Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-01-05
COW RRAec,s INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
e''0" ~ S' ~ INNATE and House of Commons

Elected bv majority of the freemen of the State,
to fill the Chief Executive office within their gft'
have in obedience their will and the requirements
Of the Constitution, appeared before you TINS day.
of the important trust confded 10 me, ''wihout ia
yor or affection, agreeably to the Constitution and
laws of the State, and according TO the best of my
skill and ability"
Seriously impressed as am by the responsibilities
thus solemnly assumed and which are SO well cacu-
lated to excite reflection and determination, shall
enter upon the discharge of my duties, not without
distrust of my qualifications for the high station 10
which it has pleased my fellow citizens to elevate me-
but at the same tme with earnest endeavOr, moi
only to obtain the appreciation OF those whose sura-
ges have received, but also to advance and secure
the welfare and prosperity of my native State
Fortunately however, for myself and for the best
interests of the State, shall not be unaided in the
execution of my office. For while to the freemen
of the State belongs the power of electng their Gov
ernor to the General Assembly, under the Constitu-
on is confided the selection of his Councila body
which it will he my duty as well as my pleasure,
on all important occasions, to consult, and in whose
wisdom and experience shall at all times conf
IDENTIFY rely.
1t has not been usual, believe, for those who
have preceded me in my office, 10 enter fully, on
occasions ike the present. into expression of theil
opinions and views upon questions pending before
the people in the Legislative Halls of the State
Nor, suppose, is it expected of me now to depart
proper in itself Yet. | now, and trust | ever
shall be ready all proper occasions, to express
my opinions and take my fair share of responsible
ity touching every question which may concern the
interest," the welfare and the prosperity of peo-
pie
| hope, however, in order to avoid misconceptiOn,
that shall be pardoned for slight departure from
the usage to which have adverted, in making
brief reference to some matters of public moment
which hitherto have been much discussed through
the State and in relation to which there has been
and is still deep and abiding interest felt.
Prominent among these has been the question of
80 amending State Constitution to extend the
right of suffrage, by abrogatlng the freehold qualif-
cation for senatorial voters 1t would be waste of
words, we'll useless consumption of time, dis
the merits of that question here it has already
been thoroughly discussed and in my opinion there
is no question in regard to which there has been a
clearer and less equvoca expression of public senti-
ment.
Time and again has it come before the people, and
every OCCASION through the broad expanse of the
State, and from the shore of the East to the
mountain SUBMITS of the West, their voices has
been heard in its favor.
In our last State canvass it ceased to be subject,
upon the merits of which, save with here and there
an exception, there was any controversy. 1t was
virtually conceded on all hands, that the amendment
not only desired by very large ma Ority of
our people. but which was right and proper in ITSELF
of eecting the change; whether it should be done by
the Legislative or Conventional mode of amending the
Constitution. | need not at lenghth reiterate mere
my opinions on that sub ject; they were freely and
repeatedly expressed in almost every section of the
State and were substantially the same that were en-
tertained and expressed time after time both Of
Gcialy and unoffcially, by my immediate predeces-
sor. 1t will be sufficient for me to say that ! have
cause TO change these opinions, sanctioned as
they have been, often, by the popular vote
Changes in our fundamental laws should not be
made for slight or transient reasons The wise men
who formed our Constitution, so intended, and they
have we'll provided, in the instrument itself, safe
guards against such evils. But when change is pro-
posed which all nearly all agree should be made
careful consideration Of the subject has led me to
the conclusion that there is no way in which it can
be done, practicable economical, and withal SO
safe and conservative in its character that of first
requiring the sanction of the large Constitutional
majorities in each branch of two successive Legisa-
lures and the subsequent ratification Of the proposed
amendment, by direct vote OF the people themselves
There is another subject that has attracted in a
large degree the attention of the people of the State
and which, from It's very great Importance deserves
more than the brief notice which shall bestow upon
it on the present occasion aude to the subject of
internal improvement.
The natural resources Of our State, in an agrcul-
tural, mineral and commercial point of view, are
certainly great but they need the assistance of those
artificial means which the science and capital of our
day have so wonderfully supplied, to the end that
they may be improved and developed These are
facts about which all will agree while there may be
some difference OF opinion as to the extent 10 which
the State should embark in system of Railroad I'M
provements, especially at this time. Wild and Wis
onary schemes should all times be discouraged
and especially now we have the evil effects OF
such enterprises in other States Of the Union where
millions have been irretrevably sunk in unproduc-
tive works, of the kind and which has tended in nc
Ito To Id tho Il
ton in the monetary affairs of the country
But fortunately for North Carolina, through the
financial wave which has spread from the great com
merclal centre of the Union, has not left her un
harmed, YET her public debt is comparatively small
and entirely within her means her credit is unm
paired, her currency in sound though necessarily
contracted condition, and the great of her PEG
pie nparatively free from debt and unembawasseC
in their circumstances.
While, therefore, the present arrangement in thu
business and monetary concern OF the country coun
sells US to the exercise of proper prudence and
tion it should not, in my opinion prevent the prose
cution of a liberal system of improvement, and es
pecially the completion of our great central work
and lis further extension East and West, as rapid,
as may be consistent with the means, the ability
the credit of the State
II must be admitted by all that the present inan
cial revuSon, brought about it has been, mainly
by the extravaganza, recklessness, and in some
dishonesty Of individuals and corporations in othe
sections of the country, has largely increased thu
difficulties under which labor in prosecuting fo
the present, any extended plan of improvement. Blu
the great and well-known resources Of the country
and the deep and solid foundations upon which rest
its ultimate prosperity, cannot fail, at an early day
to restore business IL its accustomed channels, AM
cause capital to seek for safe investment and thus
enable the State if she desires it, to resort success
fully, she has done heretofore, to the use of he
public works, and the amelioraton of the condition
of our people
We live in time, if l may so speak, of excessiv
progress; and know that it has been said, perhaps
with Some fruth tbot North Coroiipo hoe boo,