Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1862-11-24
FIRST MESS SAGE
OF his ExCELLENCY, ......
co Y. Z. B. VAN CE.
TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF n. c.

TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NC.
The Honorable, the General assembly,:
Certainly Legislature has never been
convened in the State Of North Carolina to
protect greater interests or meet greater re-
sponsbilites
Eighteen months ago. when the State en-
tered into the war which is now wacing, all
was life and and buoyancv and excitement.
The novelty oG 'otaF undertaking. and the en-
thusiain OF our people in support Of our
cause, not only rendered the. course of the
Legislature and the Executive easy, but ac-
tualiy preceded and marked it ont. But the
long continuance of the contest the slaugh.
ter CT 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 class of evils, in the presence
| of which ephemeral patriotism mast perish,
and the tinsel enthusiasm of novelty give
/ place to that stern and determined devotion
to our cause, which alone can sustain rev.
/ olution.
1t now becomes the duty of you. the Gen.
/ efal Assembly, to set an example to your.
constituents OF hrmness, prudence, deter
/ mination and energy; to correct the errors
the future, and to use well and wisely the
power vested in your body by the Constitu-
ton, for the protection of our rights and lio-
/ critics. =
1 The subject of first importance is the pros
ecution of the war, and the means of defend
ing our State against the invasion of the en-
emy. The Legislature, by several acts in
1861, provided that, in case the Confederate
Government should fail or neglect to provide
, for the defence Of North Carolina, the Gov
ernor should be authorized 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 came into office.
had fully determined to avail myself of this
!! authority, and would have proceeded at once
to do so, but the intervention of insurmoun-
: table difficulties The principal of these
. was the conscript law passed by the Confed
: : crate Congress subsequent to the passage of
the several acts referred to. By this law, as
: avtanaed in its nrov;e;ns,ey n.
: lore the ADJOURNMENT of Congress- al able
I bodied men, between the ages of eighteen
b and forty-five years, became liable to enroll
!. ment as soldiers of the Confederate States.
', To raise an adequate force for State defence
from our citizens beyond the age Of forty
five, and submit to this vast drain besides,
q thought entirely impracticable. l hoped,
s too, that by aiding and assisting in the exc
L cution of the conscription law, would be
p effectually providing for State defence This
q reasonable hope has, [ regret to say, been
10 disappointed; and although North Carolina
! has greater extent of sea coast than any
- other State, she has had fewer troo9s given
III her for its defence.
re It is not necessary, gentlemen, that /
s should call your attention to the abounding
D. wealth of this threatened section of our
r. State-f1lled with everything necessary for
as the comfort of our army and people-or to
T the suffering and ruin of its loyal, patriotic
- inhabitants. You are sufficiently informed
~ in regard thereto. 1t is for you, therefore, to
'h say, whether you will suffer our defences as
ne heretofore, to remain exclusively in the
~ hands of the Confederate authorities, or take
at steps to carry out the will Of the last Legis
he latCre, and raise troops enough on State au-
nd thorty to strengthen the weak hand of the
General Government on our coast.
- [ unhesitatingly recommend the raising O
y, at least ten regiments of reserves, to be ac
cepted for three Or four months, and dismiss
ed in time to pitch their crops in the Spring
ny This force, auxiliary to the Confederat
if troops, would be probably able to proven
o. an advance Of the enemy into the interior
7 and while subsisting on the abundant sup
Plies in our eastern counties could benef
the whole State, by aiding in withdrawn
vast quantities of provisions from expose
r points.
dy Inasmuch as it may become necessary fo
he slave labor to be employed on Sta te defences
ks and my authority to force such labor may b
questioned by some, | would respectful
Recommend the propriety of the passing
A'0 an act whereby such autho ity may be ve
ted in me, in case such urgent necessity sha
'e arise, as will justify it.
he Next to the defence of the State from tt
enemy, IN importance, is the defence of o,
people against extortion and starvation
Fort Notwithstanding the failure of the crops
- the Western part of the State, it is believe
that there is within our borders an sbur
az az dance of grain for the supply of our peopl
eli = and surplus for the use of the army. III
re- lands heretofore devoted to cotton and toba
- co have been planted in corn very general
tod and the crop of this essential product is pc
:. haps larger by many hundred thousar
., " bushels than has ever been known. VIII
os' this is considered, together with the immen
crop of peas, potatoes, fruits, &C., the
ing would seem to be little danger Of any actr
till suffering among our people-nOr would the
be, could it all be properly distributed al
., at reasonable prices. But the demon of sp,
the ulatio,, and extortion seems +, hive sei7
the upon nearly all sorts and conditions of mt
and all the necessaries of life ale fat q
! !. ting beyon the reach of the poor
the &c s,,nrir and ao,nend co,,Id 100 - =.
ner to more than double peace rates, can now
used only by the rich.
Everything has tendency upward in