Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-08-21
GOV. CLARKE's MESSAGE.

9th. No business of Importance transacted.
We give below the Governors Message.
GoY CLARKE'S MESSAGE.
To the Honorable, TIE General Assembly
Of North Carolina
1t is the duty of the Executive at the
meeting of the General Assembly to lay Be-
fore them a statement of the affairs Of the
and such suggestions as may aid them
in their deliberations.
Having so recently taken charge of this
Office, with an extraordinary pressure of
business upon it, and with such limited OPP
portunities for preparing a statement of this
kind, | might we'll be excused from this duty.
But the. very great respect | have for the
Legislature, and my earnest desire to secure
their aid and cooperation, prompt ne to
make this communication, however imper-
feet or unsatisfactory it may be.
For the first time in the history of This
State we have to deplore the death of a Gov
ernor. The Hon. John w. Ellis, late Gov
ernor of this State, died at the Red Sulphur
Springs, Virginia, on the 7th July las.
This communication might afford an ap-
propriate place for a tribute to his worth and
merit; but his public and private virtues
have but recently been canvased through
the State, and their thorough endorsement
by the people constitute his highest reward
while living, anda rich legacy to survive
him, The great struggle which now RACES
throughout our country excites the most in
tense interest at home and abroad it Is
needless to argue to ourselves, or the world,
of the Justice or pfopriety Of our course. We
patiently yielded to every expedient and lis
tened to every promise in behalf of that
Union, around which had so long chung our
interest and dearest affections. But sudden
ly the mask was raised, and We saw before
us the sword of the tyrant, and henceforth
there vas no hesitation in our course.
An Extra Session of the Legislature
Immediately convened, and with no dissen-
ting voice, submitted the issue to the people
in Convention, which unanimously passed
the ordinance of separation and deliverancy
and that act has been sustained and ratified
by the people with an unanimity unparal-
leled in the history of the political struggles
of the world.
Men who but yesterday were fronting each
other in fierce and angry debate on this very
issue, are to-day marshaled side by side in
the same ranks,-banded like brothers, and
stalking 'stheir, lives, fortunes, and their
sacred honor" in the ommon cause.
The unanimity of North Carolina in this
great struggle, while it must ensure success,
enbellishes a page in her history, as brilliant
as the victory which achieves her indepen-
dence.
Suddenly thrown into this great struggle,
without an army or the organization to sup
port one; we find offered to us an army of
volunteers. who have come forward with
brave hearts and willing to enlist in the cause
of their country.
To sustain this course and make it effec-
tive in the field, the Legislature have voted
ample powers to the Executive, and devolyed
on those entrusted with the administration oil
affairs a fearful responsibility.
The Convention which assembled soon af.
t ter, not foreseeing the increasing demand fol-
| troops, and disappearing of the provisions O.
: the Legislature for raising and equipping
t volunteers, repealed them without providin,
{ a substitute.
5 Under the influence of the Convention
S Companies were disbanded, and a check wa:
! given to volunteering, which was likely t.
: prove injurious. These circumstance will
a certainty of a call for more troops, induced
: me to vary somewhat from the policy pre-
scribed by the Conventions change which
= Think they themselves would have sanctione,
: under the changed aspect o faffairs. | nigh
. safely say that the defence of the coast
e and the call for troops from Virginia, rem
0 dered it necessary.
The Convention, with ample powers from
the people, repealed this law of the Legisla-
: ture. But they did not repeal or modify tn
power of legislating granted by the Consti-
n tuition to the General Assembly and as j
was only a concurrent power exercised b,
the Convention, the General Assembly hav
still the same power to'legislate on that par
: ticular subject as before :. and the Convenr
ton making its repeal to take effect only. af
IS ter the meeting of the Legislature seem t
n indicate a design or expectation that some
le thing should be done. / must, therefore
y press it on your immediate attention.
In connection with the subject of voluT
teering, I will suggest the propriety of som
m regulation whereby it may be equalize
among the several counties and among tn
OF different districts of the same county. Som
ne counties and parts of other counties has
no already furnished more than their full quot;
while others have been more tardy in the
movements, and thus have not the enyie
4, privilege of serving their country. Tbi
could be done by selecting those countie
which have furnished fewest volunteers. an
)" pointing out the mode of enrolling thel
il from those counties. 1t is fair and equit;
BILE, that in each county a just proportio
| should be observed, between those who re
II 4 luall W OdhO OdIO vi LHO hOhANCy oANo ma
~ provisions for the absent soldiers. and tho,
=. who go forth to risk their all for the countr
~ The expenditures of the State have bee
- and continue to be very large. The greata
=: hurried demand for loops in Virginia hi
- strained every point to equip and send the
., forward as rapidly as-possible, and thas BET
90 the aim of the authorities to furnish OF
~ troops with every comfort consistent with o
~, means. If we have not been entirely su
=. cessful we have at least been fiattered wi
the compliment of sending the best equi
~ ped troops that have gone to Virginia, al
We are taking every means of contlnuin
. these comforts. The subject of blankets al
"a winter clothes for the troops have occupi
SIc our attention, and we are making efforts al
"a appeals to accomplish this necessary objec
~ and medical aid for the sick Int suifrrI
shall be extended by every means in O
in power.
Ishould like to communicate to your DO
r the whole defence and armament of the Sta
the force which has been sent out, and I'll
III which is still ~equipping in the State, thest'
of the coast defences, and the plans for g
' ing them still more. strength. t Is yo
:" right and duty to know these facts, but fr
au prudential. considerations, | consider 1t b
up such information should not be communical
in a public message.
"a" With. your committees | invite a full q
rty free conference, and, through them, hope
is communicate every information that may
one desired.
eral will here call your attention to. a he:
source of expense in the equipment of troo
In Modern warfare has made a large demand
mo- - H. fr.as