Year: 1862

The Honorable, the General Assembly:


Certainly Legislature has rever been convened in the
State OF North Carolina to protect greater Interests or
meet greater responsibilities.


Eighteen months ago, wh:n the State entered into the
var, which s waginS all was life and huoyancy and
eXtement The novelty of undertaking, and the en-
husasm Of PEOPLE in support of cause. not only
rendered he Of the Leg stature and the Executive
easy but actually preceded and marked 1t out Bat the
rug continuance OF the contest, the slaughter of our sol
!-r the occupation of territory by the enemy, the
destruction Of homes, and the b0ckaded condition OF
our coast have reduced rats, aid given rise t.
OF evils in the presence OF which ephemeral patr-
otism must perist and the tnse enthusiasm novelty
give place to that and determined devotion 20
cause which alone sustain revolution


l. becomes the dlty of you, the General Assembly,
70 set an example your commitments of rmness, pru
denCo determination and energy to correct the errors OF
the past provide for the exgtnCos of the future and
we'll and wisely the power vested in your body by
the Constitution for the protection CT our rights and Der
The subject of first importance the prosecution OF the
war and OF defending our State against The in
1861 provided that the Confederate Government
should fail neglect provide for the defence of North
Carolina the Governor should ba au horzed to raise GER
tain number of troops for that purpose, and made apprO
praons of money for their support Impressed with the
defenceess condition OF eastern counties when came
into office had fully determined to avail myself OF this
thoy and would have proceeded at once to 90 so but
for the intervention of insurmountaole dhcutles The
principal of the cOnscpt law passed by the Con-
ederae Congress subsequent to the passage OF the several
acts referred By this law extended in its prov sions
short time before The adjournment of Congress, all ab
bodied between the ages OF eighteen and tortyVe
years liable to enrolment soldiers of the Con-
ederae To raise adequate force for State de-
from cz Ds beyond the age of fortyfve and
submit to this drain besides thought entirely
mpractcable hoped too that by aiding and assisting
the execution of the cOnscrpti0n law wond be efec-
uay providing State defence. This reasonable hope
North Carolina has greater extent of coast than
other State she has had fewer troops given her for its de-
Il is not necessary gentlemen that should call your at
the aboundng wealth of this threatened section
of Staefed with everything necessary for the com
fort of army and our peope-or TO the su0erng ano
of its loyal patriotic inhabitants You are sufficient
informed regard thereto. 1t is for therefore to
say, whether you will suffer detences as heretofore to
exclusively in the hands of the Confederate author


es or take steps to carry out the will of the last Legs
lauTe and raise troops enough State authority to
strengthen the weak haad of the General Government
our coast.


uDhesitatngy recommend the raising of at least ten
regiments Of eryes, to be accepted for three four
MONTHS and dismissed in time to pitch their crops in the


This force Al HILLARY the Confederate troops would
probably able prevent advance of the enemy into
the INTERIOR and while subsstng on the abundant supplies
in our eastern counties could benefit the whole State BY
aiding Withdrawing vast quantities of provisions from
posed points.


nasuch as it may become necessary for slave Dor t.
be employed State defences, and my euthory to force
such labor may questioned by some, would respect
fully recommend the propriety of the passing of
whereby such authority may be vested IN me IN case Soc


Next to the defence of the State from the enemy in i'm
poance is the defence of our people against extortlo
in the Western part of the State believed that ther
within our borders abundance of grain for the sup
ply OF people, surplus for use of the army
The lands heretofore devoted to cotton hav
been planted IN corn very generally and the crop of thi
thousand bushels than has ever been known When th


considered together with the immense crop of
of any actual suffering among peope-nor would ther
be- could all be properly distributed aud at reasonab
prices But the demon of speculation and e tor4ion seen


TO have seized upoa nearly all sorts conditions Of mel
and all the necessares of life are fast getting beyond II


Flour which properly left to the laws of supply ar
demand could not have risen to than double peas
rates, can now be used only BY the rich'