Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1862-11-28
FIRST M ESS GE
OE HIS EXCELLkNCY
GOV. Z. B. VANCE,
TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
N0FsgEa CAROLYN a.

i u
Certainly Legislature has never been con-
vened in the State OF North Carolina to protect
greater Interests or meet greater reponsi bill
ties.
Eighteen months ago, when the State enter
ed into the war. which is pcw wag'ng al was
life and buoysncy and axcltement. The novelty
Of our undertaking aud the enthusiasm OF our
paople in support Of our ca use. not only render
the course of the Legislature and the Executive
easy, but actually proceeded and marked 1t out.
But the long continuance OF toe c"ntest the
slaughter of our soldiers the occupation OF our
territory by the enemy, the destruction OF our
homes and the blockaked condition OF our coast
have reduced us to straits, and given to q
class of evils. in the presence oi which ephe1ne
ral patriotism must perish and The tinsel enthnsl
asm Of novelty give place to that stern and de-
termined devotion to our cause, "hlch alone
can stain revolution.
it now becomes the duty of YOU. the General
Assembly, to- set az example To your constt-
usnts OF frmuess, prudence, determination ana
energy: to correct the Of the past, to pro-
vice for the exigences Of the future, aud to
use we'll and wisely the power vested in your
body by the Constitution, for the profession OF
rights and liberties.
The subject nf first Importance is the prose
cution of the war. and the means OF defending
The Legislature by several acts In 1861, pro-
vided tkat. in case the Confederate Government
should fail or neglect to provide for The defence
of North Carolina the Governor should be au-
thorized to raise certain number OF troops for
that purpose and made appropriations OF mon
ey for their support. impressed with the oe-
fenceless condition o. our eastern counties when
| came into office, | had fully determined to
avail myself of this authority, and would have
proceeded at once to do SO, but for the inter>
vention OF insurmountable difficulties. The
principal of these was the conscript law passed
by the Confederate Congress subsequent to the
passage of the several acts referred to-. BY
this law, as extended in its provisions a short
time before the adournment of Congress, ali
able bodied men, between the ages OF eighteen
and forty-fiye years, became liable to enroll
ment as soldiers Of the Confederate States. To
raise an adequate force for Stale defence from
our citizens beyond the age of forty>fve, and
submit to this vast drain besides, thought ELI
tirely impracttcable. hoped, too, that by
aiding and assisting IN the execution OF the con-
scription law, would be effactuaily providing
for State defence. This reasonable hope as
regret to say been disappointed; and although
NorthCarolina has greater extent of sea-coast
than any other State, she has had fewer troops
given her for its defence. ~ 3aet ssis
1t is not necessary gentlemen, that should
call your attention to the abounding wealth of
this threatened sectan OF our State-6lled with
every thing necessary fer the comfort of our
army and our peopie-or t. the suffering and
ruin of it's loyal, pstriotic iuhabitants. You
are sufficiently informed in regard thereto. /. 1t
Is for you therefore to say whether you will
suffer our defences as heretofore, to remain
sxclusively in the hands of the Confederate au.
norities, or take steps to carry out the will of
ae last egislature, and raise troops enough up
"a state authority to strengthen the weak hand
~ sae General Government on cur coast.