Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-09-17
NORTH CAROLINA.
A PROCLAMATION BY GOV. VANCE.

fhOCLAMAIlON BY GOV. VANCE.
The Richmond Enquirer Of the 18th instant contains the
following proclamation by Governor VANCE, Of North Ca
rolna ssuod in view Of what the Enquirer calls the law
less and REASONABLE made ut Of the peace
meetings held in the old North State 1t proves at least
that many Of the people of North Carolina dissatisfied
with their condition under the Confederate Government
Whereas number of public meetings have recently been
held in various portions of the State in Of which
threats have been made of combined resistance to the
ecuOn of the laws OF Congress- In regard to c0nscrpon
and the collection of taxes thereby endangeng the public
peace aud tranquility well as the common cause OF
dependence which have soemny engaged to defend
And whereas il solemn duty all the laws OF the
land Faithfully executed, and quiet and order sustained
within our bOrders
Now therefore, /, ZEBULoN b. VANCE, Governor OF the
State of North Carolina do issue this my proclamation
commanding ill such persons such evil nten
ons and warning them to beware Of the criminal and .
tai consequences Of carrying such threats into execution
The nalienable and invaluable right of the people to
assemble together and consult for the good to-
geher with its necessary concOmants-the freedom Of
speech and the secured to you my countrymen
by the most sacred cOmpacts. They shall find
d'sturber Yet you will remember that the same
Instruments which guaranty these great rights also limit
you to the exercise of them within the bounds Of law and
impose upon me the solemn duty of seeing that these
bounds be not trangressed The Constitution of the Cen
ederate States and all laws passed ia pursuance thereof
the supreme law of the land Resistance them by
combination is treason, and without combination, high
deceived SO long these laws remain upon the statute
book they shall be executed. H{
Surely my countrymen you would net seek to cure the
evils of revolution by pungng the country into
other You will not knowingly to the present desoatng
war with the common enemy add the horrors Of internal
strife and entire subversOn of law and civil authority
You must not forget the enviabe character which you
have always maintained SOBER conservative and law
abiding people, would have you to forget tn, plar
easy and constitutional method Of redressng your grew
ances Meet and deDounce any existing laws if you thLk
riuht and Inor
tatves Congress or the State Legislature the
may be- to repeal them
Your chosen servants made those obnoxious laws
they repeal them If such your instructions yeu
regard them unconstitutional Supreme Court sits
ready to decide upon all properly brought before it,
Its decisions are nal in the State of North Carolina and
shall be executed while the power remains in your Execu
tive to enforce any law There is grievance to redress
and no proposition to be made but be most beneficial
" effected 10 the way our fathers marked out BY the bal
lobox and the other coDsttutoaally appointed means
In times OF great public sensibty like the present any
departure from this legal channel revolutionary and daL
gerous and tends to the division and destruction of
people.
II is my great DESIRE and hope that of all good citi
gems that people should united befa US whist
may Should triumph in the great struggle for indie
pendence let feelings Of revenge bitterness mar the
reoicings OF the day Should fall and short Of
the great object for which have struggled long and
bed freely let not srifes and domestic feuds add
to the bitterness of defeat
Attempts suddenly to change the existing order of things
would only result in bloodshed and ruin. therefore
pore you my counrymen, Of all shades of political opin
ion to abstain from assembling together for the purpose
OF denouncng each other whether at home the army
and to avoid seeking any remedy for the evils of the times
by other than legal means and through the properly
stitnted authorities
We are embarked IN the hottest of all causes which can
stir the hearts of all patnotshe Of liberty and in-
dependence We committed to it by every tie that
can bind an honorable people Mutudes of bravest
and best have already sealed it with their blood whilst
others, giving up all earthly possessions either
gushing in dungeons or are homeless wanderers through
the land, and all have felt In greater less degree the
iron hand OF war great and glorious nation is strug
Cling to be born, and wondering Kingdoms and distant
pes are sted with listening hope aud admiration watch
ing the greatest OF human events. Let them not pray
be shocked with the ectacle Of domestic strife and
petty malignant feuds Let enemy be rejoced to
behold our strong and stronger devotion which
often made them iremble turned against ourselves. Let
US rather chow that the God of Liberty s in his holy
tempehe hearts Of feemen-and bid all the petty bck
erngs Of earth keep silence before Him.
lnstead OF engaging in this unhoy and unpaotic strife
and threatening 10 resist the laws OF the land and ondanger
the peace OF society let prepare diligently and with
hopeful hearts for the hardshps and sernps Of the com
ing winter. Heaven has blessed with abundant crops
but thousands of the poor unable to purchase Let
us begin IN time and every effort 10 provide them
and secure them against suffering And let exert
selves to the utmost duty many brave but
misguided men who have left their countrys IA in the
hour OF danger and God will yet bless us and our chill
dren, and our chdrens children will thank us for not
despairng of the Republic it's darkest hours Of DISASTER
and still more for adherng to aud preserving amid the
merry trials OF war; conservative sent and the rights
and civil liberties of the young Confederacy.
In witness whereof, Zebuon b Vance, Governor Cap
r. tain General, and Command Chief hath signed
- these presents and caused the Great Seal of the
State to be affixed
Done at the city of Raleigh this 7h day of September
the S6th n r. VANCE