The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-09-16
INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF GOV. z. Z
VANCE,
Delivered IN front of the Capitol an Raleigh,
.SeDteru6sy Sfh 1852


FELLOW CITIZENS: Called by the voice of the
people of North Carolina, with an unanimity un
paraeled in the history Of our State, to assume
the powers of Chief Magistrate in the midst OF
revolution and war, can but feel oppressed by a
sense Of the great weight of responsibility which
the oaths of Office just administered by respec t.
ed Chief Justice, impose. Indeed, there is much
before me, and the path of my duty must lead
through any thing but pleasant fields and beside
still waters TO hold the helm during this great
storm-to manage our increasing public liabilities
Ito search out the talent and worth Of the coun-
try, aud bring it into the service of the State-to
clOthe, equip and organize our troops, and to do
justice to merit on the field, might we'll appal the
statesman with hair grown white in the public
service. To confess my inability, and to say that
| enter upon the task with trembling, would not
be a customary affectation, bat the simple truth
But you will bear me witness that [ sought not
the position | preferred that place in our armies
which | held as the one in which could proba-
bly, best serve my country. could but say,
however, that | would be content with the peo-
pies will, and would serve wherever their voice
should assign me-and here have been assigned.
In return for this great expression of confidence,
! | can promise only that | bring will and deter
imitation to the performance of my duties which
no surpass.
| Fellow-citizens, we have but the one great and
all-absorbing theme. The war which We are fight
ing for our Liberties and independence, is indeed
the sea which receives our every stream of thong ht
How it was produced, whether it could safely have
been avoided, and upon whose shoulders rests the
blame, it were worse than idle nOc to enquire. At
the prOHc. time it was discussed, and every argu-
ment, pro and con, was given to the people. Suf
flee 1t to say, that it forced upon us by DOM
inant and encroachius majority and is evidently
but the pent up fires of anatical hatred which have
been accommodating in the North for forty years
The government of the United States was great
confederation of independent communities, held
together by written compact called the constitu
ton. Of this instrument the very life and soul
was the great axiom "that al governments derive
their Just powers from the consent Of the govern
ed 10 this the ancestors of those who now are
shedding our blood, together with your forefath-
ers, assented on the 4th Of July, 1776. aud the
| instrument in which they set it forth and pledged
"ther lives, their fortunes and their sacred hon
ors to maintain it, has rendered their names i'm
mortal.
hen Abraham Lincoln was elected by the
votes Of the North only, embracing among his
supporters all of the fierce and tanatical enemies
OF slavery on the continent, several Of these indie
pendent States which were slave holding, refused
their consent to administration which threat
ened to destroy them. We, in North Carolina
after fair debate, resolved to wait and see and to
trust yet awhile longer to the safeguards of the
Constitution. In the meantime, we implored the
North to offer no violence, but to allow the people
TO resist secession by the only constitutional means
given them-dlscussion and public opinion. Many
Southern States followed our example. While
thus honestly engaged, the mask was thrown off,
and our souls were sckcned with a proclamation
from the President, calling for $4,000 men to
slaughter our Southern States into a sconsent"
n proportionate share of these troops was demand
co OF North Carolina, who were thus required, in
defiance OF the first principles of liberty to step
across the State llne and, hand in hand with the
scum OF Northern cities and the refuse of degra-
datlon, to cut the threats of our kindred and |
friends.
Then, and not till then, did controversy cease |
In North Carolina Her sons and her daughters,
OF all shades Of political opinion. from the noun
tam tops to the everlasting tides of the sea- shock
ed by the monstrous proposition, with a wondrous |
unanlmty, came forward to resist the despotic
step. The delegates of her people in convention
assembled, without one dissenting voice, ordained |
our separation from government which had thus
at one blow subverteG the chief ends of it's crea-
ton and even before this, thousands of our citi-
zens had seized their and were rushing to
the border to make good the patriotic resolve
ms Is oret history of our separation from the
government of the United States 1t was not
within or sudden freak, but the deliberate judgment
OF our people. Any other course would have in
Voved the deepest degradation, the viest dishon-
or, and the direst calamity. We also accepted
with the act all of its inevitable consequences,
long and bloody We were not deceived Ell
Their by the idea of 'peaceabe secession" or by
vain and unmanly hopes of foreign prote ction
We were wide awake to all the results, and gal
lantly' glorious y have our people met them
For seventeen months has this unequal war
progressed; the many against the few, the power
lul against the weak; and yet army after army, as
the sands OF the sea in numbers, led by vaunted
Napoleons, and armed from the workshops of Eu-
rope, have been hurled back from our Capital
with slaughter and disgrace, by troops, in many
cases, ragged, barefooted, and armed with the
condemned muskets of the old government Ac-
cordlng to their own reports 100000 soldiers
Swarmed into our borders, desperate with fanati-
clsnI and lustfred by confscatinD laws; where are
hey now! How have we beaten them back ?
Skillful Generals and brave soldiers have nm
doubtedly fought our battles, but can we not re-
cognze too the especial favor Of Heaven in orr
great deliverance? The bush has indeed burned
with lire, but is not consumed, because of the
presence Of the Living God.
North Carolina has sent forth near sc, 900 men,
and can send many more Are there any among
Is who faint or despair? Oh, my countrymen!
have We any in our midst who still look back to
The heshpots of vassalage, and for the sake of
peace would leave their children a heritage of
shame to feed upon the bitter husks of subiura
lon Is there yet man in the gallant historic ,
State of North Carolina so in, hed1ad :, ,ol:.:I