Year: 1870




resolve to do our duty in our day and time,
as North-C -Carolinians, as Americans Ina
climate and with soil for which Providence
has done so much let us resolve to do some
thing for ourselves and our children Let
us devote ourselves to the arts of peace.
Let us improve this great inheritance. Let
our children and our children's children,
when they shall come to take our places,
say of us, "Our ancestors remembered
and did what was wise, and what was
gond for US Behold, the beautiful coun-
try they have LETT to us! the just
and equal laws that are over us, and
the hope that their work has made strong
in us that We can do even more for our
children than they have done for us. Let
us unite upon the one great object of i'm
proving and building up the State. Let us
welcome capital and immigration, furnish
ing as they will the indispensable means to
our progress and prosperity. Prcjudices
growing out of nativity. or out of rebellion
are not worthy to be cherished Let lis dis
card such projudices. We are once more
Americans-all. Let us receive with cnur-
tesy and kindness every citizen of the North
ern or Eastern States who may cast his lot
among us, and measure him us we measure
Others. according to his personal and moral
worth. We cannot hope to improve our
condition if we repel capital and immigra-
tion, either by so acting as to produce the
belief that it is not safe to settle among US
on account of the want of law and order,
or unpleasant, because of rude or uncivil
treatment to the immigrant. 1t should lie
remembered that our ancestors were ofigi-
nally, as much "advehturers as Others. OF
the three signcrs of the Declaration of
Independence for this State, neither
was native. Richard Caswell, one of
our greatest Governors, and sometimes
called Washington of North Carolina, was
not a native; nor was Joseph Caldwell, who
built up our University and led the way
with Murphy, Yancey, Stanly, Saunders ard
others in internal improvements and public
instruction.


We want the best men from Europe, and
from all parts of the United States to settle
among us. 1t is men that make State
Let them come, with their enterprise and
money, their muscle and intelligence; and
when they get here let the rivalry be rs to
who shall do most for the good and the
glory of our beloved State.


The government of the United States, in
the prosecution of the war to suppress the
rebellion, and in the measures it has adopt
ed to reconstruct the Union, has exhibited
extraordinary clemency and magnanity. 1t
has taken no vengeance for the past, but has
required only security for the future. 1t has
deprived no man of his property save for
war purposes during the progress Of the
war; it has exiled no man it has punished
no man for the crimes of rebellion. 1t has
simply required that those who have been in
rebellion should renew their allegiance, and
that such guards should be placed in the
organic laws OF the States and the nation as
to prevent future rebellion. Instead of de-
fining or restricting suffrage permanently, it
has left it with the respective States to be
determined and settled as they may choose;
and this State, following In full measure the
example of the national government, has
m,de suffrage free to all.


But the war to suppress the rebellion has,
in its results, necessarily changed as it has
settled the theory of construction previously
held by large portion of the people. Our
liberties have been consolidated, and the
Union can, in no event, be dissolved. 1t is
| to endure always. 1t must increase, but
never decrease. For all great national pur
| poses the Government of the United States
is over the States, and paramount to the
States, and the allegiance of the citizen is
first due to it. There is no appeal from the
will of the nation, expressed by a majority.
Armed resistance to the national authority,
whether by individuals of their own accord,
or by individuals acting under supposed
State authority or command, Is treason, and
must he ST. held and treated. The doctrine
IF States rights, as held by Mr.. Calhoun
and his followers, has ceased to have validity
or vitality; and the teachings and doctrines
of Washington, Hamilton, Webster, Jack
son, Clay and Lincoln now constitute the true
and the only safe theory of construction.
This has been settled, under Providence, by
the result of a solemn appeal to arms among
brethren; and he who would unsettlc this tho
ory, thereby rendering it possible that scces-
sion should ever again be attempted, is no
friend to hisspeccs, to his State, or to the gen.
cral government fhls country. The govern
ment of the United States is no longer n
feeble luminary, receiving and dispensing
light to surrounding planets; but it is full
sun, burning with superior splendor, per-
vading and holding up to itself the entire
system, and kindling new planets into life
AMI motion. How benefcient, how glori-
Gus, how far-reaching will be the light it
will dispense when it reaches its meridian,
We shall not live to see, but the generations
to come after us will walk in that light, and
be contented, prosperous and happy. In
the fullness Of their gratitude they will
thank God, as We do, that the government
of the United States, delivered from the
perils of rebellion, and reconstructed on the
basis of the equal rights of all, is us indc-
structible as the earth itself, and as secure
in its position and in the exercise of all its
great powers, as


"The Northern star,


Of whose true, fixed and resting quality
There is no fellow in the armament"
have thus, fellow-citizens. stated briefly
and plainly the great principles contained
in our State Constitution, and have frankly
announced the policy which will character
lze my administration. Cherishing neither
malice nor resentment for anything which
has occurred in the past, shall entlcavor
to do my duty. shall keep constantly in
view the welfare of North Carolina. love
the Union because it is the first, the last,
the only hope of my State; and l love my
State, because her people have been good
and kind to me, and because her sky is
above my home, as it will be above my grave.
i'll have enemies, that does not make me an
enemy to my State, nor move me to course
of action based ON resentment or revenge.
follow the principles of Washing
gton, who founded, and of Liu-
coin, who saved the Republic and
when these principles cease to lead,
shall cease to follow. May the God of our
ntberc hovo no II, HI, l, a., - TT