Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1854-12-20
To the Editors of the Standard:

To the Editors IF the Standard:
GENTLEMEN: The following history and its con-
necon with the Speaker of the Senate exercising the
powers ofGovernor, may not be unntercsting at this
time. 1t may have tendency to reconcile those
who to be afraid, less the present Legislature
are settling dangerous precedent in the action they
lately had on the retirement of Gov. Reid, and Mr..
Speaker Winslow's assuming the duties of Governor
until Gov. Bragg shall qualify.
As matter of history it may do some good to
make it pubhc--for that purpose it is at your SER
vice. d.
r In 1871, September 18th, Gov Burke was captur-
cd and taken prisoner to South Carolina; subsequent
ly he escaped, and arrived in Salem the 3Oth of
January, 1889, with the hope of there meeting the
General Assembly of the State During his captivi-
ty, Alexander Martin, then Speaker of the Senate,
exercised the powers of Governor Owing to the
peculiar situation of the country, the Legislature did
not assemble On the 18th of April Gov. Burke
wrote to Gen. Green informing him of the peculiarly
unpleasant situation in which he was placed He
said to him that he had fully determined to leave
the administration of the Government in the hands
of the Speaker of the Senate, and retire to dis
tant country-indeed, if he could pass the enemy's
line, he did not know but that he would surrender
himself again prisoner.
On communicating his intention to Mr.. Speaker
Martin, the Speaker replied, that he only admins
istered the Government by virtue of his Office
Speaker, and that his term would soon expire, and
If Gov. Burke resigned, there would be executive
left.
In this state Of affairs, Gov Burke continued to
administer the government from the 18th oil April
(the time he wrote to Gen. Green) until the LegiS
lature assembled, and Martin elected Governor.
Again in 179a, the latter part Of the month of
September. Gov. Davie accepted the appointment of
Minister to France MIR. Benjamin Smith, the then
Speaker of the Senate exercised the powers Of the
Governor until the next election. He signed public
! documents as Speaker Of the Senate, &c. At the
meeting of the General Assembly Mr.. Benjamin
Williams was elected Governor. NJ Smith was not
member of the Legislature when the election of
Mr. w llliams took place being the acting Governor
by virtue of his office of Speaker of the preceding
session.
still more in point occurred in 1905. The
General Assembly met on the 18th November Al
eSandcr Martin was elected Speaker of the Senate
On the 23d OF November, Gov. Turner, the incum-
bent of the Gubernatora chair was elected Senator
! in Congress. On the 25th, Nathaniel Alexander OF
! Meckenburg County, was elected GOVERNOR not be-
! ing present. messenger was dispatched to inform
. him thereof. 1t seems that Mr.. Alexander reached
Raleigh about the 18th Of December following-foI
! the 10th the Speaker Of the Senate laid before
! the House the following letter:
To the Hon. Alerander Uartn Speaker Of the Senate
7 DEAR SIR: Feeling myself 'unaSs.
ecutive duties of my office, and the Constitution
having in this provided that those duties shal
devoive upon you, it is therefore my request tha
! you perform them.
i NATHANIEL ALEXANDER
Dec Is, 1905.
In looking the Journals of the Senate of tina
! time, we find the following:
18Th Dec., Thursday afternoon. The House me
! according to adjournment; the Hon. Alexande
Martin being engaged in the discharge Of duties in
ciden to the Executive department, the Hon. Joscpl
Riddick was appoited Speaker pro tenn.
Friday, Dec 90. The House met-Mr. Speakc
Martin in the chair
Slturday, Dec. 2l. The House met--Mr. Spcake
Martin adjournng the House sine die, &C.
Mr. Martin continuing to exercise the powers Q
Governor until the recovery of Mr.. Alexander