Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-09-10
Tkt Staabarh>
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
GOV. q. B: VAN c. E,

GOV. q. B.: VANCE, /
Delivered in front Of tho Capitol in Raleigh, Sep
TENDER StA, 1862
Fellow CITIZENS: Called by the voice of the peo-
ple of North Carolina, with an unanimity unparal.
ieed in the history Of our State, to assume the pow
ers of Chief Maghtrate in the midst Of revolution
and war, can but feel oppressed by sense of the
great weight of responsibility which the oaths Of
office lust administered by respected Chief Jus-
tice, 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. 10 hold
the helm during this great storm-.o manage our
public iabties-to search out the talent
and worth Of the country and bring it into the SER
vice of the State-te clohe, equip and organize our
troops and to do Justice to merit on the field might
we'll appall the statesman with hair grown white in
the public service 10 confess my inability, and to
say that enter upon the task with trembling,
would not be customary afectation, but the SIM
ple truth. But you will bear me witness that
sought not the position. I preferred that place in
our armies which held, as the one in which
but say, however, that would be content with the
peoples will and would serve wherever their voice
should assign ne-and here have l been assigned.
In return for this great expression Of confidence,
can promise Only that bring will and determine
ten to the performance of my duties which no one
can sHrpaSs.
Fellow citizens, we have but the one, great and
all-absorbing theme. The war which we are light
ing for our liberties and independence is indeed the
sea which receives our every stream of thought
How it was produced, whether it could safely have
been avoided and upon whose shoulders rests the
blame, it were worse than idle now to enquire. AT
the proper time it was discussed, and every argu-
ment pro and con- was given to the people. SUI.
flee it to say that it was forced upon US by dom
nant and eIcroaching majority, and is evidently but
the pent up fires of anatical hatred which have been
accumulating in the North for forty years. The
government Of the United States was great con-
federation of independent communities, held to1eth
er by written compact called the constitution
OF this instrument the very life and soul was the
great axiom "that all governments derive their just
powers from the consent of the governed" To this
the ancestors of those who now are shedding our
blood, together with your forefathers assented on
the 4th Of July, ITS, and the instrument in which
they set it forth and pledged their lives their for
tunes and their sacred honor" to maintain it, has
rendered their names immortal
When Abraham Lincoln was elected by the votes
Of the North only, embracing among his support
all of the fierce and fanatical enemies of slavery
on the continent several of these independent
States which were slave holding, refused their "con
sent" to an administration which threatened to de-
stroy them. We, in North Carolina, after fair de-
bate, 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-dis-
cussion and public opinion. Many Southern States
followed our example While thus honestly en-
gagged, the mask was thrown off, and our souls we're
sickened with proclamation from the President
calling for "a, 900 men to slaughter our Southern
States into consent" A proportionate share OF
these troops was demanded of North. Carolina who
we're thus required, in defiance of the first prnci.
Piles of liberty to step across the State line and
hand in hand with the scum of Northern cities and
the refuse of degradation 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 mountain tops
to the everlasting tides of the sea- shocked BY the
monstrous proposition, with wondrous unanimity,
came forward to resist the dsspotic step. The del
egates of her people in convention assembled with.
out one dissenting voice, ordained our separation
from government which had thus at one blow
subverted the chief ends of its CREATION and even
before this thousands of our citizens had seized
their arms and were rushing to the border to make
good the patriotic resolve.
This is brief history Of our separation from the
government of the United States 1t was not q
of our people. Any other course would have in
volvsd the deepest degradation, the vest dishonor,
and the drest calamity. We also accepted with the
act all of its inevitable consequences, long and
bloody war. We were not deceived either BY the
idea Of "peacsable secession" or by vain and un-
manly hopes Of foreign protection. We were wide
awake to all the results, and calamity gloriously
have our people met them.
For seventeen months has this unequal war pro.
H.. H. II r ,
against the weak; and yet army after army, as the
sands of the sea in numbers, led by vaunted Nspo.
Icons, and armed from the workshops of Europe,
have been hurled back from Capital with slaugh.
ter and disgrace, by troops in many cases, ragged
barefooted, and armed with the condemned musketi
of the old government! According to their OWL
reports 100000 soldiers swarned into our borders
desperate with fanatcism and ust-fred by confisca
ton laws; where are they now! How have w
beaten them back? Skillful Generals and brave
soldiers have undoubtedly fought our battles, bu
Heaven in our great deverance! The bush ha
indeed burned with fire. but is not consumed be
cause of the presence of the Living God.
North Carolina has sent forth near 30, 900 men
and can send many more. Are there any among u
who faint or despair? Oh, my countrymen !! hav
we any in our midst who still look back to the flesh
pots Of vassasge, and for the sake of peace, woul
leave their children q heritage OF shame, to fee
upon the bitter husks of subjugation? Is there ye
man in the gallant historic State of North-C Caro-
lima, so imbedded in political dogmas as to be I'm
mindful Of the claims of his coantry-as not to hea
the great blows which are shaking the continent
for him and his children? If So let me beg OF hin
to Judge Of the fate that awaits us if vanquished b
the manner in which our enemies are waging thi
war, as they say, for the Union as it was, and tn
Constitution as it is" Let him behold the mourn
fu! professions of gray .haired men, women and lit
children, in our sister State Of Virginia, thrust o,
Of their homes, because they would not take tt
oath OF allegiance, wandering will. weary feet ar
bleeding hearts into homeless exnO let him see Il
burning homes and desolated fields which mark IL
track OF their armies; the murder of unarmed eli
zens, and, in ssme instances, of little boys; Il
threats sgains: tho chastity Of our sisters in Ne
Orleans; the well authenticated murder of prise
ers taken in battle; and lastly, the attempt to ar
brigades of African slaves against u.s. in who
hands our mothers and sisters would find mnrd
indeed messenger of relief If all this should f
to arouse his soul to resistance then indeed il
dead to every sense of shame, and deaf to his cou
trys voice
To prosecute this war with success, there is oui
as much for our people as for our soldiers to do.
One Of the most vital elements Of our success is b,
mony. On this great issue of existence ITSELF
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