Newbern weekly progress., 1862-12-13
TIE GOVERNORS MESSAGE,
The Honorable the Gsnsral Asarnllv /.

HE Honorable the General Assembly.
Certainly Legislature has never been
convened in the State Of North Carolina to
protect greater interests or meet greater re-
sponsibilities.
Eighteen months ago, when the State en-
tered into the war, which Is now waging,
all was life and u ,yancy and excitement -
The novelty Of our undertaking, and the
enthusiasm of our people in support Of our
cause, not only rendered the course Of the
Legislature and the Executive easy, but ac-
tually preceded and marked it out. But
the long continuance Of the contest, the
slaughter of our soldiers, the occupation Of
our territory by the enemy, the destruction
OF our homes, and the blockaded condition
of our coast, have reduced us, to straits.
and given rise TO a'elass Of evils, in the pres
ence Of which ephemeral patriotism must
perish, and the tinsel enihusias n Of novelty
give place to that stern and determined de-
votion to our cause, which alone can sus-
tain a revolution.
1t now becomes the duty ofyou, the
General Assembly, to set an example to
your constituents Of frmness prudence,
determination and energy; to, correct the
errors Of the past, 70 provide for the exi=
gencics of the power vested u your Dody oy
the Constitution for the protection Of our
righis and liberties.
The subject Of first importance is the
prosecution Of the wa, and the means Of
defending our State against the invasion OF
the enemy. Tho Legislature, by several
acts in 1861, provided that, in case the
Confederate Government should fail or
neglect 10 provide for the defence of North
Carolina, the Governor should be author
lied to raise certain number of troops for
that purpose, and made appropriations Of
money for their support. Impressed with
the defenceless condition Of our eastern
counties when l came into Office, had
fully determined to. avail myself Of thil
authority, and would have proceeded q
once TO do so, bur for the intervention o
insurmountable difficulties. The princlpa
Of these was the conseript law passed b.
the Confederate Congress subsequent to th
passage Of the several acts referred to, b.
this law, as extended in lis provisions
short time before the adjournment Q
Congress, all a"le oouieu "en' 'e'"ee" ~
ages Of eighteen and forty-fve years, DC
came liable to enrolment rs soldiers Of. th
Confederate States. 10 raise an adequa'
force for State defence from our citizens bt
yond the age Of forty-fve, and submit
this vast drain besides, I.thousla eniirel
impraeticable. Ihopel, too, that by aidr
aho as's',he y, '"e vHs III ~
senption law, l. wousd oe emsc'ua'y ~,
yided for State defence. lhis reasonab
hope has, ! regret to say, been disappoin
cd, and although North Carolina has
orea,er ex,ent of sea-coast than uny 9th
-. -. h.. h.d le,,ar tro.ns o;ysn h
,., ,"S '"o "e r.
iee i's de'ehoe'
II Is not necessary, gsntlsman, ihai snot
call your Atsenti 10 The aoounding weash
this threatened section o. Our ela's M
with everything necessary lor ns oou'scri !
cur army and our peopie-or 70 ,ne sunvr'
and ruin OF its ieya', pau,ouc inh"s tan'S
You nre sufficiently informed W Fsgara mere
II Is lor you, ihersloee, !" say, sns.heI
will sunsr our ae'snces ~ ht'.,o'o,e, :, .." m 70
main eIc'osNeIy III .he nanus anus y. sne uon'su
sts,au.hSsus ,at 0 .";'Is,Sra % % and ~, ,ro