The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1864-05-25
NnvEIN@H'S MMsSAERo
7ae Honorable the General Assembly
Of North Carolina:

Since your last adjournment, various and
important changes in the situation of our
affairs have occurred. and many Of them
require legislative action at your hands.
The late act of Congress conierring pow
er on the President of the Confederate States
10 impose regulations and restrictions on
commerce. has given rise 10 such q system
on the part Of the Confederate authorities.
as will effectually exclude this State from
importing any further supplies for the army
OF people, The port OF Wilmington is
now rore effectually blockaded from Ciih-
IN than without. The terms imposed upon
ship owners being such that heavy less is
incurred By every voyage-and notwith-
standing the said act provides. j" That mo-
thing ia this act shall be construed 10 pro-
hibit 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 Government as
10 compel the States 10 submit TO the ssme
terms as are imposed on private parties !;
anil clearances are refused and the guns OF
the Notifications are brought TO bear upon
out own vessels 10 compel q compliance.
Private parties importing supplies for tie
government. by contract, for enormous pro.
6ls, are not taxed by these regulations; vet
the State Of North Carolina. importing al
mnst the same articles for the same purpose
is compelled 10 submit Ia them. ie.m il
inconsistent with the public interest TO re-
fer more particularly 10 our blockade run
ming transactions and the loss which the
hat anI NJ, l,aa
on hand. IL these regulations continue in
iorcr. When this is considered with the
further fact. as hold It. that the general
government has no right 10 seize one hall,
or any part Of. the interest Of sovereign
State in the vessels imployed in importing
her supplies this being the terms TO which
We are called upon to submit or TO impose
such terms as will destroy instead Of regu-
lating commerce, il becomes your province
10 demand repeal or modification Of the
act, and respectfully and earnestly recon-
mend that you do SO. And in case Con-
gress should decline 10 repeal or modify the
.ct. respectfully ask fer directions as tn
what shall do with the ships aud supplies
on band. A detailed statement of these
supplies, together with an account as accu-
rate as II can be without vouchers for ex-
rrndiiures abroad not yet received, is here.
with submitted--together with the report
OF Mr. John White. our special Commits.
sioner to Europe. In reference to this gen
tlemau. IL is due 10 him that should say,
that lhive every reason TO be pleased with
the skill and fidelity with which he perform
ed the duties Of his difficult mission. A
report Of the operations Of our other Com
missioner, Col. ID. c. McRae, necessarily
incomplete, il also submitted, and will |
believe, be found equally satisfactory, aud
rreditable 10 him as Commissioner. In
this connection. 1 respectfully ask for the
appointment Of a committee TO investigate
all matters appertsining 10 the blockade
running Of the State. TO be appointed at an
early day, so as 10 report 10 your present
session IL possible. No appropriation ha,
been made BY your honorable body to pay
the current expenses Of the vessels engag.
ed in running the blockade. and none will
be necessary, for these expenses can he paid
by selling bills drawn on our agent in Eng
land. as being incurred in Wilmington
chiefly for the expenses connected with
The leading and unloading vessels, com.
pressing cotton, &c. And they can be dis
charged 10 currency. ! would suggest tha
you authorize the Treasurer 10 purchase
these bills out Of any money 10 the Treasu.
ry, and thus keep the sterling exchange il
the Treasury-whieh otherwise would have
20 be put on The general markelan be los,
10 the State.
Being convinced from experience thai
that the legitimate business Of my Office
nsw four-fold greater than formerly. is sui
heient to tax all my energies Of mind and
body, and that ! cannet do justice to th.