The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1865-12-05
GovERNoRH oLDEN's MESSAGE.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, Raieigh, Nov 80.


/ Gentlemen of the Senate and Of the House Of
Representatives.
I regret that severe and painful illness, from
which am still suffering, has prevented me
from preparing for your consideration, more
full and detailed statement of the condition of
public affairs, and Of the progress which has
been made in restoring North Carolina to her
natural position as member of the Union under
the Federal Constitution. I am gratifed to
state, however, that my health is improving, and
| hope soon to be ir a condition to impart to
| you at length any information in my possession
| in relation to public affairs, which you may
desire.
The progress thus far made in the work of
restoration, has been attended by great labor;
and l have been very anxious to discharge my
| duties as Provisional Governor, under the in
structions of the President in such way as to
/ promote the best inte"e- Of the State, aud to
ensure restoration of ,ur constitutional relations
| to tho Federal Government at the earliest prac-
ticable period.
! We can entertain no hope that confidence and
activity in business will be revived, or that our
people can even begin to renew their former
prosperity, until the State shall have been fully
restored to her place in the Union. The
greatest good of the present and of all coming
generations will be embodied in the practical
! fact that we once more part OF the freest,
preudest, and most prosperous government In
the world. AS long as this fact is unreallzed,
the State must necessarily languish in all its
interests, and instead of availins herself of her
natural advantages and springing forward in
competition with other States in the career Of
wealth and prosperity, she will become more and
more impoverished.
| Let US, then, omit nothing which may be
deemed necessary, or even expedient, to attain
| the great end we have in view, to wit: the COM
plete restoration of the State in all its constitu
tional relations to the common government
Let the divisions and differences which exist
among US, and which are calculated to obstruct
the work of reconstruction, disappear under the
influence of more intense and a more devoted
patriotism. He who does anything now, whether
bv word or act, calculated or intended to en-
barrass the national administration, or to OBJ
struct the work of restoration, incurs grave
responsibility and can be no friend either to the
Federal Union or to North Carolina
The Convention Of the people of this State,
recently in session, very wisely ordained,
1st That the so called ordinance of secession,
adopted the Goth day of May, 1861, sis now,
and at all times hath been, null and void;' and
that "the ordinance of the Convention of the
State of North Carolina, ratified ON the 21st day
of November, 1889, which adopted and ratified
the constitution of the United States and also all
acts and parts of acts Of the General Assembly,
| ratifying and adopting amendments to the said
Constitution, are now, and at al times since the
adoption and ratification thereof, have been in
| full force and effect"
| I'd That slavery and involuntary servitude,
| otherwise than for crimes, whereof the party
shall have been duly convicted, shall be-is
hereby forever prohibited within the State"
Ill 10 tIo .l,,fx, Of ho Eon
Assembly to provide for the payment of all
debts and obligations created or incurred by the
State otherwise than in aid of the late rebellion.
| But that call debts and obligations created or
incurred by the State, in aid of the late rebel
| lion, directly or indirectly, are void, and no Gen.
eral Assembly of this State shall have power to
assume or provide for the payment of the same,
or any portion thereof"
These are -efe and proper steps in the right
| direction, and such were expected of the rep
resentatives Of loyal people.
But in order to remove the last obstacle in
| the way of restoration, it is indispensable that
the Legislature shall ratify the amendment to
| the Constitution of the United States prohibit
ing the existence of slavery throughout the
United States herewith transmit to you
communication on this subject. from Hon. VIM.
| H. Seward, Secretary of State, and also cert-
( utu SopN VI tho JOlHo iOsOlOtioii mas PoooCu
Congress on the subject, approved February
LIST, 1865.
beg leave, gentlemen, most respectfully and
earnestly to urge on you the propriety of ratify-
ing this amendment unanimously, at the earliest
practical moment. 1t is the wish of our best
friend, the President of the United States, that
this shall be done. Such ratification cannot fail
to hasten our restoration to the Union, and thus
lay anew for as and our children the foundations
Of permanent prosperity and glory.
Under the provisions of an ordinance passed
| by the Convention at its late session, have ap-
7 pointed the Hon. 3 Moore, the Hon. Richard
! S Donnel, and William S Mason, Esq, Com
missoners to prepare and report to the Legisla-
ture a system of laws upon the subject of freed
men, and to designate such laws and parts of
laws now in force, as should be repealed, in ,or-
der to conform the statutes Of the State to the
ordinance of the Convention abolishing the in
sttution Of slavery.
| In conclusion, permit me to assure you, gen.
tlemen, of my readiness and anxiety to cooper
ate with you cordially and zealously in every
thing which may be calculated to relieve our
unfortunate and beloved State from her present
depressed and unhappy condition.:
With sentiments of high respect, I have the
honor to be, &c. W. W. HOLDEN,
Provisional Governor.
RAILROAD MIsMANAGEMENT-We hope
that among the first business of the Legislature