The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-11-28
1oonc1 nnpn rnoM r1nsr rAeE.l


cannot furnish the statistics, contemplated
by the resolution of the general assembly OF
the 10th of March last, the chairmen OF the
county courts of some three or four counties,
only. having sent me any returns ana these
do not profess to be full and accurate.
Tue paupernegroes. formerly supported
by the master, must now 60 to the poor
houses.
recommend revision of the poor laws.
am not prepared to suggest any special al
terations of them, but hope your wisdom
NAV be able to devise some plan of tighten
inc the heavy burthen which the proper
case of the poor must soon impose upon us.
APPRENTICESHIP.
I recommend a revision of our laws in re-
lation to apprenticeship. The future well
being of the state depends much upon the
manner in which our children and youths
are brought up. Great numbers of the ris-
ing generation, white and black, are grow
ing up without proper training in the hab-
its of steady industry essential to make
them moral and useful citizens. Some OF
these children, having no father to guide
them, many of them Tin the language OF
one of our statutes,) where the parents,
with whom such children may live, do not
habitually employ their time in some honest,
industrious occupation" But, to attain the
proper ends of apprenticeship, no pains
should be sparedin selecting the masters to
whom the tutilage of such children is com
mitted. In this, Think, the administration
of our laws require amendment. When a
child is to be bound apprentice, fear that
our county courts, to which this duty Is con-
fided, and which are expected to act IN loco
PARENTS often neglect to look properly to
the fitness of the master to bring up the
child. Now, when the welfare of the state
requires the exercise OF this power much
more extensively than formerly, 1t IS well to
inquire whether something may not be done
for the better protection and rearing of this
class. In practice, 1 fear that the eminently
wise and benefcent provision ofour statutes,
(rey. code, chapter "a, sec. lS) has not been
sufficiently observed. 1t requires the grand
jury ofevery county, annualy,dt the orphans
court, to present to the court in writing, the
names of all orphan children within their
county, shat have not guardians, II not
bound out to some trade or employment,
and also all abuses, mismanagement and
neglect OF such guardians as are appointed
by the court OF their county," recommend
that the provisions OF this section he enlarged
30 as to embrace all children whom you may
! declare fit subjects OF apprenticeship, and
that the jury report at every term OF the
court, and that 1t be made the duty OF the
county attorney, at each term, to give the
act in charge to the grand jury. Suggest,
further, that it would tend much to the Sc
curity and proper care Of apprentices, If it
was made the special duty OF the county So
icitor to attend to the binding OF every ap-
prentice, and attest the industrious with
power in every case where ne may deem it
expedient to carry the case by appeal to the
superior court-and that proper provision
be made for his compensation for this SER
vice. lave ieceiseu iiann ' J;a.;sa nes
eleauA' nsqi' an aseu Si1,nen' HlS.' u.sne1
lor Ms in'e.iSenee, anu iohs 'no o"ne, anu
manager OF large NUMBER Oh slaves iettel
on this sa'JeG'' pieseh'iiS many VIEWS anu
Ienectlohs .tne resui. Oh nis experience. l
'rahsuiiC ms iet'er Win tiiis message, anu
commend MS suggestions 10 your consiaefa-
ZION.
1t mas been the policy OF the general as
sempiy' since the ordnance Oh emancipation,
10 80 reform our laws as 10 personal rlghts,
.hat ho oistipeuoi, siioqie exist W INC pre-
!eolce u Tue oiachs' l nhu some u'stinS-
lion SUN EXISTS as IL apprenticeship. mad
Vertentiy oVeriookeo' presume. our laws
require tne oinoihg OF whlte Iemaies 10 the
age OF e'ghteeh--aho coiored ienaies 10 the
age OF lwen'y-ohe years, anu power IS con
NIreu On .iie court W oiiiu' rs apprentice,
rents WIN Whom sucn children may llVe' 40
not hapie"aiiy employ tneir Time IN some
honest' industrious occupation" ihefe IS
no provision LOT .plno1ng whlte chlldren SO
negiected py their parents; nope the laws
VIII De SO altered as 10 apoilsh these dlscrlm-
inations' anu all others' any others DC
1ound 10 exist.
An embarrassing difficulty as to the bi nd
ing of negro children, has lately presented
itself was lately notified BY a citizen, to
whom negro children had been bound as
apprentices by the county courts, that he
had been notified by an officer of the freed
mans bureau, that such binding would not
be respec ed, and that he was required to
ha suJn on',u,En' JIG in,e:uies nav
nf s un of tha hnra n' ha dns VI .me
notice +bot ;ntorf.ro,oo woe oonton,,J., tod
nv -, .has 1s..o wac
IL ,eP,y s w. ,e,'e. ''9u..ine' M.'ci' Z lnerei
Rph;nson ths oss;a,ont oe GU .ha
f.oJ,aU,, n1 a :, .i; . a4a VI tne
meue e.s Du.eau IN lllis s,a'e, he Sent me
copy VI tne oluei uinier WINCH e MS suDoroi-
na,e ac.eu' IN these WORDS clVii law
WI. VIII hot pc alloMen 10 MAKE any alscflmina-
lion oe!Weeil WINES anu placNs, IN 'he ap
Pien.io'ns vi Tniluiel. No cl'iiu, whose
paieh.s are miillns anu ape 10 support H.
can oe o'@ ni,s WITHOUT Tue consent OF the
parents; Oa'lureh over fourteen years OF
n.y.; WI. no; uo uounu OUT C as 'appfentices