The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-11-25
MESSAGE
The Honorable. the General 4ssen.biy:
OF GOV. VANCE
To THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF y. CAROLINA.

Eighteen months ago, "hcu tue CCdtc cHterCu
into the war, which is waging, all life and
buoyancy and excitement. The novelty of our
undertaking, aud the enthusiasm of our people in
support of our cause not only rendered the course
of the Legislature aud the Executive easy, but
actually preceded and marked it out. But the
continuance OF the contest, the slaughter of
soldiers, the occupation of territory by the
enemy, the destruction of our homes aud the
blockaded condition of our coast have reduced US
to straits and given rise to class Of evils in the
presence of which ephemeral patriotism must
perish, and the tnsel enthusiasm of novelty give
place to that stern and determined devotion to our
cause, which alone can sustain a revolution.
1t now becomes the duty Of you, the General
Assembly, to set an example to your constituents
of irmness, prudence, determination and energy;
to correct the of the past provide for the
exigencies Of the future, and to use well and
wisely the power vested in your body by the Con-
stitutiou, for the protectios of our rights and
liberties.
The subject of first importance is the prosecu-
ton Of the war, and the means of defending our
State against the invasion of the enemy The
Legislature, by several acts in 1861 provided that
in the Confederate government should fail or
neglect to provide for the defence Carolina the
Governor should be authorized to raise Ger tain
number of troops for that purpose, and made ap-
az
pressed with the defenceless condition Of our
eastern counties when i came into Office, had
fully determined to avail myself of this authority,
and would have proceeded at to do so, but for
the Intervention of insurmOuntable difficulties
The principal of these the conscript law
passed by the Confederate Congress subsequent to
the passage OF the several acts referred to- BY
this law, extended in its provisions short
time before the adjournment of Congress, all
able-bodied men, between the ages of eighteen
and forty7fve years, became liable 10 enrolment
as soldiers OF the Confederate States To raise an
adequate force for State defence from our citizens
beyond the age of forty6ve and submit to this vast
drain besides, thought entirely impracticable |
hoped, too, that by aiding and assisting in the ex-
ecution of the CONSUMPTION law, would be effect
nally providing for State defence. This reasona-
BILE hope has, | regret to say, been disappointed;
and although North Carolina has greater extent
OF sea-cost than any other State, she has fewer
troops given her for its defence
1T Is not necessary gentlemen, that should call
your attention to the Astounding wealth of this
threatened section of our State-flled with every
thing necessary for the comfort of our army and
our people-Or to the suffering and ruin Of its
loyal, patriotic inhabitants. You are sufficiently
informed in regard thereto. 1t is for you, there-
fore, TO say whether you will suffer our decnces as
the Confederate authorities or take steps to carry
out the will of the last Legislature and raise
troops enough on State authority TO strengthen
the weak hand of the General Government ON oil,
coast.
unhesitatingly recommend the raising of al
least ten regiments Of reserves be accepted for
three or four months, and dismissed in time to
pitch their crops in the spring
This force, auxiliary to the Confederate troops.
would probably be able to prevent an advance of
the enemy into the interior and while subsistinr
on the abundant supplies in our eastern cnnntirs
would benefit the whole State by aiding iu with
drawing vast quantities of provisions from ex-
posed points.
lnasmuch as it may become necessary for slave
labor to be employed on State defonces, and nv
authority to force such labor may be questioned
by some, would respectfully recommend the pro-
prlety OF The passing of act whereby such
authority may be vested in me, in case such =.
urgent necessity shall arise, as wiz justify it. {;
Next to the defence of the State from the
enemy IN Importance, is the defence of our people
against extortion and starvation. Notwithstand |
ing the failure of tho crops in the Western part
OF the State, 1t is believed that there is within
our borders an abundance Of grain for the SUNNY
OF our people, and surplus for the use of the
army. The lands heretofore devoted to cotton
and tobacco have been planted in corn very gene ,
rally, and the crop of this essential product is per-
haps larger by many hundred thousand bushels 4,
than has ever been known. When this j, con- ,
sldered, together with the immense crop of peas.
potatoes, fruit, TO-, there would seem to be little
Danger OF actual suffering among our peope-nor
"ouio tnere De- could 1t all be properly distributed
and at reasonable prices. But the demon of specu.
iation and extortlon seems to have seized upon
nearly all sorts and conditions of men, and all the
necessarles of life are fast getting beyond the
reach of the poor.
Flour, which if properly left to the laws of sum-
ply and demand could not have risen to more than
double peace rates, can now be used only by the
rich. y Wv
Everything has tendency upward in the same
ProPornon-leather, WOODEN cloth and cotton :
goods have been made the especial means of ex :
!ortlon' as II we were not sufficiently avsricious
10 our own midst spectators from distant S,atcs
swarm IN the land offering fabulous prices fur
everything they can buy And in MANY instances. !
taking advantage of the patriotism of our r,conle
they represent themselves as agents of tb. o.
eminent, purshasing for the army-thus obt,;n;nr
what they could not otherwise do.
The supply of salt will, | hope, be sufficient
but this subject, too, needs legislative action DR.
Worth, the salt commissioner appointed BY III.
Convention, has been industriously at work; but
ne has not produced great quantity, owing to
the difficulties which he has mentioned in his re- I
ports. HIS first works, at Morehead CITY, were !
taken BY the enemy before he had fairly gotten ,
them into operation. His next effort at Whining I
ton was successful in producing about 25O'bushels
per day for some time hof,ra tba, ,vo-, ;n.o--.