Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-07-24

LOYAL" MILITIA.--" Gov" Holden
sent in the following message to the Legis-
lature on Friday:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT OF n. c.
To tie Honorable
The General Assembly Of North Carolina:
GENTLEMEN:-I desire respectfully to call Your
attentlOn to the Importance of the immediate or.
ganlzaton of the militia, and especially to the or
ganlzatlon of an adequate police force in each of
the counties Of the State.
North Carolina is now State of and in the
Union: and 1t Is proper in ITSELF and expt cted BY
the people that provision should be made by
which the Executive will be able at all times, in
whatsoever locality, promptly and faithfully to
execute the laws.
The work of reconstruction will not have been
fully accomplished until every officer provlde I'd
Tor under the new order OF things shall have bee
Installed. When the State government is thus in
complete operation in all its departments under
the Constitution, it is not app-ehended that any
opposition to the authority will be encountered
| which may not be easily met and overcome by the
Militia and the local police. It is the avoWed
purpose of the enemies of he Government of the
United States, and of the government of this
State, to disregard the authority of these govern
ments, and to subvert the latter on the retext
that it is not constitutional in its origin and char
acter. 1t is not apprehended that any collision
will occur, or that the peace will be seriously dis
turbed in any quarter Of the State, but in the
Judgment of the Executive, it is deemed mpor.
tsnt, as a measure of peace and security for the
future, that he should be clothed by law with the
necessary powers to maintain the authority of the
State Government against all assaults 10 preserve
the peace, to secure to the people the right of
free elections, and to act as to aid in bringing
to condjgn pun shment all who may violate the
law. The Government of tke State should be q q
terror to evil doors and praise to them that do
WE'LL
The interests of society are too precions to be
put in jeopardy by allowing even grounds for ap.
pretending that the authority of the Government
may be successfully resisted or questioned. By
v rtue of authority clearly vested in me- as I con
caive by the State Constitution I bave recently
appointed Justices of the Peace, Mayors and
Commissioners OF towns, and Directors in various
corporations. The organization Of the militia
and of an adequate police force would enable me
at once to execute the law in this respect, by in
staliing these and other officers where resistance
is offered, and IN sustaining them in the perfor
nance OF their duties. It is scarcely nee. ssary
that [ should repeat to the General Assembly the
views contained in my inaugural address in rea
ton to the character of persons to be appointed
to office. The people have decided that the new
State Government shall not be committed to an,
extent to unfrIendly hands. Every Office ane
every employment under the State, from the
most inferior to the most exalted should be filled
by the known friends of the Government of tn,
United States, and the Government of North Car
lima. 1t will not be safe or expedent, in my judg
ment, to deviate to any extent from this rule. I
is MY fixed purpose to maintain this rule, and t.
administer the government in such manner a.
to secure to all their rights of life, liberty an(
property. Very respectfully,
W ". HoTDES