Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-01-03


to preside. Upon the three great questions of the
day-Free. Suffrage, Internal Improvement, and
the Rights of the saveholding States-t is clear and
emphatic, and fully up with the wants of the time
and the expectations of the people.
Fezloo0 Citizens
et'tAe Senate and House Of Commons:
Elected by majority of the freemen Of the State,
to fill the Chief Executive Office within their gift
have in obedience to their will and the requirements
of the Constitution, appeared before you this day,
and socmnly sworn that will discharge the duties
of the important trust confded to me- "without
favor Affection agreeaSly to the Constitution and
laws of the State and according to the best of my
skill and ability
Seriously impressed as l am by the responsible
ties thus soemnly assumed, and which are so well
calculated to excite reflection and selfexamnation
L shall enter upon the discharge of my duties not
without disrust of my qualifications for the high
station to which it has pleased my fellow citizens
elevate me; but at the same time, with an earnest
endeavor, not only to obtain the appreciation ofthose
whose suttrages have received but also to advance
and secure the welfare ans prosperity of my native
State.
Fortunately, however, for myself and for the best
interests of the State, shall not be unaded in the
execution of my office For while to the freemen of
the State belongs the power of electing their Gov
ernor, to the General Assembly, under the Consti-
tuition, is confided the selection of his Council
body which it will be my duty well as my pleas
jC, ]
whose wisdom and experience l shall at all times
confidently rely.
1t has not been usual, 1 believe, for those who
have preceded me in my Office, to enter fully,
occasions like the present. into expression of
their opinions and views upon questions pending be-
fore the people in the Legislative Halls of the
State Nor, suppose is it expected of me to
depart from course, sanctioned by usage, and per-
haps proper in itself Yet am now, and trust
shall be ready all proper occasions express
my opinions and take my fair share of responsibility
touching every question which may concern the in
tcrest, the welfare and the prosperity of our people
hope, however, in order to avoid misconcepton,
that shall be pardoned for slight departure from
the usage to which l have adverted in now ma
king brief reference to some matters of public
moment, which hitherto have been much discussed
throughout 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
so amending our State Constitution, to extend
the right OF suffrage, by abrogating the freehold
qualification for Senatorial voters. 1t would be
waste of words, we'll useless consumption of
time, to discuss 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 clearer and less equyocal express
sion Of public sentiment.
Time and again has it before the people,
and on every occasion, through the broad expanse
of the State, and from the shore the East to
the mountain submits of the West their voice has
been heard in its favor
In our last State canvass it ceased to be sub
jcct, upon the merits of which, save with here and
there an exception, there any controversy. 1t
virtually conceded on all hands, that the amend
ment one not only desired by very large MAORI
ty of our people, but which right and proper in it.
self If controversy there was it only as to the
of etfecting the change; whether it should be
done by the Legislative or Conventional mode of
amending the Constitution. L need not at length
rcterate here my opinions that subject; they
freely andrepeatedy expressed in almost every
section of the State and substantially the same
that entertained and expressed time after time
both officially and unofficially, by my immediate
predecessor 1t will be sufficient for to say that
/ have no cause to change these opinions sane
toned as they have been, often, by the popular
vote
Changes in our fundamental law should not be
made for slight transient reasons. The wisem
who formed our Constitution, intended, and they
have we'll provided, in the instrument ITSELF safe
guards against such evils. But when change is
proposed which all or nearly all agree should be
made, a careful consideration of the subject has led
me to the conclusion that there is no way in which
it can be done, practicable, so economical and
wthal safe and conservative in it's character as
that of first requiring the sanction of the large Con-
stitutonal maorties in each branch of two success
i've Legislatures, and the subsequent ratification of
the proposed amendment by direct vote of the
people themselves.
There is another subject that has attracted in
large degree the attention OF the people of the State
and which, from its very great Importance, deserves
more than the brief notice which | shall bestow up
on it on the present occasion. allude to the SUBJ
ject 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 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 to
which the State should embark in system of Rail-
road improvements, especially at this time. Wild
and visionary schemes should at ali times be dis
couraged, and especially now; have seen the
evil effects of such enterprises in other States of the
Union where millions have been irretrievaby sunk in
unproductive works of the kind, and which has ten
ded in no little degree to produce the present dis
astrous condition in the monetary affairs of the
country.
But fortunately for North Carolina, though the
financial which has spread from the great COM
mercial centre of the Union has not left her I'M
harmed yet her public debt is comparatively SMALL
and entirely within her means; her credit is unim-
paired, her currency in sound though necessarily
contracted condition, and the great mass of her
people comparatively free from debt and unembar-
raised in their circumstances.
While, therefore, the present arrangement in the
business and monetary concerns of the country !
counsels to the exercise of proper prudence and
caution, it should not in my opinion, prevent the
prosecution of liberal systcm Of improvement, and