Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-11-21
GBt StanSara.
FIRST MESSAGE
OF HIS ExCBLLENcT,
GOV. l. B. VANCE,
NoRTH-CAROLINA.

The Honorable, the General assembly;
Certainly a Legislature has never been convened
in the State of NorthCarolha to protect greater III
i,arests or meet greater Responsiveness.
TiTbtpen months ago when the State entered
into The war which is row wagng, all was life and
buoyapcy and excitement The novelty OF our I'M
,lrrtaking and the enthusiasm OF our people in sup
mort of our cause not only rendered the course OF
;tho LEGISLATURE and the Executive easy, but actu-
aIlv preceded and marked it out. But the long
continuance of the contest the slaughter of our
soldiers the occupation Of territory by the ene-
nv the destruction of our homes, and the bockaded
condition of coast, have reduced US to straits,
and given rise 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 revolution.
1t now becomes the duty Of you, the General
Assembly to set example to your constituents
Of frmness prudence, determination and energy;
10 correct the of the past to provide Tor the
exigencies 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 means OF defending our State
against the invasion of the enemy. The Legisla-
ture by several acts in 1851 provided that in case
the Confederate Government should fail or neglect
to provide for the defence of North Carolina the
Governor should be authorized to raise certain
number Of troops for that purpose, and made ap-
preparations of money for their support Impress
ed with the defenceless condition of our eastern
counties when | came into office, had fully deter
mined to avail myself of this authority, and would
have proceeded at once to do so, but for the inter-
yention of nsurmountabe difficulties. The princi-
pal of these the cOnscript law passed 10y the
Confederate Congress subsequent TO the passage of
the several acts referred to. BY this law, as eX-
tended in its provisions short time before the ad-
iourwnent of Congress, all able bodied men, be-
tween the ages of eighteen and fortytive years, be-
came liable to enrolment soldiers of the Con-
jederate States. To raise adequate force for
State defence from oar citizens beyond the age OF
forty-fve and submit to this vast drain besides, L
thought entirely impracticabIe. hoped, too, that
bv aiding and assisting in the execution of the con-
scripton law, would be effcctually providing for
State defence. This reasonable hope has regret
to say, been disappointed; 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 not necessary gentlemen, that should call
your attention. to the Astounding wealth of this
threatened section of our State-tlled with every
thing necessary for the comfort of our army and
our people-or to the suffering and ruin of It's 10y
al, patriotic inhabitants. You are sufficiently in
formed in regard thereto. 1t is for you, therefore
to say, whether you will suffer dcfences here
toforc to remain exclusively in the hands of The
Confederate authorities, 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 our coast
| unhesItatingly recommend the raising Of at
least ten regiments of reserves, TO be accepted for
three 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 oi the
enemy into the Interior and while SubSStiug Un
the abundant supplies in our eastern counties could
benefit the whole State, by aiding in Withdrawing
vast quantities of provisions from exposed points.
InaSmuch as it may become necessary for slave
labor to be employed IN Stat defcnces, and my au-
ihOrty to force such labor may be questioned by
some would respectfully recommend the proprie-
~ of the passing Of an act whereby such authority
may be vested in me- in case such urgent necessity
shall arise will justify it.
Next in importance to the defence of the State
from the enemy, is the defence of our people against
CXtDrtiOn aud starvation Notwithstanding the
future Of the crops the Western part of the State
it is beliercd that there is within our borders an
abundance of grain for the supply of our people,
and surplus for the Of the army The lands
heretofore devoted to cotton and tobacco have been
planted in corn very generally, and the crop Of this
essential product is perhaps larger by many hun
dred thousand bushels than has ever been known.
When this is considered together with the I'M
meDSe crop of peas, potatoes, fruits, &c, there
would seem to be little danger of any actual suffer
ing among our peOple-nOr would there be, could it
all be properly distributed and reasonable prices
ucLnOIl vi SpeCutdllOH seems
to have seized upon nearly all sorts and conditions
ofmen, and all the necessares Of life fast get
ting beyond the reach Of the poor.
Flour, which if properly left to the laws Of supply
and demand could not have risen 10 more than
double peace rates. can now be used only by the
rich.
Everything has tendency upward in the same
proportion, leather, wooden cloth and cotton goods
hrvc been .made the especial means of extortion.
As if We were not sufficiently afflicted with the base
and avarlciOuS in our own midst, spectators from
distant States in the land offering fabulous
prices for everything they can buy. And in many
Instances, taking advantage Of the patriotism Of our
lrOplc, they represent themselves as agents of the
Government purchasing for the army-thus obtain
ifg 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 CON-
missioner appointed by the Convention has been
iiruStTiOuSly at work but lie has not produced a
great quantity, owing to the difficulties which he
has mentioned in his reports. His first works at
Morehead City, taken by the enemy before
he had fairly gotten them into opelation.-IIls
next effort at Wilmington successful in produ-
eng about $50 bushels per day, for some time be-
FIRE they were interrupted by the yellow fever
which has caused their temporary suspension. As
the pestence has abated, they will of course be
Immediately again put into operation. The whole
amount made there by the State and private ndivid-
uals, probably exceeds $500 bushels per day.
Nearly all OF this made private account is bought
hy citizens of other States and carried off for spec
Luton, AZ prices ranging from $l2 to $40 per bnshc
My predecessor, Gov. Clark, also entered into
a contract through N. w. v oodfn and Geo. ".
sIprdeca, ESqrs with Stewart, Buchanan & Co
g Saltve, Va, for the privilege of manufacturing
J :0UDO bushels of salt and Mr.. Woodtn was made
superintendent of the Works. With commeuda5le
energy he has pushed forward his undertaking and
there are now as reported to me by special agent
sent to visit the establishment about 200 kettles in
operation making near 1900 bushels per day. Owing
Ia his sickness the Superintendent has made no off
cial report to of his operations and expenditures
recommend that your Honorable body shall
take immediate steps to prevent the expectation
pm the State of SALT leather, shoes, wooden CLOTH
.utton cloth, yarn, pork and bacon, flour and pota-
es except for the army and by regular agents of