Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-12-16

be implicty relied upon. We repeat, they settle
To the Editors IF the Standard:
GENTLEMEN: The following history and it's
necton with the Speaker the Senate exercising the
powers OF Governor, may not be embarrassing at this
time. 1t may have tendency to reconcile those
who seem to be afraid, less the present Legislature
are setting dangerous precedent in the action they
lately had on the retirement of Gov. Reid, and Mr.
Speaker Winsows assuming the duties of Governor
until Gov. Bragg shall qualify. 80 .....--
As matter of history it may do some good to
make IL puOiIc-for that purpose it is at your SER
vice. ID.
,uIp 1871, September 18th, Gov Burke was captur-
ed and taken prisoner to South Carolna subsequent
~ he escaped, and arrived in Salem the 30th of
january, 1852, 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 lie 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-in,leed if he could pass the enemy's
line, he did not know but that he would surrender
himself again pri ,oner.
On communicating his intention to Mr. Speaker
Martin, the Speaker replied, that lie only admins
iStercd the Government by virtue of his Office
Speaker, and that his term would expire, and
it Gov. Burke resigned there would be no executive
left.
In this state of affairs Gov Burke continued to
administer the government from the 10Th of April,
the time he wrote to Gen. Green,) until the Legis-
lature assembled, and Martin was elected Governor.
Again in 1893, the latter part Of the month of
September, Gov. Davie accepted the appointment OF
Minister to France. Mr.. 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 elected Governor NJ. Smith not
member of the Legislature when the election of
Mr. w illianS took place being the acting Governor
by virtue OF his office of Speaker of the preceding
session.
\ case still more in point occurred in 1906 The
General Assembly met the 18th November. AL
exandcr Martin elected Speaker of the Senate.
On the 23d of November, Gov. Turner, the incum-
bent of the Gubcrnatorial chair elected Senator
| in Congress On the 25th, Nathaniel Alexander, of
Meckcnburg 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-for
the 18th the Speaker Of the Senate laid before
! the House the folio wing letter:
To the HIM. 4ier"nrr .Kartn Speaker IF the Senate:
| DEAR SIR: Feeling myself unable 10 do the En-
ecutive duties of my office, and the Constitution
having i'll this provided that those duties shall
derovc upon you, it is therefore my request that
! you perform them
NATHANIEL. ALEXANDER.
| Dec 49, 1905
In looking over the Journals of the Senate of that
| time, we find the fOluw ny:
| 1871 De-, ZhursdDty afternoon. The House met
according to adjournment; the Hon. Alexander
Martin being engaged in the discharge of duties in
cdcnt to the Executive department. the Hon. Joseph
| Rd'lick appoitcd Speaker pro TEN.
Friday, Dec. 90. The House met-Mr. Speaker
! Martin in the chair.
saturday, Dec 81. The House met-Mr. Speaker
! Martin adjourning the House sine die, &c.
Mr.. Martin continuing to exercise the powers OF
| Governor until the recovery of Mr. Alexander
| sYH The correspondent Of the Wilmington Her
aid does both Gen. Singeltary and Mr. Shepherd in
Justice in representing the latter Ito use the elegant
language of the correspondent as pitching into
the former. We happened to hear the debate on
the question referred to, and we sure there was
no ill-feeling either side, and no ''castigation "
given. Mr.. Shepherd simply differed with Gen B,
and gave his views the House in clear and i'm
pressive manner, he always does when ne adj
dresses that bod V.
There seems to be sort OF concert among the
paid correspondents of Wing newspapers to dlspar-
age and traducc prominent Democratic members OIL
both Houses. This is the old federal game e
are not surprised at it and Mr.. Biggs, Mr. Dortch,
Cen Singeltary, Mr.. Badham, Mr. Jordan MIR. Settle
Mr.. j. b. Bynum, ard others, who appearto have
been made special objects of attack, will be very apt
to survive it all.
Gen. Singeltary is young man OF much PROMISE
and sus.ains himself admirably in debate. The fed
eraliSts dread his increasing influence and hence
their attempts to dsparage and underrate him.
LATEST FROM EUROPE.
We have the latest intelligence by the Pacific,
which arrived at New York on the 18th.
There is nothing decisive from the scat OF war
In England matters have reached quite crisis since
the battle of Inkerman, of the 9th OF November
when the Allies lost FOUR and the Russians ten th0"
sand men
Neither have been in a condition since to resume