Year: 1868

mains with us, and while our people are
thus enriched with knowledge, they are not
rendered poorer even in money, as the latter
is collected from the citizens by one hand
of the State and Immediately disbursed to
them by the other. 4z35 ~


The people of the State are anxious that
industrious and worthy immigrants slnnltl
come hither and settle among u.s. 1t is
primary question with all such Immigrants
whether in the communities or States in
which they are invited to settle. there are
facilities for educating their children If
We do not put in operation as good public
schools as there are in other portions of the
country, we cannot hope to attract to the
State any considerable number of itnmi
grants. They will continue to turn their
steps towards other regions, not more invi-
ting than ours, 1t is true, in climate. soil and
material resources, but in which they can
secure for their children, at the public charge,
system of schools to fit them to become in
telligent and useful citizens. ese'


The people of North Carolina have long
been a unit in favor of education. From
the days of Fancey, Murphrey .Stasiy, Came
ron, CASTOR, Caldwell, and others, to the
present. their enlightened statesmen of all
parties have enjoined this as the first duty
of the State. l am persuaded that the pur-
pose to educate the rising generation is as
z firmly fixed now as at any former period.
This is a subject on which all can agree A
rivalry can exist in5this respect which will
be generous in its nature, which will violate
no SACRED rule of charity, and which, honor
ing those who may engage in it. will confer
.immeasurable benefits and blessings on this
and future generations. a aiF


| recommend, in the most earnest terms,
that the General Assembly during its pre-
sent session provide for general and uni
form system of public schools The schools
for the white and colored children should
be separate, but in other respects there
should be no difference in the character of
the schools, or in the provision made to sup
port them. lin


The Board of Education and the Trustees
of the University will doubtless make re-
ports to the General Assembly at an early tay
as to the condition of the educational inter
ests confided to them. Both these Boards
are fully organized. and have transacted
some important business.


PROTECTION TO LABOR. .


The Constitution provides that "the
General Assembly shall provide, by proper
borers an adequate lien on the subject matter
of their labor" s4s.,..L ia


In the conflict always going on between
capital and labor, the latter is more likely TO
suffer than the former; first, because money
or capital is power; and secondly, because
capital is generally controlled by greater
degree of intelligence than that which char
acterizes labor. Labor can not afford to
combine against capital to enforce its rights,
for the reason that it can not, like capital,
retire within itself and await results. Both
should be protected in such manner as to
prevent either from encroaching on the
rights of the other. Contracts in writing
should be encouraged. and should be strictly
enforced. The mechanic or laborer should
be required to perform his contract with
scrupulnus fidelity; and on the other hand,
no opportunity should be afforded to the
contractor or employer to evade payment
when the contract has thus been performed.
The life of labor is steady employment at
compensating wages, with the certainty Of
payment The life of capital is steady en-
terprise and investment, unembarrassed by
idleness, inattention, non-performance or
slack performance of contracts by those EN-
ployed. can perceive no difference in a
legal or moral point of view, between a con-
tract broken by mechanic or laborer, and
an obligation disregarded by capitalist or
employer. The mechanic and the laborer
should he protected, but not to the detri-
ment of the employer when the latter has
fully complied with his obligation. The
former should be assured, whlle laboring,
that the reward of his labor will be realized !;
and, to effect this, there should be a lien in
every case until he is paid. The remedy
should be plain, speedy and cheap. As a
general rule the mechanic anil ahorer can
not afford to engage in suits at la = and pay
fees.


This is subject which excites no small
interest among the people. Those especially
who live by their labor will continue to press
the subject upon the attention of the Gene
raj Assembly until suitable laws, for their
protection are enacted A workingman my
self, feel a deep interest in whatever con-
Germs the workingmen of the State. Our
present and future prosperity must be based
on labor. Labor should not only be honored,
but it should be protected and promoted by
every practicable means.


But while labor should be protected and
honored, idleness should receive no counte-
nance or favor. Every one should be re-
.quircd to pursue some honest calling tor a
living; and the presumption should be, as
it fairly and justly is, that an habitual idler
with no known or visible means of support,
is in condition to be tempted to the com
mission of crime. 1t is idlers and loungers
who, for the most part, fill our jails and
workhouses, as they will fill the penitentiary
There is work of some kind for all to do, and
all should be employed. asrif ~
pis'a ID STAY LAWS. .,yt


The law of creditor and debtor is of the
first importance The relations of these two
classes should he plf.inly and carefully de.
fined. and contracts should be promptly ell
forced Our State government will not he
/! III complete operat; on until every impedi-
ment to the collection of debts is removed
j Stay laws which give indulgence beyond
the usual dilatory plea, or beyond the ordi-
nary stay OF execution on sufficient security
are, under any circumstances, qof doubtful
utility. The !" evil day" of payment, as il
IS termed, is postponed in most cases to be
felt with added force by the debtor "A
seund and judicious credit system should
not he discouraged, but should rather be
fostcred and maintained !; but such . system
is impaired, if not destroyed, by general
) laws which may be said to place the credi
tor for years in the hands of the debtor
with the certainty in many cases of the loss
of the debt. The debtor may plead for in
3 diligence and lenity as long as it is reasoDa
3 BILE to do SO, or as long us there is we'll
/, grounded assurance that he will be able IL
I Jay; but complaint may justly proceed
{ fron the creditor. who has certainly wroicet|