The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-09-22
BY THE GOVERNOR OF ". CAROLINA
A Proclamation.

THEsEAs q number of public meetings have recent
" been held in portions of the state In some
of which threats have been made of combned resist
anca 10 tho execution of the laws of Congress, in
gard to concrptisn and the collection of taxes there
by endancerug the public peace and tranquility as
well as the common cause OF independence whlch we
have so soemnly engaged to defend: And whereas, ii
is nv sworn duty all the laws of the land faith
fully executed and quiet and order maintained within
our borders,
Now, therefore l. ZEBUEON B. VANCE, Governor
of the State North Carolina do issue this my Proc.
Iaraation, commanding all such persons TO renounce
such evil intentions and warning them to beware OF
the criminal and fatal consequences OF carrying such
threats into execution.
The inalienabe and invaluable right of the people to
assemble together and consult for the common good,
together with it's necessary concomtants the freedom
of speech and the press secured to you my coun
trymen, by the most sacred compacts. Ihey shall
never find djsturber in Yet you will remember
that the same instruments which guarantee these great
rights also limit you the exercise of them, within
the bound Of law and impose upon me the solemn DUTY
of seeing that these bounds be not ransgressed The
Constitution of the Confederate States and all laws
passed in pursuance thereof the supreme law OF
the land resistance them by combination is treason
and without combination, is high crime against the
laws of the country. Let one be deceived 30 long
these laws remain upon the statute book they shall
be executed. Surely. my countrymen, you would not
geek the evils of revolution by plungng the
country into another. You will knowingly, to the
present desolating with the common enemy, add
the horrors onernal strife and entire subVerston OF
law aud civil authority You must not forget the en-
yiabe character which you have always maintained rs
a sober conservative and law-abidng people; nor
would you forget the plain easy and constH-
onaz method Of redressing grievances Meet and
denounce any existing laws if you think proper-you
have that right-and instruct your representatives IN
Congress the State Legislature, as the case may be-
to repeal them Your chosen servants made those
obnoxious laws-they can repeal them, if such are
your instructions. If you regard them unconstltu-
tonal, our Supreme Court sits ready to decide upon
al properly brought before it, Its decisions are
final in the State of North Carolina and shall be exc
cuted while the power remains in yonr Executive TO
enforce any law. There is grievance to redress and
proposition TO be made, but be most benehcialy
effected in the way fathers marked out by the bal
lotbox, and the other constitutionally appointed
In times of great public sensbiiitE like the
present any departure from this legal channel is
uonary and dangerous, and tends to the division and
distraction of orr people.
1t is my great desire and, hope that of all good
citizens, that people should remain united, bota
u. what may Should we triumph in the great strug.
gle for independence let feelings of revenge bit
terness the rejoicing of that glorious day. Should
we fall and come of that great object for which
we have struggled long and bled freely, let not
srfes and domestic feuds add to the bitterness o.
defeat.
Attempts suddenly to change the existing order of
things would only result in bloodshed and ruin. |
therefore implOre you my counrymen, of all shades OF
political opinion, abstain from assembling together
for purpose of denOuncing each other, whether at
home in The army and to avoid seeking any remedy
for The evils of the times by other than legal
ana through the properly constituted authorities. We
en- banked in The hottest of all causes which can
saig the hearts of patrlotsthe of liberty and in
We are committed 10 IL every TIE tlul
ca Bind honorable people. Multitudes of our bra
aL 81 have already sealed it with their blood,
whsle. hers, giving up all eaGthly POSSESSIONS
,.-. utusuishing dungeons homeless
1a,l, through the land and all have felt in greater
less degree, the iron hand of great and glo
r"us nation is struggling to be born aud wondering
kingdoms and distant empires sed with listening
hope and admiration, watching this greatest of human
events Let them not pray you, be shocked with the
spectacle of domestic strife and petty malignant feuds
Let not enemy be rejoced to behold strong
stronger devotion,
him tremble turned against ourselves. Let rather
show that the God OF Liberty is in His Holy Temple
the hearts of freemenand bid all the petty chickering's
of earth keep sileIHe before Him.
Instead of engaging IN this unholy and unpatriotic
strife and threatening resist the laws of the land
and endaneerng the peace Of society, let prepare
diligently and with hopeful hearts for the hardshps
and sufferngs Of the coming winter Heaven has bless
ed us with abundant crops, but thousands OF the poor
unable to purchase. Let us begin in time and use
every effort to provide for them and them against
suffering And let ourselves the q
return to duty the many brave but misguided who
have left their counrys hag in the hour of danger and
God will yet bless US and our children and chill
dren's children will thank for despairing of the
Republic in its darkest hours ofdsaser and still more
for adherng to and preserving, amid the fiery trials of
war; conservative sentiments and the rights and civil
liberties ofthe young Confederacy.
In witness whereof ZEBULoN b. VANCE our Govern
or, Captain General and Commander in Chief, hat
State to be affixed.
Done at the city Of Raleigh, this 1th day of Septem-
ber A D., 1853, and in the year of American IndeReu-
dence the oeth Z. B. VANCE
By the Governor:
R. H. BATTLE, -JR., Private Secretary.