Year: 1860

Raleigh JAM 10th, 1860


Gentlemen: have the honor of acknowledging
the receipt of your favor of the 9th ult enclosing
copy of the resolutions recently adopted at pub
lie meeting of the citizens Of Chatham County
of which, urges the necessity of special session
of the General Assembly.


These resolutions manifest, upon the part of the
citizens of your county, zeal in behalf of the pub
lie welfare deserving of all commentator, and for
which they will doubtless receive the thanks of the
people of the State.


Like sentiments to those contained in the resolu-
TONS having been expressed to me by many ntelli-
gent citizens consider it not inappropriate, and
indeed, but respectful to them to make known, pub
licly, my own views upon the subject and will avail
myself of the opportunity offered by your conm,l-
nicatsR of doing SO. 1t is not to be denied that
OF insecurity pcrrades at this t:me the public
mind to very considerable extent, arising primer
paly out of the fact of want in the present dis
turbed condition of public affairs, of organization
of military forces and effective arms to place in
their hands,


Fully approaching the magnitude of the causes
that have given rise to these apprehensons and sen
sibe of the persistent efforts of the evil disposed
persons who would disturb our peace, | nevcrthe
less entertain the opinion that the public need
apprehend no immediate aggresSions by force of
arms. To my mind our danger lies not in that di-
rection. The attacks most to be feared are those
coming under the specious forms of law,--more qu-
ct and insidious in their approaches, but none the
less fatal in their results.


| have every confidence that our ordinary police
force will be found fully and entirely adequate to
the preservation of the public peace until the time
designated by law for the meeting of the Legisla-
turc; and then the representatives of the people,
having fully in view the pers that threaten us in
the future, will have an opportunity of making am
pie and timely preparations to meet them.


You may rest assured, that could for moment
feel that either persons or property could not be
completely protected by existing laws duly admins
tered, would not hesitate, with the advice of the
Council of State to convene the Legislature.


1t is true, several useful measures might be
adopted were that body now in session,-among
them the organization and arming of the militia, a
measure required well by an act of Congress, as
by the most ordinary prudence. Yet this does not
present case of over-rulng and absolute necessity
which alone would justify me in convening the Le-
gislature in special session.


deem it important too, to avoid all such action
as would tend to increase the excitement now ex-
isting among our people, justly as this excitement
has been provoked and in my opinion such meas.
ure would greatly tend to that result


When the Legislature meets in regular session,
we will have an opportunity of looking calmly on
the events of the past year, and the dangers that
lie ahead of us,-and that real danger does sur
round u.s. it would be criminal in public officer to
attempt to conceal, which frame of mind will be
the more proptious to discreet and considerate Le
gisation In times of real public peril, above all
Others legislation should proceed with dignity and
solemDity, negatving all suspicion of the influences
of passion and thereby securing more surely the
obedience Of our own people and the respect of al
Others


This should especially be the case in our State
for the faith which North Carolina has ever scrupu
lousy kept with all men, leaves no doubt that re