Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-11-26
FIRST MESSAGE ~
CT HIS EXCELLENCY,
GOV. Z. B. VANCE,
TO TIE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
NORTII.CAROLINA,

The Honorable, the General assembly:
Certainly Legislature has never been convened
in the State of North Carolina to protect greater IN
tcrests or meet greater responsibilities.
Eighteen months ago, when the State entered
into the war, which is now waglng, all was lite ana
buovancy and excitement The novelty Of our un-
,lertaking and the enthusiasm Of our people in sup.
mort of our cause not only rendered the course OF
the Legislature and the Executive easy, but actu-
ally preceded and marked it out. But the long
rcntinuance of the contest, the slaughter of our
soldiers the occupation OF our territory ny the enc
nv the destruction of our homes, and the bockaded
condition of our coast, have reduced us to straits
and given rise to class of evils, in the presence OF
which ephe!ncral patriotism must perish. anu the
tnsel enthusiasm of novelty give place to that stern
and determined devotion TO our cause, WHICH aloi'e
can sustain revolution.
1t now becomes the duty of you, the General
Assembly, to set an example to your constituents
of tirmness, prudence, determination and energy;
to correct the errors of the past to provide Tor the
cxgencies of the future, and to use well and wisely
the power vested in your body by the Constitution,
for the protection of our rights and liberties.
The subject of first importance is the prosecution
of the war, and the yIeanS OF defending our STATE
against the invasion OF the enemy. the LeSiSia-
ture by several acts in 1861, provided that, in case
tn, Confederate Government should fail or neglect
to provide for the defence of Eortii-Carolina the
Governor should be authorized to raise certain
number of troops for that purpose, and made APP
proprations cf money for their support. Impress
ed with the ,iecnce!ess condition OF chr eastern
counties when came into Office. had fully deter
mined to avail myself Of this authority. ana would
have proceeded ut once to DO SO. but ior the inter,
yention of iI,surnountahle difficulties The princi-
nal of these was the conScript law passed by the
Confederate Congress subsequent to tie passage OF
the several acts referred to- By this law, as ex-
tended in It's provisions short time before the adj
tournament OF Congress- all able bcdirI men, he
tween the ages of eighteen ard forty five years, be-
came liable to enroiiment as soldiers of the Con-
tederate States TO raise adequate force for
State defence from oar citizens beyond the age c
forty five and submit to this vast drain besides,
thought entirely impracticahle hoped, too, that
nv aiding and assisting in the execution Of the con-
scrip,lon law, wotld be c,fcctualiv providing for
State defence This reasonable hope has, regret
TO say, been G>a!pointed; and although North
Carolina has greater extent Of sea coast than any
other State she has had fewer troops given her for
its defence.
1t is no; necessary gentlemen, that should cal!
your attention TO the abnu'ding wealth Of this
threatened section of our State-Iii!cd with every
thing necessary for tie comfort OF our army and
our reope-or TO the suffering and ruin Of It's 10y
al patriotic inhabitants. You are sufficiently IN.
formed in regard thereto 1t is for ycu therefore
to saw whether You will suffer oGr tiefnccS here
tofore, to remain exclusively in the hands Of the
Confederate authorities, or take steps to carry ont
the will of the last Legislature, and raise troops
enough on State authority to strengthen the weak
hand of the General Government on our coast.
| unhlsItatngly recommend the raising OF at
least ten regiments of reserves, to he accepted for
three or four munths. and dismissed in time 10
pitch their crops in the Spring
This force, auxiliary 10 the Confederate troops.
would probably be able to prevent advance OF the
enemy into the interior, and while sut>lstng on
the abundant supplies in eastern counties could
benefit the whole State, by aiding in withdrawing
vast quantities OF provisions from exposed points.
ina >mrch as it may become necessary for Sla,e
labor to be employed State defences, and my
thoritv 10 force such labor may he questioned by
some, would respectfully recommend the prop,ic-
ty of the passing Of an act whereby such authority
may be vested IN me, in case such urgent esslty
shall arise, Will justify it
Next in importance to the defence OF the State
from the enemy is the defence of our people against
eXtortion and starvation. Notwithstanding the
failure of the crops IN the Western part of the State
it is believed that there i, within our borders AL
abundance Of grain for the supply Of our people
and surplus for the use Of the army. The land,
heretofore devoted to cotton ard tobacco have beer
planted in corn very generally aud the crop Of th
essential product is perhaps larger BY many hun
dred thousand bushels than has ever been know
When this is considered, together with the in
InenSe cr-p OF peas, potatoes, fruits, &c, there
would seem 10 lie little danger Of any actual suffer
ing among people-nor would there be, could i
all be properly distributed and at reasonable prices;
but the demon of speculation aud extortion Seem
10 have seized upon nearly all sorts and conditions
Efpan and. tt,a &c e. -.
ting beyond the reach Of the poor.
Flour, which if properly left to the laws of supply
and deuand could not have risen TO more thar
double peace rates, Can now be used onIy Nv the
itch.
Everything has tendency upward in the sam,
proportion, leather. wooden cloth and cotton ycoI,
have been made the especial means of cxtor,iou
AS II We were not S,icicn ~ afflicted .h the has.
and avariclous IN our own midst, spectators FROM
distant States swarm in the land Offering fabulou,
prices tor everything they can buy. And in man,
Instances taking advantage Of the patriotism Of ou
sopie they represent themselves as agents Of TIT
Government, purchasing for the army-thus obtain
Ing what they could hot otherwise do The suppl,
at salt Will, hope, be sufficient but this subject lo
hceds legislative action DR.. Worth, the salt COZ,
missioner appointed by the Convention, has beel
i"dustrlousy at work hut he has not produced
great quantity, owing to the difficulties which h
iias mentioned In his reports. HIS first works, a
Morehead City, were taken by the enemy befor
he mad fairly gotten them into operation-Hl
next effort at Wilmington successful in prOdu
eng about $50 bushels per day, for some time be
IRE they were interrupted by the yellow fever
which has caused their temporary suspension. A
the pestllence has abatcd, they will Of course b
Immediately again put into operation The Who'll
amount made there by the State and private ndivic
ma's, probably exceeds $500 bushels per day
Nearly all Of this made on private account is bougf
ny citizens of other States and carried off for specr
iaton a; prices ranging from sl2 to 500 per b,she
My predecessor, Gov. Clark, also entered in:
contract through N. W. y oodfin and Geo. "
'lordecal, E>qrs, with Stewart, Buchanan g. e,
ct saltve, Va, for the privilege of manufacturin
"'oooo bushels Of salt, ans, Mr. Woodtin was mad
superintendent % the Works With com,ueuda!J
mercy he has pushed forward his undertaking, an
''ere are now, as reported to me by special ager
sent to visit the establishment about 200 kettles
operation, making near 1900 bushels Der dav OWN
10 his sickness the superintendent has made M off
eal report to me Of his operations and expcndtrss
= recommend that your Honorable BODY si,.
'Se Immediate steps to prevent the exnort.t;n
from the State of SALT leather, shoes, wooden c,o,t
,'u'h cloth, yarn, pork and bacon ,ur and no,a
,ueS-except for the army and by REGULAR aoen,s :