The southerner., 1867-01-03
Delivered in the Presence SG both Houses
Ct The General Assembly, In the House OF
Commons, On the 22d Of Doesmber 1860.

Delivered In the PrcSeEea 0I Doth Houses j
ef the General Assembly, In the House Of
Conmons, On the 22d OF Decsmber 1860.
Gentlemen OF the Senate assd 1
oftbe House of Commons j
It is known to you tina. the pressure Of
important off cial duties for some days
past, has left me no time for the prepare
ton of formal inaugural address.
The orders of General Sickles forbid
ding our Courts taaexecste laws which
have existed with us and our ances tors
for many hundred years, IN the face OF
the previous proclamation 8f she Presi-
dent, declaring that es-l law existed in
all the States which had engaged in the
late rebellion, astounded the State.
My mission to Washington touching
this encroachment on the right of the
State to admin lister her laws, not preten
ded to become inconsistent with the Con
stitutiou of the United States, and o,her
administrative duties since
my return, have engrossed my attention
and left me no time to prepare an address
suitable for the occasion.
This order of military officer asserts
ing in effect, his right to amend such of
our laws as he may deem unwise, is sus>
pended by order of the President. This
arbitrary step is scarcely arrested, when
a measure is proposed in Congress, look
ing to the sanction of this military su-
premacy over our laws.
In the midst of the progress of these
events we are astounded by proposition,
originated by North Carolinians, aud
brought before Congress under auspices
calculated to alarm us, that North Caro>
Ina, one of the original shirteen, is no
longer State, but territory Of the Uni
ted States.
The scheme proposes that new Con-
vention be called, the members of which
are to be elected by voters with qualifca>
tions prescribed by Congress, Including
negroes, excluded from voting by our
Constitution. This Convention, thus
elected, is to frame new Constitution
for the Territory formerly known as the
State Of North Carolina. The CONSTITUTE
ton when formed is to be approved, not
by the people, who are to live under it.
but by the Congress of the United States.
with power in the Congress, to approve,
modify, or reject the same: and with a
test oath framed with apparent intent to
reverse the principle, that the majority Of
the people ought to rule.
1t is remarkable that the avowed and
prominent projectors of this scheme were
distinguished actors in the organization o!
the present State government, and have
so,lpbt or hold Office un1er II
Under these circumstances, assume
BY the choice of my countrymen, the
painfully responsible duties Of Governor
Of the State, without time, in Careful. y
considered commentary, to review these
revolutionary movements.
/ can only add to the solemn oath
which have just taken, that feeling pro.
foundly the responsibility Of the position
in which l am placed By the confidence
OF my countrymen, shall constantly anG
fervently pray that the ruler of the uui.
verse will endow me with wisdom equa
to the impending emergencies.
| ardently desire, inpependent of m,
official oath, to maintain and defend th,
Constitution of the United States and tn.
Constitution of North Craolina, anC
cannot therefore, assent to any scheme O
compromise based on the idea that North
Carolina is not State of the Ameaica,
! Union nor TO any scheme of amendn!
the original compact, which the State shall
have TO hand in proposing. feel a
profoundly as any body can feel, the ne
cessity of composing, on permanent ba
sis, our national disscntions, and hav,
been unable to conceive of any othe
means so well adapted to effect this end
as that prescribed by the wisdom of ou
fathers in the fifth article of the Constitu
ton Of the United States.
My intercourse with the people Of tn
North leads mo to believe tt'at the grea
body of them do not entertain toward u
the destroying malevolence, which W
would infer from the speeches of many 0
their intemperate partlzan leaders and
portion of the press. The great mass 0
the nation is patriotic, with becom;n.
charity for what they deem the errors G
other sections but the partizan fury G
ambitious demagogues keeps in restrain
the will of the great aud well meaning
masses. If national Convention eoul,
be called, as contemplated in the Consti
tuition, these masses. as | believe, woult
Gil it with sober, and wise, and patriot
men. In such Convention, proper con
cessioEs would be made to the feeling
and views Of every section. All could b
heard. The spirit Of compromise b,
, which the parts Of great nation cal
alone be held together, would nave it
due weight. Under the provisions of thi
article, tbs amendments to the Constitu
ton, which such national Conventio
might propose, would have no validity ur
til ratified by thres-fourths of the States
Ifmy wishes could prevail, North Car
olina would be the first State in the Un
ion to hold up to the nation this constitu
tional olive branch.
!, trust that need not assure you tha
no act Of mine, official or personal, unde
any circumstances, viii give any counte
nance to the partial scheme of erasin
} North Carolina from the galaxy of State
of the American Union. In making thi
, declaration I desire to deny the pessibl
, implication that there is, within my know
ledge, any other patriotic citizen of th
State who would voluntarily assent t
such degradation.
In my very childhood The lessons of pi
rental instruction taught and impresse
on my heart affection for the America
Union. The civil war through which v
have passed has not erased these impres
Sions The reflections of riDer years b,