The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-12-19
NORTH CAROLINA.

In the North Carolina, Legislature,
on Friday, the two houses met in con-
vention, and the oath of office was ad-
ministered to Mr.. Jonathan Worth, who
was elected Governor of the state by
the people, but who is forbidden, fol
the present, by the President of the
United States, to enter upon the duties
of his Office. Upon taking the oath
Gov. Worth said
Gentlemen of the Senate, and of the
House Of Commons:
If l were about to enter on the dis.
charge of my duties, you would expect
me, according to usage, on this oc-
casion to declare my views on some
of the subjects likely to require exc.
cutive action,
AS the ordinance of the Convention,
under which have been elected, pro.
vides that l am not to act until the Pro
visional Government shall be discon
tinued, and as that discontinuance may
not occur during my official term,
deem It premature and inappropriate t.
discuss subjects on which may not be-
allowed to take action.
regard it, however, as fit OCCASION
for me to declare, that the people OF
North Carolina, impoverished by the
late desOlating war, and discouraged by
the uncertainties of the future, ardently
desire restoration of the Union, and of
civil government. The animosties
which produced and grew out of the
war, on our part, are rapidly passing
away. All good and wise men feel that
the common good of our whole country
requires the suppression of the sectional
examinations and recriminations, from
which have sprung our national calami-
ties. am assured that the great body
of our people desire that national amity
shall be restored. Such / am sure and
believe is the general feeling among
those we lately called our foes. Such is
peculiarly the case amongst the brave
men who periIed their lives i'm the re-
spective armies, lately engaged in NOR
talcombat. The brave are always gen
erOus.
Admonished by the recent past, sure
ly the virtue of this great nation will
not again surrender itself to the guild
ance of turbulent sectional leaders.
/ am sure all our people, il now adj
mitted into full communion with the
United States, upon the terms prescribed
by the President, with all of which
terms we have fully complied would
perform all their constitutional Obliga-
tons, with as much fidelity as any peo-
pie i'm the Union. UnfOunded distrust
will not beget kindness and confidence.
TO them appeal for the verilicatiOns of
my assertions.
We honor the generous magnanimity
and elevated craftsmanship exhibited in
the Presidents plan of reconstruction.
1t looks to the permanent good of the
whole natiOn-and in view of the appall-
ing difficulties with which he was sur
rounded, is probably the wisest practic-
able plan which could be desired. We
have promptly, and almost SPONTANEOUSLY,
complied with all its PROFESSIONALLY de-
claring our ordinance of secession null
and void; by amending our constitution
slavery, repudiating our war
debt, ratifying the amendment to the
Constitution of the United States forever
slavery in the States, and by
solmenly taking an oath renewing our
allegiance to the United States. If all
these acts are held insufficient to entitle
us to confidence, we can scarcely hope to
do anything which will be held satisfac-
tory. l will vouch for North Carolina,
If not driven to despair by ungenerOus
distrtist. She will grasp the hand of re-
Cancellation, if oflered with generous and
magnanimous confidence. 1 return to
the people of North Carolina my most
profound thanks for the distinguished
honor they have done me, i'm electing
me rs their chief magistrate, and if i
shall be called upon to perform the duties
of the position, l shall most fervently
implore the Oliver of all good to inspire
me with ability to discharge my duties
i'm manner acceptable to the State, aud
promotive of the best interests of her
people.