The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-05-24
GOV. vANcE's MESSAGE.

To the Honorable the General AsSenoS " -'o'"s
Corolina:,
Since YOUR last adjournment, various and lmpor-
,tant changes in the situation OF our affas have
occurred and many OF them require legisa''e ac-
ton at your hands
The late act of Congress comforting power on
the Presden. of the Confederate States, to impose
regulations and restrictions commerce has given
rise to such system, on the part of the Confede
rate authorities, as vail efectually exclude this
State from importing any farther supplies for the
army or people. The port Of Wilmington is now
more eectualIy blockaded from aoithin than with
out The terms imposed upon ship owners, being
.such that heavy loss is incurred BY every voy-
age-and notwithstanding the said act provides ::
.faThat nothing in this act shall be construed to
prohibit the Confederate States, or any of them
from, importing any of the articles herein enume-
rated on their own account, yet this is so con-
strued by the Government, as to compel the States
to submit TO the same terms are imposed on pri-
,rate parties; and clearances are refused and the
!xps of the Notifications brought to bear upon our
own vessels to compel compliance.
Private parties importing supplies for the gov
.ernment by contract, for enormous profits, not
taxed by these regulations yet the State of North
Carolina, importing almost the same articles for
the same purpose, is compelled to submit to them.
Ideem it inconsistent with the public interest to
refer more particularly to our blockade running
transactions and the loss which the State will suf-
fer on both ships and supplies now on hand, if
,th@e regulation continue in force. When this is
considered with the farther facts hold it, that
the general government has no right to seize one
half, or any part of the interest Of sovereign
State in the vessels employed in importing her
supplies (this being the terms, to which we are
called upon to submitD, to impose such regula-
tions ns will destroy instead Of regulating COM
smerce it becomes your province to demand re-
peal or modification of the act, and I respectfully
and earnestly recommend that you do so. And in
case Congress should decline to repeal or modify
the act, respectfully ask for directions to what
i shall do with the ships and supplies on hand. A
detailed statement of these supplies, together with
an account as accurate as it be, without vouch-
eTs for expenditures abroad not yet received, is
herewith submitted, together with the report of
Mr. John White, our special Commissioner to Eu-
rope. liz reference to this gentleman, it is due to
him that should say, that have every reason to
be, pleased with the skin and fidelity with which
he performed the duties of bis difficult mission.
A report of our other Commissioner, Col D. K.
McRae, necessarily incomplete, is also submitted,
and will believe be found equally satisfactory,
and creditable to him as Commissioner. In this
eounection, respectfully ask for the appointment
efa committee to investigate all matters appcrtan-
isg to the blockade running of the State, to be ap
pointed at an early day, SO as to report to your
present session if possible. No appropriation has
been made by your honorable body to pay the cur
rent expenses of the vessels engaged in running
che blockade and none will be necessary, for these
Expenses can be paid by selling bills, drawn on
our agent in England, as being incurred in Will
,mington chiefly for the expenses. connected with
the loading and unloading vessels, comprising
cotton, &C. And they can be discharged in cur
rency. I would suggest that you authorize the
Treasurer to purchase these bills out of any money
in the Treasury, and thus keep the sterling ex-
change In the Treasury-whch otherwise would
have to be put on the general market and be lost
TO the. State.
Being convinced from experience that the legit-
innate business of my Office, four-fold greater
than formerly, is sufficient to tax all my energies
of mind and body and that / cannot do justice to
the interest Of the State in business so complica
ted many of the transactions of which is carried
ON at such distance, l respectfully recommend
that commission of one or more gentlemen, skill
ed 10 such business, be appointed to conduct the
future operations of the State, in importing sup
plies, whether for the purpose of continuing the
operations or winding up the business.
A report of the Adjutant General covering re-
ports of his subordinates in the different depart
ments is herewith submitted.
The impressment of property of citizens by off
GERS and agents of the Confederate Government,
harsh enough in itself, has become douby so, by
the constant disregard of the provision of the law
regulating seizures. In addition to this, the fla
grant outrages committed, in every part of the
country by struggling soldiers, and other persons
in the Confederate service, having no shadow of
authority to impress property, has become griev-
ance almost intolerable. recital of many in
stances of such, which have been brought to my
knowledge, would shock the moral sense of the
most heartless.
have urged in vain upon the authorities of
the Confederacy to check this evil and have used
every possible efforts to do so myself But it seems
TO grow worse, and as the supplies of our people
become more scant they feel more sensibly this
unjust deprivation Of their property, which re-
.duces them almost to the verge Of starvation It
must be stopped, if possible, and earnestly re-
commend such action on your part as yeu may
think best calculated to aid me in remedying the
evil My correspondence with the War Depart
men on this subject is submitted for your consid-
Grafton I desire to call your attention specially
to certain enactments of the last Congress of the
Confederate States Among them is one extend
ing the age Of CONSUMPTION from Is to II and
from as to so years. which, force is to be organ
lied as a State reserve--their company officers to
be elected, and the field officers appointed by the
President, and all to be under his command
In addition to the great injury to be apprehen-
ded to the agricultural Interest," of the country,
should these men be ordered into actual service,
have to remind you that it will absorb the entire
militia force of the State, and would leave the Ex
ecutive with no force whatsoever except State off
cers-a condition dangerous at once to the peace
and order of the State, and to its sovereignty and
dignity. There can scarcely be doubt of the in