Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-04-02

are tberetere ePtatRu - IeonlfnAnas the revou7
ton, which IN secondary ssFSs were 50 slse'
full in eredueingttE fa 3 !.sass' ,ss.sigyii
sssS sss5ss 2 = SEA q iisS fFsftbs standard
/ THE, SExGGoyEgSoR AElvLEGlEIa TURE
4 ss'sR iBplToR:aIhe ilisstsbthse oninanst akiag
i survey of the ccaditioaef spnblfesafair North
Carolina at thepreseRt time must pereeiye that IN
any event, unless The public enemy seatlffven from
the State at an early day, ING most serious difficult
ties win environ Us IN providing wisely and pru.
IDENTIFY for the perpetuatop of Executive and
: Legislative .departinentsaaf shegoSerument.si ?
Ii the trainers of the State Copstitutiof intended
to convey clear and definite idea tbeir meaning
by the verbage employed TO express IL and usage
at all constitutes precedent and correct exposition
/ of that iRstrlment 10 isuauifsS that the term OF
our Legislators and Executive rpited to one bieu
NAL election i. O. from Ae first Thursday IN Af
gust, 1860, to the first Thursday in August e62
and so on unless reelected. The simple fact that
the lst day Of january in each aiterpate rear, Is
fixed for the Inauguration Of the Governor elect,
proper provision ipoTder to secure uniformity and
regularity in the ordinary course of things, but in
its gerry nature is not intended and cannot apply TO
exgencies of an extraordinary character The phi
losophy of the Constitution, SO to speak, plainly
cognizes the principle that the right Ofsofiee both
| of Legislators and Executive, is contemporary
and begins with their election and Terminates with
the election Of their successors That this is So is
tive were to convene an extra session of the Legis
lature the day after the election in August, he
would of course call together the members elect
| and not the old body. Aud if the Executive were
to die, any day between the day of the election of
his successor, and the organization of the new Leg
isature, is it not palpable that the State would be-
| without an Executive during the interim, if the
! u vernon elect did not at once take the oath OF
i Office: In such event there would not be in Of
flee Speaker OF either branch Of the Legislature
Nor, if We are correct -weude there be any one in
the State authorized to convene the Legislature to
elect Speakers if the Governor elect be not the Gov
ernor in fact and agreeable to the Constitution, on
| the dug Of has election ..---.--.r' -
If this be correct, and we are unable to believe
otherwise. 1T is manifest That the Constitution has
in no other way provided fora possible interreqnUm
between the day of election and the meeting of the
new Legislature, but bythsassumption of the Office
| Immediately by the Governor elect. To say that
the Speaker Of the Senate or of the House. the
may be, who only become Governor by virtue
Ofhis office as Speaker, upon the DEATH resignation
| &C., of the incumbent becomes the Governor in
! fact, IN such an event, and not the Governor er
e1iejO whose term ofceurse expires when he ceases
TO be Speaker, is begging OF the question, until it
be shown that the Constitution says so. 81,
Gov Clark was therefore right in 1854, when he
| took the position that Gov. WInslow Governor
er oGicio and Speaker of the Senate, and he is
sstent and equally right in holding that to be his
own position. Accordingly the first Thursday
OF next August under the Constitution as it is his
successor and a new Legislature must be elected.
But will the State or the people of the State be in
circumstances at that time to make election ? =
We sincerely hope they may, butifso great changes
must take place. At present, twenty three Coun
ties OF the State, Zone fourth) either in posses
| sion of or are menaced by the encmy,-their citi-
zens being either in the army scattered or kept
III such disturbed condition to be almost ndif.
erent to the results of an election Thirty or forty
! y,llb n IN H;ct tbo
enemy or necessarily in such circumstances as 10
prevent their voting Should the enemy be driven
back to his shipping, he could only modest partcu-
lar portions Of our Eastern Counties and election
i'll that event might take place. At present thou
sands of citizens would be DISTINGUISHED, having
been driven out from their homes, and are in Coun-
ties where they not entitled to vote. Should the
| enemy make successful advance which calamity
we trust heaven and our brave troops may prevent,
it is possible half of the State by the month Of
! August might be III condition to vote
What then is to be done? For it is wisdom al
ways to provide against the worst possible contin-
geucies. The possibility of such contingency must
be met and provided for. In no event. must the
State be left without Executive. Hitherto Since
the origin OF the war; condition, has needed the
direction of the wiSest and coolest heads But if
the war lasts, greater wisdom and greater reach
and qucknesS of intellect if possible will be re-
quired in the Gubernatoral chair. No merely clev-
err good or respectable citizen will answer. The,
very best intellect of the State is demanded for the
times a citizen of sound morals, of clear head,
Of quick perception, of great resources for emer
geucy, OF unyleldng conservatism and patriotism,
of ready ability i'll legislation and craftsmanship,
must be selected. lie must be bold, fearless man
man who will rise above sell, above party, above
the powerful influences of social political lfe-a
man of will and purpose but who will call around
him the best counsel in the State. North Carolina,
lin the present crisis, must have such man. or the
nearest approach to such standard possible
; Extraordinary times demand extraordinary meas
urcS. am opposed to the slightest abridgenIent
infringement OF the rights of the people, under the
Consultation. Already, they have had too slender
an opportunity to express their views at the ballot
box, during these exciting times But insvew of
the possible contingencies which may arise it may
become absolutely necessary for the State Conyen-
ton to do for the people, what all would greatly
/ prefer they should do for themselves. 81
The possibility of successful advance of the
enemy, (Which may Heaven deeaD seems to Inc to
demand that the State Convention should fix an
earlier day than the first Thursday in August, for
the election Of a Governor and new Legislature.
II this object can be effected in May or June it
i ought to be done. We know not to-day what turn
the affairs of tomorrow may take The election Of
a Governor and a new Legislature would render the
existence of TIE Convention unnecessary perhaps
after its next session. Should, however, the cleo
ton of Governor and Legislature be defeated by
the condition Of the country the. Convention should
continue It's existence, and assemble as the exlgen
! ces of the State may demand. In that event, the
Convention should elect Governor and Council Of
six from among the wiSest and best men of the
State to be into office the first Thursday
in August next, to whom should be committed the
management OF our affairs under proper restrictions
and penalties, whose action should be subject to
vision and correction by the Convention, and whose
term of Office should continue during such period
the war may prevent the, assembling of the people
to make election of Governor ard a Legislature
| only suggest what may be necessary in possible
contingency. 1t is certainly not probable.
In the mean time, let the people meet in their
primary meetings to express their opinions and
wishes regard to the state of the country and to
designate their choice for Governor and such other
SUGGESTIONS as they may deem best for the interests