The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1854-12-01
MESSAGE
OF His ENcelIcncy, Gov. Reid, 10 the
Legislature of North Carolina.
II tie Honorable tie General AsSembly
of the STATE of North Carolina

GenerGl Assembly, Et occasion is presented for
congraIulanng its members upon the blessings
which kind Providence has bestowed upon the
people Of the S;ate and especially upon their ex.
cmp;ion, TO considerable extent, from The dis.
eases and calamitics which have visited other
States and Nations, with such sad and devastating
consequences. Ii IS also subject OF congraiula-
ton that the spirit of progress and improvement
which, at present. anImates our people, presents
a bright prospect for the destiny Of our beloved
State.
Agriculture, in NorIh CaroIinn, has undergone
important improvement. which has increased
the reward OF The husbaudman, and impaired an
additional interest To this great pursuit the amount
Ol crime committed, 1t is believed. will compare
favOraby with that OF any other State the laws
have been executed as faithfully, and Justice ad-
mnISered as Impartlally as in any other country;
The faith OF The States has been scrupuIousIy pre-
served, and her credit stands deservcdy high,
boI!i al home and abroad. improvements are be.
iGg extended 10 afford the Farmer and Mechanic a
cheaP and eXPedItioUS mode of trans sportalon for
the surplus products Of their labor. and for the
supplies they are 10 receive in return; Univer-
SHY, ol the highest rack, aided by Numerous Col
leges ana Academies, nf a high order and a
system OF Common Schools. which will sonn he
second TO that OF no other State, are rapidly ex-
tending the facilities nf mcntai Improvement 10
every class OF our citizens the Geological eX-
amInaIons are almost daily disclosing :aluabIs
additions I" the in"Xhausribie miucrni wealth of
the State; and added To all 3hese, we have 90.
pdlarlon Ihlt is unsurpassed in the essential Gle.
m"nts "l true greatness. But, notwithstanding
Ihs crafty ing Condition q! things. there are many
euiIc ultimately connected with The welfare and
prosperity nl the people of the State, which re.
qulre the action of the General Assembly. ,|
In government like ours, where the voice OF
the people, I" great extent, controls public mea-
surrs, Education is not only subject in which
every good citizen ferris deep interest, but il be-
cprn"H one ni great public importance and de-
mrndS th' tSterinG care Of the SIlre. IInce
thai clause IN the Constitution which declares -
- ! hlt school or schunis shall b. established
"y ia legislature, i,'r the convenient instruction
al y""ih, Wuh such salaries I" the masters, paid
~ 'Ee iu.:c. may enable them tn Inslruc' al
inw prices aud all useful learning shrn hr duly
encouraged and prnnIored in one or more Univer.
si.i-s."
The UniSrrsity ofthe State i IN successful op-
rr,'nu, sustaining the high reputation il has long
and u's"rrcdiy cnioy'd and, at each Commences
ncui, ScH4s forth number Of graduates 10 en- /
gr@" in tie Various pursuits of IIfc This insiitu-
u'u l. every year cducnting, graruiIou<iy, no ru-
considerable number ni m"ritnr0us Young gen !
trmeu. hu have not The means for that purpose !
Il would he difficulty rn estimate the bcnpficir in !
iiurnc's tn" University has rxrrrrd in North Caro-
tIua. and IN other Sra'Cs OF the Union.
Cur Common Schools have beer in np.rarinn
bui Tor Il comparatively short period and are pro-
crossing we'll, perhaps, as we have a right tn
"Xpcc when consider the many difficult cs that
have 10 hc encountered IN the cnmm:ncempnt of
such a system. There doubtless stiH many
defects IN the management of these Schools,
which time and experience Will enable us 20 cor
Trc'. The SYSTEM, however, is doing incalcula-
bic good, and It's beneficial influence vii bn NOR,
s'rrkinSIy obvious to the generation which sue
cccdi us. There * su5i.ct more worthy OF
tIV"-ab.e consideration than ConIapn Schools
"c greatness oi Stat" d"p"Hds upnE her peo.
pc. In ie" ycars, those Who anw direct pub!ic
all airs Will pass from: ne stage of action, and the
"'Iidre an" destiny of the State aud the Il rssblic
":!I br committed 10 the charg" of new genera
ion. II that generation shall be foand wanting
IN wisdom and virtue, what is be the fate of the
monuments Of greatness erected BY lis ancestors
] ne educat!on OF the masses Of :hp people is The
neSt sscdrIty tor the rights of persons and OF pro-
per'y and, in free goge -nment, where inteIIi.
SFnce and vIriGe are the true passports 10 fa8e {
anh d.Sune'!"n 1t places the poor and obscure up. b
Dc an equality with tue rich and powerful, and v
~ ~" prove 'me best m"ans Of perPr!nating the
blessings OF liberty. @
DiFInG The last year, there dislributed from r
me Literary Fund. for Cnmmon Schools, in the
drl"uS counties OF the State the sum OF one hun. /
l'Eu ana iwenty-cght thousand ore hundred and Ii
wo dollars, fourteen cents, {i&e, ,l02 Ia; and II
1"iIhS the present year, the sum of one hundred e
md eighty thousand eight hundred and ffiy dol.
aIs, eight cents, ls0,s5O O6) has been distribu.
cd Tor the same object II is believed that nearly o
he same amount has been collected by taxation e:
n the counties. for The support OF Common IL
Schools g,
The report Of the General Superintendent oG b,
Common Schools, for the past year, gives an nc to
cunt, ia detail, OF the Iabors and observations of al
nat officer. II states many gratifying facts and o
resents various suggestions in regard to the I'M Ell
rovement of the schools. Il is herewith trans OF
li!ted HIS report for the present year will be or
in due time. m
Ii is desirable hai the principal Of the Literary tr
und should be increased, TO permanently secure ha
larger distribution for the support OF Common pc
chools. of
The Swamp Lands are an uncertain source of Ca
come, and their successful management REQUIRES be
degree Of personal attention, that il would be er
aTemeIy IncOnScnient for the Executive to bes- in
W. The titles of large tracts of the land are in an
pute and 1t Is believed, that rcspasses maeri- his
" impaIrIng their value, have been COMPUTED on
EN-, for years. When counsel are instructed TO ric
ing suits, difficulty arises in procuring the in sui
Fmauon necessary 10 their successful prosrea. in
N. The lands. in many instances are inacces the
'le' except 10 persons who have experienced in wh
'f exploration Further egIslliion is nccessa. the