by which the South lost
North. The North, having ayaled herself of all the
advantages under this compromise, does not to
agtate the subject and now threatens to repeal the
only of the measures which enured to the benefit
of the South, accompanied, in many instances, by
violent threats to disregard the Constitution and the
| laws, and to forcibly resist their execution.
! We have not been Indifferent to the entertainments
that have been made on our rights, yet we have pa
tently suffered them with the hope they would not
! be again renewed. We now have just cause to fear
that this hope wasillnsive. North Carolina, of
the last States enter the Confederacy, yields to
of her sisters in ardent attachment to the Union.
She would regard its dissolution awful calami-
ty, which she would avoid at any sacrifice consis-
tent with her rights and her safety. She came into
the Union to be governed by the federal Constitution,
and 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 new
er gave her consent to enter into. Union which
would overthrow The Constitution, violate her dear
est rights and manacle her with the letters of OPP
preston. To such Union she owes allegiance.
A solemn sense of public duty mpes me to declare,
that The encroachents of the North on the domestic tn
siitutions Of the South haze already proceeded 10 The
arthest allowable point. Entertaining this opinions
regard it as due candor that we should make that
| fact known that our brethren at the North may be
fully informed that we know our rights and know
ing, dare maintain them; and that if they proceed
in their aggressions, they must expect to meet the
| consequences.
| In view of all the circumstances, l respectfully
recommend to the General Assembly to provide-in
the event of contingency arising to justify itor
i taking the necessary steps to maintain the Consu-
ton of the United States and the rights of this State
! that may cooperate with such other States
may determine to stand by Union governed by the
| compromises Of the Constitution. Pursuing this
course, shall feel proud consciousness of the
rectitude of cause, and be justified in the estima
ton of all impartial minds and then, if the awful
calamity must come-which God forbid Jet the
consequences fall upon those whose madness and folly
/ have provoked it. '+--
That the rights of the States may be respected, the
! Constitution preserved and the Union, according to
the Constitution, perPetuated is my ardent wish and
the Legislature aud the people of the State may rely
upon my hearty cooperation in such measures as
may tend to the contamination of these desirable OBJ
! jecls.
1t is well worthy of consideration whether our po-
lice regulations in relation to slaves and free persons
of color suficent and also, whether the public
interest does not require further legislation
eHectually ensure the apprehension and conviction
Of persons who endeavor to excite slaves to rebellion
or Instruction, or who kidnap persuade them to
| leave their owners, and more especially in cases
where such offenders flee to other States.
I judicous system of Internal Improvements by
the State has ever been regarded object of i'm
portance worthy of the consideration and action of
| the General Assembly. Cheap transportation could
fail to add to the wealth and convenience Of all
classes Of our citizens, and to the prosperity of the
State. There 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
l.
will be fully prepared to give due consideration
claims of every portion of the State, do feel
myself called upon to decide between the peculiar
merits of the many objects of public improvement
which demand the patronage of the State In carry
ing out a system of Internal improvements large
expenditure of money is necessarily required and it
is not TO be expected that State embark
in all the schemes that desirable. Works of this
description should be undertaken with due caution in
regard to their practcabty and the adequacy of the
means of ihe State to complete them. As general
rule think the Legislature which authorizes the con-
I sruction of works of Internal Improvement ought
at the time, to provide for raising the means
for their completion. Whether public opinion or the
condition of the Treasury will justify the State
this time in embArkng in other and objects of
improvement, and if so, to what extent, is ques-
ton which is submitted to the prudence and wisdom
of the General Assembly. While judicious sys-
tenn of Internal Improvements within the means and
resources of tie State, is desirable to all, yet wild
and exiravagant one, involving the State in large
public debt without the prospect of return of ade-
Quate advantages to the people, is TO be deprecated
Such system would, for time at least, paralyze
the spirit Of improvement, and with it, the prosper
works of Internal Improvement already provided for,
and such others the Legislature in its wisdom may
hereafter provide for, so far as depends upon my
ton as Executive, shall be faithfully executed.
I In State like ours, where the popular voice d.
reefs and governs public AFFAIRS education is subject
of general and paramount importance. 1t is therefore
the policy of the State to foster and improve sys
tenn of Common Schools to answer the laudable
and bene6cent purpose for which is intended. In
1925, act passed setting apart certain
of revenue for Common and convenient Schools. and
providing for the distribution of its proceeds among
the several Counties in proportion to the free white
population in each, whenever in the opinion of the