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

.AA&4f&
manned and tranferred to the defence If o,r
own waters. and I feefa great confidence that
it will Contribute materially to their dosanaa
been sent to inspect our coast defsnces .na
batteries, preparatory to assuming the con.
troll of them. but as yet it has not been a..
compli,hed. have lately addressed a con.-
munication to the President on, the subject
and am daily expecting a favorable reply.
The cnrtaiiment of expenses has occupied
nv most anxious consideration, and / trust
to have your efficient aid in this an-importan
matter.
The Convention postponed the issuing of
Treasury notes authorized by your body un-
til lst of March next, and in the mean time
allowed the Treasurer TO borrow three mil.
lions Of dollars Of the Banks, borrowed less
the amount already under the act passed at
your extra session. A large portion o. the
sum borrowed has been expended, ami tho
additional sun to be b~orrowedis Ifear, more
than the banks will be prepared to loan
More full information on this head can DC pad.
from the T~reasurer,s Report,
l would invite your especial attention to
any revisal that will give more eff -iency TO
the militia. Ii has been suffered to sc.
down by being un lervalued, AMI the nearer
you can bring it back to the oil staldlrd,
the more likely yol are to succeed. The
system of exemption is very detrimental
Require the same duty of all. and 1t VIII be
more cheerfully subinitted TO. A m iitla
system, with ar ms in the hands OF the pco-
pie, should be sustained as one-of the main
institutions and props Of a free cordrTy =
They are the Volunteer National Guards OF
q Republic substitute for the standing
army of ~dcspotiSnf. --
1t is Notifying to our State pride to think
that we have hitherto been 81 dependent on
the Northern States for even the means of
defence, including all the munitions of war,
and arprehenSions have been felt among as;
that the want Of these might impair the
means and resources of maintaining this war.
But from a recent survey made by our able
State Geologist, Prof. EmmonS, | am graft
fed to state that we have in our midst, with
in a few miles of the North Carolina Eaii
Road, a most extensive and valuable supply
of lead, now ready to be taken up and he
further reports that VIC have the material for
the manufacture of gun-powder. The most
valuable ingredient of powder, s~altpetre, is
found abnndantly in the limestone caves in
Tennessee, Georgia and North Alabama. A
company is now engaged in the western part
6f the State, for The manufacture OF powder
and if any assistance is required I woald
suggest that the State should furnish aid for
the purpose of facilitating the supply of this
necessary material, which the blcckake OF
our coast now effectually cuts off
The blockade Of our coast and the non
intercourse around onr borders have estab-
lished two very important iactS. First. thai
in our commercial relations we have hecoms
T entirely dependent on the North for almos;
every article that We use connected with ma
chinery, fsrming, merchandise, food and
clothing, both the luxu,ics and. accessories
of life, including almost every article needed
/ for our defence The second aud more Inn.
portant fact is also nox established, that we
f have the means and material for supplying
all these wants within our own borders
Necessity is developing these resources and
r driving us TO the uSe Of them.
f The continuance Of this war and blockade
for two or three years may inflict much per
sonal suffering, but it will surely accomplish
our national and commercial Independence
If the war were To terminate soon, our 20
S litical rights mighs be secured, but trad,
o would resume it's old channels. Time ;lon,
h will successfully divert the course of trade
but when once diverted it becomes more diff
cult ever to restore it. Once check and turf
off the great flood Of Northern trade, AM
d Southern labor, Southern trade, sad South
ern capitah will roll their strsngh togethe
to establish Southern prosperity a~tsfindeper
= dence.
And it is equally important to is to csta
n lish our commercial as well as our polite
: independence. A decisive victory may esta
lish our political rights in a single day, but
: continuance of this war and blockade C:
it only accomplish the other.
y To US the blockade and war is . sharp, b
temporary pain, but it is a slow eensupptia
preying on the vitals of Northern weai,h al
= must conclude this communication, |
stating that there are some other subiee
that | must submit to the consideration
g, the General Assembly in a special messae
which / will do at the earliest mcmest.
n HENRY 4. CBARK.
lie Executive OFFICE. August 16th, 1861.
ID --