The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-07
Letter to The Governor.

Wilmington, n. c., Aug. 4, 1904.
His EIXcellency, Governor q. Il. Ay-
cock, Executive Mansion, Raleigh,
N c.:
Sir: We have the honor to- &C
knowledge receipt Of your letter of the
2Srd ult. in reply to the resolutions
adopted by this Chamber relative to
encampment of the National Guard of
North Carolina.
We yield to none in our respect and
esteem for the exalted position of the
Chief Executive of this State, and dis
claim with utmost frankneSS and can
dor any intention or purpose to have
treated you discourteoUSly, nor do we
find it possible to admit that the reso-
lutions are fairly open to such criti-
cism, and the most careful and re-
spectful perusal of your reply does not
in the least modify this opinion.
We are aware that there is no pro-
vision of the Constitution or the Laws
Of this State requiring the Governor
tn give" reasons for his actions, save
in the one instance cited by you, nor
is there anything in the resolutions
to sustain the opinion that we enter
tanned such idea. our language was
that you were bound in good faith"
to either accept the recommendation
of your committee or give reason why
If our position had been sustained by
the force of the law we would not
have had recourse to the expression
bound in good faith Our idea of
your duty in the premises was nothing
more than a moral obligation.
You called meeting Of your Ad-
visory Board to be held in Raleigh
on June 10th to determine the time
and place" for holding the encamp-
ment, and invited a representative of
Wilmington to be present and speak
in behalf of Wrightsvlle. This meet
ing determined the time" at it's sit
ting, but inasmuch as Wrightsville and
Morehead presented rival claims as to
the place." you appointed a commit
tee to investigate the relative merits
OF the locations and report their re-
commendation.s After the committee
of Investigation had completed their
la bors and made their report. you Sc
lected Morchead in preference to
Wrightsville and Geographic reports
were given TO the press at Raleigh
that the committee had recommended
Morehead. AS far as we are aware,
these reports were never contradicted
by the one competent authority, and
the public was left to infer that the
committee had been correctly report
ed. We submit that as the committee
vas appointed to recommend a site,
and in view of the fact that the re-
conclusion reached by the committee
could only be interpreted through
your action. If, then, the committee
reported in favor of Morehead, as the
public was left to infer, why did Will
mington take no exception to the re-
pert? We answer: Because Whining
ton was willing to abide by the report
and vas in honor bound to do so, see
ing our representation before the Ad-
N1SOrV haPn a n
cause of the appointment of the COM
mittee. III whose disinterestedness we
had entire confidence. Your action
was accepted by the public as an in
depreciation of the report of the COM
mittee and thus was produced the very
condition that you say would have
elected adverse criticism of the COM
mittee from this quarter, and which
you hoped to avert by Withholding this
report, and yet not a word of criticism
Of the committee had eminated from
Wilmington. Thus we have fact
against theory.
Nor do we think the numerous
analogies instituted by you can by any
possibility be called parallels. AS we
understand it, the law requires the
Governor to report to the Legislature
reasons for his pardons, communications,
etc, but there is no provision of the
Constitution or the laws requiring the
Governor to make these reasons pub
lie in advance of his report to the
Legislature. However, as a matter of
fact. the Governor gives his reasons
to the public for such acts: and as
respects pardons and communications
the reasons assigned are generally a
recommendation of the jury, solicitor.
judge, etc. 1t is clearly within the