The North-Carolinian. [volume] (Fayetteville [N.C.]) 1839-1861, 1852-06-05
GOV. REID'S
IN nc URAL ADDRESS.

GOV. REID'S
IN nc URAL ADDRESS,
Delivd 1fsre the tsoo House. Of de General
-asse - f North Carolina. the 1sf day Of
January, 1851.
I'm saed with deep sense Of graft
tude - fellow citizens, l enter upon
the q e1 Of the station to which their
kind gtlaIity has called me. with the
carney nsocation to Almighty God 50 to
si'recezey official conduct as to promote
the wlere, the prosperity. and the happi
ness 1he people Of the State. The du-
ties ese Executive. at all time. delicate
and .ry4HeQelble. are magnitied by the
imporskace d tie srisiss and L. should.
approach the fearful task assigned me with
greater reluctance. were it not for the
fact fhat | find myself surrounded by the
Legislative authority Of the State, confid
ed Ia gentlemen whose wisdom and pa
tri0tism. doubt not. will be found equal
to the emergency.
The misguided fanaticism Of Abolition
lists at the North threatens the overthrow
of the Constitution and dissolution Of
the Union. The Slavery question is one
OF monentous Importance to the Southern
States of the Confederacy, involving an
lncalcuIabIe amount Of property. we'll
as the domestic peace and security of our
people. In the formation Of the federal
Constitution the institution Of Slavery was
recognized aud provided for in manner
just and satisfactory to all the States.
subsequently. this question deeply ayitat-
ell the c"untry. and the South made con-
crssions to the North and submitted to the
Missouri compromise, with the assurance
aud expectation that this exciting element
ut pOlitltal strife was to be forever put to
rest. After ava;Iins herself of all the adj
vantages derived under that compromise.
the North urged exorbi,ant demands.
which lesi t" the enactment Of the series
Of c"mpr~nise measures passed by the
present Congress. by which the South lost
important rights by again making con-
cpssi"ns I" the North. The North, hav-
ing awaited herself of all the advantages
under this compromise, does not cease to
agitste thr subject; and now threatens to
repeal the only one Of the measures which
; enured to the benefit of the South, accom-
panied. in many instances by violent
threats to disregard the Constitution and
the laws, and to forcibIy resist their exc
cution.
We have not been Indifferent to the en-.
feroachtneH's that have been made on -eu.
| rights. yet we have patiently suffered them
| with the hope they would not be again
: renewed. We now have just cause t.
fear that this hope was Elusive. North
Carolina. one"f the last States to enter
the Confederacy. yields to none Of her
sisters in arden, attachment to the Union.
She would regard its dissolution as an aw-
fuI calamity, which she would avoid at
any sacrifice consistent with her right. and
her safety. She came into the Union to
be governed By the federal Constitution.
and to secure herself against tyranny and
expressions; and 80 long a, the ConAtitu-
ton is faithfully adhered to aud her rights
respected. she will be among the last al
the. States to desert the Union. But she
never gave her consent To enter into a
! Union which would overthrow the Con
! stitution. violate her dearest rights. and
manacIe her with the fetters Of oppression.
To such Union she owes no a!eg lance.
A solemn sense Of public duty impels i've
! to declare. thaf the encroochmen1s of the
NouA on The domestic Institutions OF the
! South. haze already proceeded TO the fur
fhesf allowable poinf Entertaining this
opinion. l regard it as due to can.ior that
we should make that fact known. that our
brethren at the North may be fully inform.
ed that ..we know our rights. and know
| ING. dare WdtUtdIu tntm dUti tiIat " tney
proceed in their aggre>sioDs. they must
expect to meet the Consequences.
! in view Of all the circumstances. l re-
spec,fully recommend to the General AS
sembly to provide-in the event IF a con-
tingency arising t" justify it-for taking
the necessary steps to maintain the Con
stitutinn nf The United States and the rights
Of this State; that we may c" operate with
such other States as may determine tn
stand by a Union governed by the com
promises Of the Constitution. Pursuing
thi. course. we shall feel proud conscious
! ness of the rectitude of our cause. and be
justified in the estimation Of all impartial
minds; and then. If the awful calamit y
must come-which God forbid let the
consequences fall upon those whose mad
ness and folly have provoked it.
That the rights of the States may be
respected. the Constitution preserved.
aud the Union. according to the Constitu
ton. prrpetuated. is my ardent wish; and
the Legislature and the people Of the State
may relv upon my hearty corporation III
such measures as may tend to the con.
summation Of these desirable objects.
1t is we'll worthy Of consideration whe ther
our police regulations in relation to slaves
snd free persons OF color are sufficient;
and also. whether the public interests
does not require further legislation to more
efectually ensure the apprehension and
conviction Of persons who endeavor t.
excite slaves to rebellion or insurrection,
or who kidnap or persuade them to leave
4zheir owners. and more especially in case,