The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-11-29
MESSAGE OF GOV. VANCE,
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA.


Two years ago issued my first message to the
General Assembly Of North Carolina amid the stir
ring scenes of war, fordly trusting that might
greet the next conyocation of the peoples repre-
eentatives rejoicing in the grateful prospect OF
peace and independence That hope, like most OF
the short-sghted desires Of man, God has not seen
proper to cause us to realize. After two years of
fierce and consuming war, waged with all our ener-
gies, and attended with all its inscparable calami-
ties, social, political and physical, we meet to-day,
gentlemen, but to continue those arduous labors
which bore so heavily upon your predecessors and
myself Whatever may be the result, can but
hope that our CO operation may be as sincere and
tempered with as much forbearance. | proceed
then at once to give you statement OF the condl-
ton of our affairs and to suggest such remedies for
whatever may be wrong my observations and
experience may have enabled me to recommend.
With sincere gratitude to the Giver Of all good,
! announce that the crops Of the past season were
very fair, and in some localities excellent. Not
withssnding partial failures of the corn crop here
and there, it is estimated that there is an ample
supply of the staff Of life to prevent not only star
walton, but even any actual suffering, if it can be
placed within the reach of the poor.
Since the adjournment OF your predecessors, the
enemy have eDcroached none upon territory,
except.by the recapture of the town of Plymouth,
and the consequent evacuation Of w Washington !;
events greatly to be deplored. The western border
Is, however subject to constant raids and the sit
uation Of the inhabitants is distressing in the ex-
tremc. Murder by lawless men, many of them our
own citizens acting or pretending to act under
commission from the enemy, swarm in the
mountain frontier, numbering, burning and des-
troy;ng. Totally regardless Of the laws Of civ za
tion, they have inaugurated system of cruelty at
which humanity shudders. l have written t9 Gen.
Breckenridge, and urged him to take such Steps as
may be in his power to stop such proceedings, but
[ do not yet know what may be the result. Nor is
the interior Of the State entirely free from the
disorders naturally to be expected from state Of
continued war. Deserters representing almost
every State in the Confederacy infest the swanps
and mountains Of many counties stealing, plum
dcring, and in many instances numbering the in-
habtants. In some places they muster in such
force as to almost amount to suspension Of the
civil authority, aided and protected as they are by
their relations and friends. All of my efforts to
abate the nuisance by offers of pardon having
proved fruitess, | see no remedy Tor the evil but
to outlaw them, and drive them from the State by
the strong hand. If my control over the militia
for this purpose unrestraned, am confident
I could easlly rid the community of this pest. l
also recommend that the law against Earboring,
ubettiug and shelteriug desertion, be amended SO
to facilitate the making of the proof required to
convict, and that it be made the duty of all civil
we'll as military officers to assist in their arrest,
under such penalties as will enforce obedience -
Too much Importance cannot we'll be attached to
this subject, since it has become not only of great
moment to the we'll being of the army, but also 10
the security of society and the execution Of the
law.
l feel quite ashamed also to add that number
of the Home Guard, in certain interior counties,
holding both civil and military Offices, actuated
either hv cOWar0lce perharS both
have recently deserted and fed to the enemy. |
earnestly recommend that you take such steps for
the punishment of such a crime, by confscation or
as may deter others from such cowardly
and degrading treason. There should be no more
trihng in this matter. These who seek the aid OF
our enemies should share the fate Of enemies. The
blood of our dead heroes, as we'll the living.
who carry their lives in their hand every day. de-
tnand that the punishment awarded by all civilized
com nunities to treason should be melted out to
'raitors If there is to be punishment for this
kind Of treason, loyal men entitled to know it.
Whenever we quietly suffer treason to attain a
greater Immunity from dangers and hardships than
patriotism We may expect the cause to perish.
I regret to say that the blockade running oper-
atoms OF the State pretty we'll stopped. The |
re suations imposed by the Confederate Govern
ment, in defiance | think Of the act of Congress
to which have heretofore adverted, have operated
go lhIullou as 10 cOmpel me IN n measure TO |
withdraw vessels from the trade. After losses
by detentions, the surrender of cargo space, &c. Of
not less than two hundred thousand dollars in gold
regret also to have to announce the loss of the
steamer Advance during the month of September.
his noble vessel, the pride OF the State and ben
efactor of our soldiers and people, was captured by
The enemy after she had successfully made her way
through the blockade squadron, in consequence of
he seizure Of her foreign coal for the use Of the |
cruiser Tallahassee, compelling her to put to sea
with North Carolina coal. This being nnsuitcd to
her furnaces and machinery rendered her incapa-
Die of making more than half her usual speed, and
eft behind her dense volume Of black smoke, By |
which she was easily followed and captured. SO
obviously is her loss attributable to unwarranted
eizure of her COAL that trust you will memorable
or compensation. The uuwise policy Of making
our only remaining seaport resort for cruisers
cannot be too strongly condemned. 1t has doubled |
The strngency of the blockade, has already caused
The loss of many valuable steamers and will ulti-
natey provoke the utmost efforts of the enemy to
capture Wilmington 1t is no exaegeraion to say
hat the Advance alone in solid benefits has been
worth more to our government than all the cruisers
=. have ever had afoat. Why it should be the
'ollcy OF our government to compel the State to
putt the importation of supplies for the common
aenetits aud then pursue q course with our armed
esses so we'll calculated to crush all importations
: whatsoever, is to me inexplicably strange These
ruisers sally forth with the coal seized from
tcamers engaged in bringing US supplies of vital
Importance, thus ensuring their capture, destroy
cw ins'gnihcant'smscks,w which only serve to irri-
ate the enemy, and then steam back into Will
1ington to seize moro coal, bringing down upon