The farmer and mechanic., 1915-03-09

vnjssion * an interesting letter, yellow
with age bearing the autograph oi
George Washington. who had but re-
Gently taken the oath of office as
President of the United States. Inc
letter is dated June l9, 1893, ana ID
addressed ITO the Governor ana
Council of the State of North caro-
lima" and has several interesting and
significant points. The circumstances
from which il originated are interest
ing.
The State Of North Carolina at that
time was not a member of the Cnlop
of States known as the United States
Of America" A convention of the
State during the previous year had
refused TO ratify the newly proposed
Constitution of the United States, and
the new Federal government had been
organized and launched upon its ca
reer without the help Of North caro-
lima. But a new convention had Deen
called and was soon to convene Tor
the purpose of reconsidering the rat
ification of the Constitution, and un-
der the circumstances the Governor
and his Council thought it advisable
TO address q communication to the
President Of the United States stating
the sentiments of the State of North
Carolina with respect to the United
States The Governor was Samuel
Johnston, Il strong Federalist, and the
members of his Council were John
Skinner, of Perquimans; James Ire
dell. of Chowan: John Kinchen, OF
Orange; James Armstrong, of Pitt;
Josiah Collins. Of Tyrrell; Whitmel
Hill. OF Martin, and Demsey Conner,
OF Pasquotank. OF these Johnston
Skinner. Iredell, Collins and Hill had
all been members of the Convention
OF 1888 and had voted for the ratifi-
cation of the Federal Constitution. Al
a meeting of the Council of State. held
at Edenton. May 10. 1889, the follow
Ing entry was made in the Journal:
THE Governor and Council consid
ering that it may be Of great momen
to the Interests of this State, that tn,
Sentiments of the People in respect t.
the new Form Of Government for tn,
United States should not be misrepre
sented. and by that means the har
mony between the different States b
In any danger of interruption. thnl
proper that the following addres
should be presented to General wa
ington: the said address to he sgne
by the Governor and by the Presi
dent in behalf Of the Council.
'"To His Excellency George WASHING
ton. Esquire, President of the Unit
ed States.
"Sir:
Amidst the CONGRATULATIONS whic
surround you from all quarters. w
the Governor and Council Of the Stat
of North Carolina. beg leave to offe
ours with equal Sincerity and fe1
vency with any which can he presen
ed to you. Though this State he n.
yet member of the Union under tr
new form Of Government we loo
forward with the pleasing hope of !
shortly becoming such. and in II
meantime consider ourselves bound
Common Interest and Affection wit
the other States. waiting only f,
the happy event of such aIteratio,
being proposed. as Will remove t'
Apprehensions of many Of the goc
Citizens of this State for those Ii
critics for which they have fought al
suffered in common with others TIL
haopy event we doubt not will be q
celebrated by your Excellancy's a
pointment to the first office in r
Union, since we are we'll assured t
same greatness of mind. which in ;
scenes has so eminently characterz
Your EXcellency, will induce Won
advise every measure calculated
compose Party Divisions, and to aba
any animoeity that may he excited
mere difference in Opinion Yo
Excellency will consider (howev
otners may forget how extremely q
ficult ii is to Unite all the People Of
great Country in one common Sen
ment upon almost any political Su
Ject, much less upon a new form
Government, materially differe
from one they have been accustom
to. and will therefore rather be q
posed to rejoice that so much /
been erected. than regret that m,
could not all at once be accomplish
We sincerely believe America is ,
only country in the world where ST
deliberate change Of governm,
could take place under any circu
stances whatever
1--WE hope your Excellency will n
don the liberty we take in writing
particularly on this Subject, but I
State. however 1t may differ in 3
Political opinions with the ot1
States. cordially joins with them
Sentiments of the utmost graft,
and veneration for those distingui
ed talents ard that illustrious Writ
which We feel pride in saying