The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-11-25

same time pr0vlQe IOf sLhc payment OF The
interest on, ,tlleir. debt. An ad ealorsm tax.
of one per cent on two hundred millions
would raise two millions At half per
cent, it would he one Million A citizen
worth five thousand dollars clear OF debt,
would pay twenty five dollars to the State,
in order to raise the million that will be nee
essary-and so on in proportion. The in
terest on the State debt should be met
promptly and in good faith, and the taxes
necessary to meet it sbnud he levied. The
Constitution which We lave all sworn to sup
port, provides that the public debt "slialll
never be questionedn Ii we hesitate to
meet the interest of the debt, or if we fail
/ from any cause to make due provision to
meet it, we thereby "question" the debt,
and do violence to our solemn obligation.
believe that the General Assembly will i'm
pose, and that the people of the State will
cheerfully pay whatever amount may be
necessary to meet the interest ON the debt.
| believe it will be- rapular to make such
provision, but whef6cr popular or not, it
should he done. The great question for a
statesman is, what is right ?-wliat does du-
ty require under the circumstances If the
answer is, no certain thing, do it, and
leave it to time, events, and a just public
judgment to vindicate and sustain the doers.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
The people of the State are so fully COM
mitted to internal improvements that deem
it necessary to say hut little on the subject
Since the close of the rebellion State aid has
been extended to the Wilmington, Charlotte
and Rutherford Road-to the Fayetteville
and Western Road-to the Chatham and
Coalfelds Road-to the Tarborough and
Williamson Road, and to the Yves ern
North Carolina Road The work on the lat
ter Road is being vigorously prosecuted be-
tween Morganton and Asheviile. A compa-
ny has been organized, under an act of the
General Assembly at its last session, for the
Western Division of this Road, and it is
expected that during the coming year the
routes will be surveyed, and much of the
work put under contract. While would
properly estimate the Importance of the
other Improvements referred to, l could not
overstate the value of the extension west of
the Blue Ridge. These Roads, one to Paint
Rock and the other to Ducktown, will
open to immigration, and will greatly i'm
prove and benefit region of the State
which has heretofore been neglected, and
WfiSu 10 C4uul w any III tuC Wtiu III hdtu-
raj resources. There is no work to which
the people of the State are more fully com
mitted, both by interest and inclination !;
and have every confidence that it is in
hands that viii press it to speedy compile
tion.
.. IMMIGRATION. .1t
The Constitution provides that 'there
shall be established. in the Office of the Sec
retary of State, a Bureau of Statistics, Agri-
culture, and Immigration, under such regu-
lations as the General Assembly may pre-
scribe" if94I u fg4
The attention of the General Assembly is
especially invited to that portion of the re-
port of the Secretary of State herewith trans
mitted, which refers to this subject. No
| State ia the Union presents greater induce
ments than ours does to immigrants. feel
sure the General Assembly concurs with me
as to the Importance of encouraging immi-
grafton; and trust that body will at once
adopt such measures on the subject as it
may deem practicable and effective in their
operation We have salubrious climate.
a varied and fertile SOIL an abundance of
the most valuable minerals, inexhaustible
water r-power, fine grazing lands, vast forests
of timber OF all kinds, a long sweep of sea-
coast; and, in fine, every thing material and
| physical, which in country in some re-
| spects almost new, can attract in migrants
| and fill the measure OF their expectations.
| Our government is now settled on solid
basis The laws are over all alike, and are
faithfully and honestly administered. Soci
ETY. is peaceable and tranquil. Immigrants,
therefore, will not only be welcomed by our
| people, but will be protected and respected,
and a fair field will be opened to them. in
common with those who are here, to i'm
prove their condition. t,r.
EDUCATION
The attention of the General Assembly is
respectfully invited to the Report of the
| Superintendent of Public Instruction. here
with transmitted. That officer is diligently
engaged in his duties. am satisfied. from
my knowledge of his character and qualfi-
cations. that he will be able to put in
operation, at an early period, under the
sanction of the General Assembly, system
of "schoos and means of education (" in
all respects better and more extensive than
any heretofore in existence in the State.
The University of the State is inseparably
connected with the free public schools.
| Both should be fostered. Education in
agriculture, mechanics, mining, engineering.
and in all the useful arts and sciences,
should be encouraged Normal instruction
should be provided for at once, that we may
have well educated teachers of our own for
our public schools l1isaa
Nearly all the State school fund, the pro-
ceeds for the most part of the. funds de-
| xx,itI thio Ctot, /, fho ra1
ernment in 1886, has been lost. 1t is un-
necessary to show how it was lost or to
dilate upon the advantages thus snatched
| from u.s. Regrets are vain for what is past.
Let us improve the present, and address
ourselves to the future. We must have free
| public schools for all the children of the
State, at whatever cost. This is duty
which can neither be postponed nor evaded.
So thoroughly am impressed with this
duty, and so earnestly am committed to
every feasible measure to render its full
performance certain, that but for the as
surance that it will be thus performed
would despair of free popular government
in North Carolina Education is the
cheap defence of nations" not only from
without but within. 1t is that light which
distinguishes refined and civilized from
barbarian races. It forms and compacts
the only society among men which is worthy
of the name. 1t touches the earth, and it
blossoms with luxuriance; its soil yields it's
choicest fruits, its mines open and pour out
their varied treasures. and its rivers and
seas are whitened with commerce. which
carries with it not only exchangeable
wealth. but ideas in. government, literature,
science and art. 1t is the only sure basis of
good morals, for without it the Divine