Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-06-14
Gov. WOrth'S Circular.


TO THE PEOPLE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
Having been elected by you as your Governor
in November last, for term, which will expire
on the LIST of January next and believing that my
administration has met your approval, I announce
myself candidate for reelection in August
next.
do not propose to canvass the State The
constant pressure of Executive duties many of
which grow out of our anomalous political condi-
ton, require my constant attention. IF the prac-
tice Ct canvassing the State at any time be wise
one am sure could not do it at this time, with
out detriment to the public interests. Nor do
deem it expedient to address to you an extended
circular. My past life and actions furnish the best
guaranty you can have as to my future conduct.
Into them L invite your candid scrutiny.
Upon some of the matters now engaging pub
lie attention, deem it my duty to present you
my views.
! I think the chief attention of State Executive
should be directed to State affairs; but in pre-
sent unfortunate condition it is proper, and it will
be expected that shall give you my views on ma
| tional affairs.
As part of my early education, was required to
commit to memory and rehearse that portion of
the farewell address of the father of his country
in which he so earnestly warns us to indignantly
GO frown upon the first dawning of any attempt to
ALLEVIATE any portion of country from the rest !"
This became fixed sentiment with me. The pre-
servation Of the Union has been the polar star of
my political life In the circular by which an
nounced myself candidate for the honorable
position which I now fill, referred to the fact
that had offered, i'll the House of Commons in
1881, resolutions denouncing notification that
as Senator in the General Assembly of 1860-'61
in forlorn minority, [ constantly combatted
every thing which [ thought tended to disunion :;
voting in May 1861, with only two others, against
the call of Convention. referred also to cir
cular which [ addressed to my constituents in
January, 1861, when the question of Convention
or no Convention was to be decided by their votes
in which urged them not to be deceived By the
cry that the Convention was to be called to ssare
the Union - that it was called to Glestrou it, I
then circulated among my constituents the cele-
brated speech Of Andrew Johnson, then Senator
from Tennessee and now President of the United
States, in which he denounced with equal fervor
Northern disanionisnn and Southern disu1ai0nis,u
cOncurred with him then, cordially as do now
In my circular of last October I stated to YOU
that had always looked back on my course in all
these instances with great satisfaction. In the
ensuing election many of you who had always con-
CURED with me, and many who had formerly diff
fered with me in these views, voted for me. ALI
who voted had recently renewed their allegiance
to the United States by taking the oath prescribed
In the Presidents amnesty proclamation. I en-
terrain doubt that they took this oath with the
honorable and sincere purpose faithfully to OBJ
serve it, ALI desired that our former relations
with the Union should be speedily renewed. I
regarded the cordial vote for me by many of those
who had maintained the doctrine of secession as
IN accordance with their recent pledge of loyalty
to the United States, and token of respect
for my consistent political record, and hence re-
celved their support as alike creditable to them
and to me.
declared in my circular to you last Fall, and I
repeat, that if elected, " as far as my official
position would enable me to do it, both from in
cination and conviction of duty, I should endeav-
or to soften the animosities which have grown out
of the horrible war, now happily ended If some
of have gr1evously erred, grevously have all of
atoned for it. l shall endeavor to encourage
spirit of mutual forgveness-a return to habits of
law and ORDER and steadfast attachment tt the
Union, which made us so great and prosperous
people while we adhered to the counsels of Wash
ington." have endeavored to act in conformity
to these promises.
I refer to these prominent points in my politi-
cal record and the circumstances under which you
did me the honor to elect me last November, to
counteract the uni ust impression which many have
sought 70 make, at home and abroad, that my cleo
ton a disunion triumph. The imputation is
grossly uni ust to me, and as believe equally I'M
Just to everybody who voted for me.
My conduct in the discharge Of my administra-
tive duties is known to you and have so recent
ly had occasion, in my message to the General
Assembly, to present my views in relation to State
policy, which message very extensively circu-
lated throughout the State, that deem it unne-
cessary to reiterate them.
Wise policy requires, in order to restore pros
perity and order, that every citizen quietly and
industriously pursue his occupation, and obey the
laws of his country while they are in force, how
ever distasteful some of them may be. If we
would have peace and plenty must look for
them the fruits of order and industry. The
wisest legislation without these will be unaviling
and with them, the worst legislation will but re-
tard the return of prosperity.
We are, as I think, unwisely and unconstitu-
tionally excluded from the National councils, but
the results of war have made powerless. It is
unwise to indulge in denunciations of the domi-
nant power, and not inconsistent with real dignity
and proper sef-respect, to abstain from intemper
ate remonstrance. Let us quietly pursue our
several avocations and hope that Providence will
ultimately guide the minds of our late foes to
counsels becomming magnanimity and wise and
generous craftsmanship.
The great object of all good men and wise
statesmen should now be to molllfy the passions
which have grown out of the late conflict, and
by all their influence endeavor to restore cordial
reconciliation between the lately aienated sections.
The good of our whole nation requires sincere and
scription and mutual ordinations be INDUCED.
The sublime injunctions OF holy writ which for |
bid the indulgence of malevOlence are universal
in their application.
In such convulsion as that from which we are
emerging, many will have received grievous inju-
ries. No good can spring from the indulgence of
reyengeful feeling. Let every good citizen ex
err himself to repress it. Both philosophy and
our religion rank forgiveness and charity among
the ehiefest of virtues and as there are few of us
who have not occasion to ask forgiveness for our
own acts, let us be merciful to each other.
If you shall re-elect your chief magistrate,
I appeal to my past conduct to sustain me in the
assurance that will do all can to prove myself
wo rthy of your renewed confidence.
JONATHAN WORTH.
RALEIGH, June 18th, 1866.
"Hould aiNy, Mike" said one of two Irish Pc
dos+r;ans as Re reverentially approached mile