Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1864-05-26
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

GOVERNORS MESSAGE. o5
We give the most prominent portions
of the Governors Message below. It is
too lengthy to publish in full.
The Honorable, af6
The General Assena6ly Of North Oar
ola7a0: a
Since your last adjournment, various
and important changes in the situation of
our affairs have occurred, and many ot
them REQUIRE legislative action at your
hands.
The act of Congress comforting power
on the President Of the Confederate States,
to impose regulations and restrictions on
commerce, has given rise to such system,
on the par: of the Confederate authorities,
as will etfectually exclude this State from
importing any further supplies for the ar
my or people. The port of Wilmington
is now more effectually blockaded from
sosthi7a than withopt. The terms imposed
upon ship owners, being such that a heavy
loss is incurred by every voyage-and
Notwithstanding the said act provides
"That nothing in this act shall he construed
to prohibit the Confederate States, or any
of them, from importing any of the articles
herein enumerated on their own account"
yet this is so construed by the Govern
menr, as to compel the States to submit to
the same terms as are imposed on private
parties and clearances are refused and
the guns of the forlifcations brought to
bear upon our own vessels to compel
compliance.
Private parties importing supplies for
the government, by contract, for enormous
profits, are not taxed by these regulations !;
yet the State of North Carolina, importing
almost the same articles for the same pur-
pose, is compelled to submit 10 them.
deem it inconsistent with the public inter
est to refer moro particularly to our block
which the State will suffer on both ships
and supplies on hand, if these regulations
continue in force. When this is consid-
cred with the farther fact, as I hold it,
that the general government has no right
to seize one-half, Or any part Of the inter-
est of sovereign State in the vessels en-
ployed in importing her supplies (this be-
ing the terms to which we are called upon
to submit J, Or to impose such regulations
as will destroy instead of regulating com
merce, it becomes your province to de-
uiand a repeal or modification of the act,
and I respectfully and earnestly recon-
mend that you do 30 And in case Con-
gress should decline to repeal or modify
the act, respectfully ask for. directions
as to what shall do with the ships and
supplies on hand. A detailed statement
of these supplies, together with an ac-
count as accurate as it can be without
vouchers for expenditures abroad not yet
received, is herewith submitted--together
with the report of Mr.. John White, our
special Commissioner to Europe. In ref
erence to this gentleman, it is duo to him
that I should say, that have every reason
to be pleased with the skill and fidelity
with which he performed the duties of his
difficult mission. A report Of the opera
tons of our other Commissioner, Col, D..
Z. McRae, necessarily incomplete, is also
submitted, and will I believe be found
equally satisfactory, and creditable to him
as. Commissioner In this connection, /
respectfully ask for the appointment Of a
committee to- investigates all matters ap-
pertaining to the efblockade-running Of the
State, 70 be- appointed atsan early day, SO
as to report TO Jour present session,sif pos
sdhie. No appropriation has beeiis made
BY your honorable body TO pay the cur
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