Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1877-01-25
GOV. VaNCE'S MESSAGE.

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made toward renewing the pros
perity of North Carolina, and
gladly avail myself of yonr invita-
ton to contribute such suggestions
as | may deem best calculated to
aid your deliberations in behalf OF
the public good. I am SO newly
iuaugurated into the executive Of
fee, however, that | am not pos
sessed of the minute informetlOn
in regard to the various parts of
the governmental mach merry which
would make my suggestions of val
ne; but such IDEAS as | have, of
general nature, in regard to the
condition and wants of our people,
| shall make known to you frank y.
Among the first things to Gu
gage your attention will doubtless
be, the best methods of adapting
y III legislation to the recent
amendments 10 the Constitution,
and of giving effect to the express
sed will of the people ir that re
gard. Too much care cannot be
exercised in this matter, as our
county government, on the average,
costs twice lis much as that of the
State. Owing to the fact that 10
several of the counties the non,
property holding portion OF the
voters is in a large majority, and
that bad men have taken advan-
tage OF this state of things, many
Of them have been brought to the
verge of absolute ruin. Their citi-
zens have heen ruled by igEorant
and corrupt officials; The most enor
nous taxes have been imposed,
whilst shameless protiigacy aud ex'
travagance, have marked all their
proceedings. To Such an extent
has this evil gone, that many of
the richest and faircst portions of
North Carolina have been shorn
of their wealth, their productions
decreased, and their resources
dried up in a manner resembling
the desolation of trnmpling armies.
Industry has been checked, idle
ness and fraud have been encour-
aged; local justice put to contempti
and every interest tending to pros
perity and good government, III a
mea> ure, sutfocated, The truth. .
ful representation of these evils
more than all things else, induced
the people CT the West to hasten
to :he relief of their Eastern breth
rem by the adoption of the Constl-
tutional Amendments. That reliei
being happily made possible, 1t re-
mains for you to apply it.
shall not venture to recommend
any detailed scheme for your adop
ton, but will simply suggest, 1st
That whatever system of coun J
government you adopt shall be
uniform. %. That you violate
the elective principle in the selec
ton of county officers as slightly
rs possible. [ am attached OF
principle to the plan of making al
authorities who levy taxes and ex
ecnte laws. directly responsible Il
the governed. In regard to The
judicial branch. my opinion is diff
ferent. 1t seems to me that all th'
grievances complained Of may b.
remedied, and these essential prlu
clples preserved.
J In perhaps a majority of tn
counties of the State, the govern
ment of commissioners has WORKED
well, and the people are satistie,
with its operations. | would no
recommend any change great,
radical, for my opinion is that pub
lie sentiment will rapidly cure th
evils complained of without th
necessity of aEy considerable de
parture from the principle OF elec
tive representation. The plunder
ers of our counties had befor
their eyes the examples If thos
who had robbed both the State an,
the Federal treasures, aud noI
that we have checked the one anc
altogether stopped the other, W
may reasonably hope that tn
smaller villains will gradually Civ
, place to better men, and correct
ed public morality will powerful,
assist in restoring confidence aut
integrity in every DEF artment 0
the government.
By the 17th section of article II
of the new Constitution, it is mad,
your duty to establish a Depart
ment of Agriculture, immigration
and Statistics, aud to enact law
for the protection of sheep hus
bandry. This opens a wide feIC
for judicious and experimental leg
islation. look upon the adoption
of that section Of the Constitution
as step in he right direction.
North Carolina is essentially an(
peculiarly an agricultural S ate
more exclusively so, perhaps, thai
any on the Atlantic slope, if uo
) in the Union; yet has she don,
less to encourage this, her creates
interest, than any other interest o
her people. For the most par
) her legislation, and the genius 0
her pc ,ple. b we been direcged to,
ward the attainment of other OBJ