Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-04-02
> -: = Far The Standard.
THE NEXT GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE

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. =: Far the Standard
THE NEXT GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE.
Mr.. EDITOR The most obtsse mind in taking
survey Of the condition of public AFFAIRS in North
Carolina at the present time, must perceive, that in
any event. unless the public enemy be driven from
the State at an early day, the most serious difficult
Ses VIII environ us in providing wisely and prn.
4en!'y Tor the perpetuaton of the Executive and
legislative departments of the government
j. - .he trainers of the State Constitution intended
~ .1n'ey clear and definite idea Of their meaning
,Ie 'eroaSe employed 10 express it and if usage
a. an constitutes precedent and correct exposition
Vi 'nat instrument it is manifest that the term of
our Legislators and Executive IS limited tn ono h;en
MAJ election, T. e. from the first Thursday m An
gust, 1860, to the first Thursday in August 1869
ana so on, unless reelected The simple fact that
tae LIST day OF January in each alternate year is
hxed for the Inauguration of the Governor elect is
proper provision in order to secure uniformityand
regularity in the ordinary course of things but in
It's very nature is not intended and apply to
exgehcies OF an extraordinary character The phi
iosoPhy OF the Constitution so to speak, plainly re-
coshlZes the principle that the right of Office both
OF our Legislators and Executive is contemporary
ana oeglns with their election and terminates with
the etectton OF their successors That this is So is
manifest from the consideration, that if the Execu
lature on the day after the election in August. he
would OF course call together the new members elect
and not the old body. And if the Executive We're
to die, any day between the day Of the election of
hls SUCCESSOR and the organization of the new Leg
isature, is it not papable that the State would be
without an Executive during the interim if the
Governor elect did not at once take the oath of
office? In such event there would not be in Of
flee Speaker o.! either branch of the Legislature
Nor IF " arnc Co,6 thoro ho in
the State authorized to convene the Legislature to
elect Speakers, if the Governor elect be not the Gov
ernor in tac and agreeable to the Constitution on
the dry Of lis election9 :.
If this be correct and we arc unable to believe
otherwise. it is manifest that the Constitution has
in no other way provided for possible interreqnu
between the day of election and the meeting of the
new Legislature, but by the assumption of the office
Immediately by the Governor elect To say that
the Speaker Of the Senate the House. as the case
may be, who Can only become Governor by virtue
OF his office as Speaker upon the DEATH resignation
NC, OF the incumbent, becomes the Governor in
Tact. in such an event, and not the Governor er
cteio, whose term Of course expires when he
10 be Speaker is begging Of the question: until it
be shown that the Constitution says so.
Gov. Clark was therefore right in 1854, when he
took the position that Gov. Winslow was Governor
er cttcio and Speaker of the Senate and he is con-
slstent and equally right in holding that to be his
own position. Accordingly on the first Thursday
OF next August under the Constitution AS it is his
successor and new Legislature must be elected.
But will the State or the people of the State be in
circumstances at that time to make an election p
We sincerely nope they may but ifso, great changes
must take place. At present, twenty-tiIree Coun
ties of the State, Zone fourh) either in posses
! sion of or are menaced by the enemy,-their cti-
zeIs being either in the army or scattered or kept
Ill such disturbed condition to be almost indif.
ferent to the results of all election. Thirty or forty
thousand voters, will be in actual conflict with the
enemy or necessarily in such circumstances as TO
prevent their voting Should the enemy be driven
back to his shipping, he could only modest partcu-
lar portions Of Eastern Counties and an election
i'll that event might take place. At present. thou.
sands of our citizens would be DISTINGUISHED having
! been driven out from their homes, and 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 in no condition to vote.
What then is to be done? For it is wisdom al
ways to provide against the worst possible contin-
| gencieS The possibility of such contingency must
| be met and provided for In event. must the
State be left without Executive. Hitherto, since
the origin of the war, our condition has needed the
| direction of the wseSt and coolest heads But if
| the war lasts, greater wisdom and greater reach
!
! CURED in the Gubernatoral chair No merely clev-
! err, good respectable citizen will answer. The
very best intellect Of the State is demanded for the
times. citizen of sound morals, of clear head,
of quick perception, of great resources for
gcncy, of unyicldng conservatism and patriotism,
of ready ability in legislation and craftsmanship,
must be selected. He must be bold, fearless man
| man who will rise above sell, above party, above
tho powerful influences of social or political lfe-a
man of will and purpose, but who will call around
him the best counsel in the State. North Carolina,
in the present crisis, must have such man, the
nearest approach to such standard possible.
Extraordinary times demand extraordinary meas
ures. am opposed to the slightest abridgement or
infringement OF the rights Of the people, under the
Constitution. Already, they have had too slender
all opportunity to express their views at the ballot
box, during these exciting times. But in view Of
the possible contingencies which may arise, it may
become absolutely necessary for the State Conven
ton to do for the people, what all would greatly
prefer they should do for themselves.
The possibility of successful advance Of the
enemy, (Which may Heaven defeaD seems to me tc
demand that the State Convention should fix an
earlier day than the first Thursday in August fol
the election of Governor and new Legislature
If this object can be effected in May or June il
ought to be done. We know not to-day what turn
the affairs of tomorrow may take. The election o.
Governor and 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 its existence, and assemble as the exlgen
cies of the State may demand. In that event, the
Convention should elect Governor and Council Oh
six from among the wisest and best men OF the
State to be sworn into office on the first Thursday
in August next to whom should be committed the
cement of our affairs, under proper restrictions
and penalties, whose action should be subject to re
vision and correction by the Convention, and whose
term of office should continue during such period as
the war may prevent the assembling Of the people
to make an election of Governor ard Legislature
| only suggest what may be necessary in a possibl
contingency. 1t is certainly not probable.
In the mean time, let the people meet in thei
primary meetings to express their opinions ant
wishes in regard to the state of the country and t.
1 designate their choice for Governor and such othe
suggestions they may deem best for the interest
of the State Such expressions and suggestions b!
the people should be made at once, and will doubt
less have great weight with the Convention.
Such, Mr.. Editor, are the thoughts which hay
impressed themselves upOn nv mind and to whic