The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1866-01-24
MESSAGE OF
GOVERNOR WORTH.
TO Me Honorable tIe Geuerai Assembly

patch from the President of the United
States, Of the discontinuance OF the Provi
sional Government, Gov. Holden turned
over I" me on the 28th December las, the
Great Seal OF the State and other State eff
fects in the Capitol, and | entered upon
the discharge OF my duties as Civil Gev-
ernor. st5le
entertained the opinion, in which was
sustained by legal gentlemen whom | con.
sulted, that under proper construction OF
the 9th Section OF the Ordinance of the
Convention ratified on the 1 9th day of DC.
tober last, that the powers Of Justices oI
the Peace anil of all other officers appoint
ed by the Provisional Governor. were de-
termlned by the discontinuance of the Pro-
yisional Government. This section of the
ordinance i in the following words:
"All the acts and deeds Of the Proyis.
iona Governor Of the State appointed by
The President ot the United States, and
likewise all the acts Of any officer or agen.
by him appointed or under his authority,
done, or which may be done in pursuance
of the authority conferred on such officer
or agent, are hereby ratified and declared
10 be valid TO all intents and purposes
Provided nevertheless, that 50 far as il may
be competent for this Convention 10 declare
the same. all appointments made. and all
Offices and places created by or under the
authority oh the Provisional Governor shall
cease at the close of the first session of the
next General Assembly, or at such other
time as that Assembly snail direct success.
sors in such appointments or Offices to be
chosen or 10 be qualified, subject, howev-
er, 10 the provisions Of the Revised Code,
chapter seyenty-seyen, section three: Pro-
vided. however. that in all cases OF appoint
ments made by him OF directors 10 any corr
poration they shall continue until the reg
ular election ot lis officers"
Believing il absolutely necessary, that
the General Assembly should be convened
at at earlier day than that to which il had
sdjourned, summoned the Executive
Council TO meet here on the third day OF
this month, when quorum attended, and
with their advice, | issued my proclama-
tiun in conformity win which you are now
assembled.
IL may be that proper construction OF
the ordinance referred to, continued IN Of
ice the sherffs and clerks Of the courts
until the qualification Of their successors ;
but i is clear that the powers u the Pro-
yisiOnal Justices Of the Peace, and OF the
municipal officers of corporate towns ceas-
ed with the Provisional government.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
hear that in some counties there are
justices OF the peace who we're commission
ed and qualified before the Goth May 1861,
who have not resigned. OF taken the oath
70 support the Constitution Of the CoEted-
crate States; and presume il will be held
that the Offices Of such justices were not
vacated by the ordinance ratified 10Th Oc-
tober last, entitled " An ordinance declar.
ing vacant all the Offices of the State in
existence on the 10th day Of April. 1865"
The appointment Of justices OF the peace
demands your earliest attention. Il i :
very important sfice, and great care should
be taken that II be conferred only on intel.
ligent aud yirtuous men. Our Constitu.
lion has entrusted this duty to the General
Assembly, under the idea tina; the merits
OF ne appointee would he duly weighed
4 practice, however, has long prevailed
by which the selection Of the justices o.
each county is IN effect made BY the rep
resentatiyes of such county. Inc nomlna.
tisrs made BY them, are usually confirmed
without inquiry as 10 the fitness ni the an
pointees, or the number needed N such
county. Hence, man, have been appoint
ed TO effect local or party objects. whereby
many ignorant and bad nen have beer
made Justices Of the peace, and the teno
Of the office being during good behaviour
the mischief Of bad appOintmsst islno