Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-11-26


could now only serve to dry up the sources oil our
industry, and lessen the productions OF the country.
The same remarks apply to seizures OF private prop
ertv for pubc use which ought never to be resort
ed to except in extreme cases, and then only Us
temporary exponent, IS .ho
wives and children of our brave and self-aeny'ns
soldiers, / also respectfully recommend tho pur-
chasing and storing at safe point IN the nterl'
or of st least two hundred thousand bushels OF corn
and five hundred thousand pounds OF pork, 10 DC
sold to them at rates sufficient TO cover inc
cost TRANSPORTATION &C. 1t can now be bought
in the Eastern counties at moderate prices, and is
in danger ST destruction by the enemy, II not re-
moved at an carly day. Anticipating the necessity
of this measure, and also thinking II proper IN
military point of view to have some surplus on
hand have already ordered the building of large
cribs on the N. c. r. Road, and made other prel'm-
mary arrangements for purchasing on large scale.
deem this matter of the very hi hest m2or-
lance Nothing would so cheer and encourage our
soldiers in the discharge of duty, as to know that
their State was providing for those at nome oearer
to them than life and nothing would SO oisf'rlt
and demoraliZe them to know that those dear
ones were suffering.
Indeed the soldier, shivcrins through the SHOWS
Of the coming winter and offering his blood day by
day for our defence has right to expect that his
country will not permit his wife and little ones to
cry in vain for bread and while there is morsel
in the land it should be divided with them. beg
you, Therefore, Gentlemen, to make such pro-
visions as YOU may deem best in reference to the
matter and at as early day as possible, and let the
gratifying assurance 60 forth to the camps of our
armies that the wives and children of our soldiers
shall not suffer so long their State has money or
food to give them.
beg leave to call your attention to the great
and almost insurmountable difficulties encountered
bv the Quartermasters Department in providing
clothing, shoes, and blankets for our troops Du-
ring the administration Of my predecessor, an ar
ranSement was entered into according TO resO
luton of the General Assembly, with the Quarter
masters Department of the Confederate States, by
which North Carolina was to receive the conimuta
ton clothing money Of her troops and clnthc and
shoe them herself And on agreeing to sell
the Confederate authorizes all the surplus supplies
that could be procured in the State they agreed to
withdraw their agents from our markets, and esve
| the State agents the whole field, without compctf
! tion THIS would have enabled the State to ciohe
and shoe her troops comfortably, and could .ave
furnished to the Confederate States all mat was to
be had anyhow at reasonable rates. But it
| Immediately violated. The country was soon, and
Is still, swarmins with agents of the Confederate
Government, stripping bare our markets and put
| ting enormous prices upon our agents This is
especially the case in regard to shoes and leather.
II
half supplies from home, and nothing at all from
the Confederate Government, because OF our agree
nient to furnish them ourselves. When a large
portion of our amy this fall b. the accidents of bat
tie and other caises lost their baggage it was found
impossible at once to replace it. Scrcly pressed as
to the best course to be pursued, published al
peal to people in behalf Of their brothers in the
field and employed the militia officers for the col
lection of articles donated or sold; and though the
h1S nat OD
it Is necessarily slow and uncertain; and regret
to say that the heroes of Boonsboro SharpSburg
and other glorious fields have suffered and are still
suffering greatly for the want of shoes and clothing
Every possible eXertiun las been made for their
lief; but while The agents of the CUniedera0Y c
allowed to compete with ours, and Spectators are
allowed to carry leather beyond our borders, it
vii! he impossible to supply them. | earnestly re.
commend all embargo upon this article, as before
mentioned.
am gratie,l that | am able to state that the
rrospec, of obtaining cotton cloths at reasonable
rates, Is better than it has been. The st0ckholi.
Of the Rockii>h manufacturing company, one
OF the largest and most cnterprlSllIg in the State
have agreed to sell all their productions at -
Der cent. uron cost, the rate allowed by the ex-
emvtiun bill. which will reduce the price about
one half; and SoEc seven or eight other compa-
nieS have minated an intention Of following their
praisewortry example. We may reasonably hope
that most 0! the other mills in the State can DC
induced to do likewise. The wooden factori.s
seem more incor!;gblc. fSomc of them when
asked to furnish their goods at - per cent dc lined
entirely, and others agree to do so by fixing cnor.
nous profits the cost of the raw material and
then adding the 10 per cent OF the finished article,
making their profits even greater than before. 1t
is greatly TO be regretted that these most useful and
tche cherished institutions should put themselves
IN position, which VIII cause them 70 be exccrartl
by our people on the return CT peace. But as the
free trade policy oppressed them in times of peace
so they seem determined to have no mercy upon us
during the existence Of the war. | recommend
them 10 your tender merccs gentlemen and would
respectfully suggest that you adopt such measures
as may seem practicable for securing supplies TO
citizens first; and to reduce il possible the
pr'ce OF cotton yarn, which is so essential to sup
plying the hand loom, Of our farmers wives.
In relation to ordnance stores, | will mention tina,
nearly year ago, contract was maize 10y my pred
ecessor, under act of the Legislature appropriat
ing $4,000 for the purpose, with Messrs. Water
house & Bowes, for the erection of powder mills
The money was expended, the mills erected ant
soon afterwards blown up and destroyed. Gov
Clark agreed to furnish them the means to star
again; and under new contract they have erected
other mills and are now nearly ready to begin opc
rat;ons on scale sufficient to make about 4, 0O(
pounds per week.
This however, involved an expenditure of money
beyond that appropriated by the act referred too
$4,000 having been advanced the contractors by
Gov. Clark, and S., 900 by myself
Of these sums, the money advanced by Gov
Clark is 10 be refunded in four equal annual install
ments and that by mc by reservng 10 pr cent Of tn
payments (as they become due) on powder to be fur
nished the State. The Confederate States will fur
nish the mills with about 1000 pounds of nitre pc
week.
The department has contracted with manufac
turers in the State for about 800 new rifles pc
) month, and arrangements have been made whereby
after the LIST of January about 300 old rifles ant
muskets out of repair will he rendered fit for service
And it is hoped the department will soon be able t.
keep on hand supply for five thousand men.
detailed report of the operations Of the Adjutan
: General department is herewith transmitted
The finances Of the State will doubtless engage
your anxious consideration.
The Board Of Claims, in pursuance of Ordinance
No. 70, Sec. 5, passed in December, 1861, l,av
made report showing the debt of the State on TIT
goth Sept 1862 to be s2o9s3,36l o.. subject t,
| no lItliSh nod l,,fb o IS