-VI, '
-V
that il id deemed scarcely necessary to sug
gest its adoption for your' guidance In the
discharge ol your Important duties v p f
By an - Act of Congress, approvod tho
4ih Sept. 1841 , entitled " An Act to ap
propriate tho proceed of the sales of the
public lands, and to grant pre-emption
rights, a payment becamo duo to North
Carolina at the Public Treasury, on the 1st
July last. On the 2 lib June preceding, a
communication from tho Treasury Depart
ment was addressed to tin's Department,
requesting that an Agent should be desig.
noted to receive the payment. I forthwith
appointed Chahles L. Hinton, Esq., Pub
lic Treasurer, the Agent of this State, to
receive tho payment ; who proceeded to
tir i ' e 1. . . . . . . K.i lint
amount was not then paid, for the reason,
as it was alleged,, that the nctt amount for
distribution had not then been ascertained.
Oo the 4th November, the acting Secretary
of the United States, informed me that tho
accounts had been adjusted, and the sum of
923,917 07 was found due this Slate, of
which the Treasurer was informed, and lie
forthwith ' requested the Department at
Washington to forward him a draft for the
amount, lhls dratt is daily expecteu. ii
becomes your duty to apply this fund to
such purposo ns your wisdom may suggest.
- The Raleigh and Gaston Rail-road Com.
pany availed themselves of the Act of the
last Session, entitled, "An Act to secure
the State against any and every liability,
incurred for the Raleigh and Gaston Rail.
- road Company,, and for the relief of tho
same," by accepting the benefit of the
Act, nd giving tlw Executive notice of the
acceptance within tho time therein pre-
scribed. The Deed of Mortgage, and
Deed of Pledge, required by said Act, have
been duly exacuted and registered, and
Bonds, to the amount of $300,000, condi
tioned as required, have been executed and
delivered to the Treasurer, signed by obfi.
gors, whom I believed at tho lime, to be
nble to nav and satisfy said Bonds. The
Treasurer endorsed 300,000 of tho Bonds
of said Company, as directed by said Act
to do, and delivered them to the company ;
and having heretofore, under a former Act,
endorsed $500,000, the State 1 stands re-
sponsible for tho Company, now, to" 'tho
amount of , 8900,000. As yet, I am not
aware that the Treasurer has been required
to pay any thing for any responsibility, in
curred by the Stato for this Corporation.
At the same Session, an Act, somewhat
similar, entitled An Act for the relief of
tho Wilmington and Raleigh Kail-road
Company J" was passed. That Company
availed itself of tho benefit of tho Act, by
fully comb! vine with its requirements, in
civinff the security, and their Bonds, to the
amount of 8300,000, have been endorsed
by the Trcasurer,,as by said Act he was
dircctod to do. 1 am not aware mat any
demand has been made upon the Treasury,
for any liability incurred for this Company ;
and i am informed that the Company has
discharged 830.000 of said, bond, as re-
onired by -the Act: Besides tho interest
which the State should fcol, from prido an:
utility, in tho success of thesa two nobl6
enterprises, thoro U an additional interest
' which invites your serious attention. For
tho first of these Roads, we havo seen that
tha Stato is bound as security for 8800,000
for the latter, she is bound as security
now for 8250,000, besides being a Slock
holder in the same to thd amount of 8600,.
000." Tho first, and most important con
".deration, i3l low tho Roads con be cna
bled to meet their liabilities, and thereby
secure the State. Tho embarrassment of
tno country nas oecn, lor somo umo nsi
. t . - ' I t . ! .? .
. and is likely to be for some time to come
so extraordinary, that travel, tho most pro.
Stable saurce of revenue to Rail-roads, has
decreased exceedingly, and the productions
of industry are so. low, and the profits of
merchandise 83 reduced, that tho income
from heavy transportation has greatly di
minlshcd. No doubt is entertained but that
DOin Konay wcmiu nie inye x r iu i u- uem
Bolves from debt, and make their stock
profitable, could they havo full employment
Any act of-legislation, that can aid them
in procuring additional employment, with
out incurring additional responsibility on
tho part of tho Stato, will certainly be wiso
and prudent. . .
It is more than probable that application
will bo made to charter a Company to con
struct a Raihroad from some point on tho
Raleigh and Giston Koal-road,to Weldon
tho point where tho Portsmouth and Roan
oke. and Wilminzto'n aud Rnleiah Rail.
roads meet : thus connecting, by a conlin
uous Uail-road,.. our sent oi uovernment
with our own excellent Port of Wilming.
ton, on tho ono hand, and with ono of the
? Lest seaports in tho world, on the other.
INd valid objection to granting this charter
is perceived, whilo there is much to sustain
its nronrit'tv. TlieUistniicolsshorf. some
fiftceu miles, tho yrouTTua-TaTarafclcTand
the usual cxpenso.of depots and cars can
be dispensed with, by the use ot those be
lonjjinz to the Roads, so c01 interested
in inis connection. ' ucsiues tiie uuvuuiugu
of transferring hoavy articles and" such all
aro inconvenient to handlo, directly from
the vessels to cars, that will deliver them
in Raleigh, and vice versa, it will cheapen
. aud quicken transportation, by competition,
shorten tho route by Rail-road to Wilming.
ton, and give us the means of offering our
X" .! T ! I ,1... .l .
products in ttio rival markets ot l etersourg,
Norfolk tin J Wilmington, within a few
hours after leaving tho City of Raleigh. -Tho.
next inquiry is, by what means tho
vast productions of the fcrtilo West can bo
madu to travel eastward, and reap tho ad
vantages , of theso Rail-road facilities.
From personal observation,! have found
(lie roads, leading from Raleigh westward,
for lite distance of fifty or sixty miles, and
those passing over similar geological form
ations, which range from north-east to
-south'-west, across tho whole State, separa.
ting tho, rich valley of tha Yadkin from
Fayettevjlle, .decidedly the . worst hi. the
State. Thus, wo find tho productions of
this range, often seeking a marlw4such
moro distant than our own, becauso moro
easy of access ; tho towns of Cheraw,
Camden,' CoYwntta, "and In the farwest,
Augusta, and Charleston, aro much moro
familiarly known than even Fayetteville or
Rale'sa : "much less, thoso towns tanner
eastward j and this grows out of tha ira-
practicability, in a great degree, of passing
over oar roads, with heavy burdensat that
season of tho year, most convenient' to
take our products to market The remedy
for these evils, is believed to be In good
Turnpikes improvements more within our
moans, and thcretore more imciy o oe
made, and answering every desirable pur
pose. I therefore recommend, that a char
ter be granted, to make a Turnpike road,
from the city of Raleigh, to soma point
westward, selected with a view to its ulti
mate continuance to the extreme west, re
quiring the Corporation to commence ope
rations at Raleigh; and to finish specified
sections of the road, within specified peri
ods, and making it forfeit its charter as to
all that part of tho contemplated Koad
which is not finished within tho time pre
scribed, but granting the privilege to charge
tolls on all such parts as are completed,
having a duo regard to the citizens of the
counties, through which the road may pass
so that they shall not bo harrassed by un
necessary exactions on thoso parts ol tne
road, lying to tho counties whero they re
side. Such a charter would, hold out in
ducements to capitalists, to embark in tho
enterprise, as they could abandon it when-
ever they found it was likely to bo injudi
cious, and yet retain what they had finished
Should this road be continued to Waynes.
borough, which might bo done at compara
tively small expense, the farmer would have
the choice of markets, of Wilmington by
the Rail-road, or, Ncwbern by the river
Neusc. :This Turnpike, it is confidently
believed, would aid greatly to sustain the
Rail-roads, and, at tho same time, givo to
industry, facilities, to which it is now a
stranger.
In connection with these Roads, I will
aUain invito your attention to tho facility
with which the State can be called upon lor
payment. If cither of these Companies
shall fail " to pay the principal and mtor.
est ns it accrues, the Public 1 reasurcr is
authorized to pay tho same, out of any mo-
nev in the Treasury at.the time, and tor
this tho faith of tho. State is pledged. By
reference to the amount of semi-annual in
tercst, and annual payments -of principal
which are required to bo paid, it will bo
seen, that it is not probable, nor iudocd is
it necessary, that there should be in the
Treasury at all limes, an amount sufficient
to meet these contingencies, which, it is to
be hoped, will never happen. Yet, as they
may happen, and as the pledge of the State
must bo kept under all circumstances, in
violate, and its faith sustained, I rccom
mend that tho Treasurer havo authority to
borrow from our Banks, a sum not exceed
ing, at any one time, tho amount which the
State may bo required to pay between the
scssioni of the Legislature, and that these
loans be contracted only cs the demands nro
mado. and after tho funds belonging to the
Treasury aro exhausted.
By a Resolution of tho Jast Legislature
tho Treasurer was directed to borrow from
the . Library and Internal Improvement
Funds, such sums as might bo necessary to
defray the expenses of the State, until tho
1st Nov. 1812 " he, at no time, barrow
ins moro than id required for tho time being
and the officers.- bavins-chars' of tbesc
Funds, were directed thus to loan them
The inconvenience of litis plan, ta supply
the wanUof tho 1 rcasury, is experienced
in this : A largo amount of theso funds hav
to lie idle in the Treasury, to bo ready
when tho Treasurer may wish to borrow.
The Boards, having charge of tho hinds, aro
thereby restrained from seeking for them
permanent investments, and tho profits
which ought 'to arise from so largo n
amount, is greatly diminished, as It is not
presumed, the .Legislature contemplated
paying interest on any more than was octu
ally used.
As these liabilifief of "theTrensaryattH
continue for years to come, it is tho part of
prudence to mako provision to meet them
promptly, do matter how sudden and uncx
peeled the call.
I would respectfully invitoyour attention
to the Public Highways generally. In the
Eastorn section of tho State, tho variety of
navigable sounds, rivers and streams, and
tho excellent adaptation of tho face oLtho
Country to good Roads, render Legislative
negligence on these subjects, less oppressive.
But from Fayetteville, the highest point of
good Navigation Westward, (and the only
navigation in our own State, in that direc
tipri, excepting tho slight- battcau Naviga.
tion of the Dan, as high as the County of
Rockinghaht,) to the Buncombe Turnpike,
'a distanco of somo twq hundred andjifiy or
throe hundred miles, what navigable Zwvam
Hail roadTttrvjiikeHIcAdtuiiiscdAugh.
wayf give fcMhe Jatxww Jaeiutrt
nortation? None! literally, noncl This
vast extent of Territory, reaching from the
Blue Ridge in the' West, to tho alluvial re.
gionia the East, and extending across tho
whole State, it is belie vedj" wiirtomparc
with any spot upon the globe, for the fertili
ty of its soil, tho variety of its productions,
the salubrity of its climate, tho beauty of
its landscapes, tho rfchness of its Mines, the
facilities for manufactures, and tho intelli
gence and moral worth of its population.
Can another such Territory, combining all
these advantages, be found upon the face of
the whole Earth, so wholly destitute of na.
tural or artificial facilities for Transporta
tion t
I di rcct your attention to the wants of this
portion of tho State it is the business of
your wisdom to supply them. Fayetteville
seems naturally to invite the commerce of
tho West Her river affords as good and
durablo navigation as most rivers in the
South; her exporting Port of Wilmington,
is superior to those of Petersburg, Richmond
and many other important Towns ; and the
wisdom of a previous Legislature, thought
the necessities of this region demanded the
advantages which a Railroad could afford.
This scheme having failed, it is believed,
from the pressuro pi tho times, the next iu.
- '
qtrfry What scncme.-thatUjirftctlcablo,
will afford the desired facilities f. . V-
Next to Navigation and Railroads, Turn-
pikes afford the best nicanr of taking pro.
duce to market. I therefore' recommend
that a Charter be granted to make a Turn
pike from Fayetteville to the Yadkin, river,
at somo point above the Nartows," or, if
deemed most expedient, to some point on ,
similar road, leading from Raleigh, , West-
ward, thus giving tho West the advantages
of both Markets ; with such favorable con
ditions in ibe Charter, as heretofore sug
gested, that Capitalists will be induced to
embark in the enterprise." And, surely,
this scheme cannot fail for the want of means
abor will be on excellent substitute for
money, and labor cannot be difficult to ob
tain, in n region , now growing Cotton at six
cts. per lb. 1 Corn at one Dollar per bbl. and
Wheat bo low, that it taites one natt to
transport the other to Market. Should this
Road ever reach the Yadkin, no doubt is
entertained of its- continuance across ? the
Catawba, westward thus giving to this
Road, the advantages which will anso from
the navigation of these two noble Rivers,
from the rulli on the southern border of
the Stato, now wholly obstructing their nav
igation for a great distance towards their
sources. - ' 1 " '"
The Western portion of tho Stato, com.
prisinz what may bo termed tho Mountain
Counties, is a vastly interesting region, and
invites your duo regard, lo make them
moro interesting, we only have to make
them, more accessible. Tho sublimity and
beauty of its Mountain Scenery, tho purity
of its waters, the buoyanry and salubrity of
its atmosphere, tho fertility of its valleys,
tho verdure of its mountains, and above all,
its energetic, intelligent, and hospitable in-
habitants, make it an Inviting portion ol the
State. The face of the country neccssan-
v makes the construction of Roads very
difficult and expensive, and the sparseness
of the population in maDy places, forbids
the imposition of a duty so onerous upon
them. These Mountain Roads are made at
an expense, much less thon might be sup
posed ; and, when well made, are very firm
and easily kept in repair. The rapid de
scent in the Streams forbids much hope from
Navigation, and, therefore, renders their
claim upon tho liberality of tho Legislature,
to aid them in these Roads, more just and
meritorious. When good Roads shall be
established in that region, it is believed the
population will incrcaso with rapidity, Agri
culture improve, grazing will be extended,
and Manufactures and tho mechanic Arts
will flourish in a location, combining as
many advantagos,and inviting their growth."
Tho improved Highways will be additional
inducenientsto the citizens of other sections
of our Stale, to abandon their usual North
cm Tous, or visit to the Virginia Water
ing places, for a Tour much more inter.
esting among our own Mountains, much
cheaper and much more beautiful a Tour
in which they will inspire health in every
breath, and drink in health at every draught.
Tho largo amount of money paid, and to
be oa id. into tho Public Treasury, from
that quarter, for Vacant and Cherokee
s " '
Lands, would seem to give stronger claims
to aid from the Treasury. It is therefore
respectfully recommended, that 1 you - give
to that section of the State, such aid, as in
your wisdom its condition may require, and
tho condition of the Public Treasury may
justify.
"Tho Bancombc Turnpike' in wlu'ch tho
State is a stockholder, shows the great ad
vantnees arising from such improvements,
and its profits, of twelve to fifteen per cent
per annum, prove the great uso mai is mauo
of it.'
There is another inconvenience under
which this section of the State labors, and to
which Idecm it pronertocallyotiraltcnuon
This extensive Territory is wholly desti
tute of Banking facilities, olthough it is so
larcro. that the County, which once em-
braced nearly the whole of it, was frequent.
ly dignified with the appellation of a Slate.
When it is recollected, the largo amount
fhartTdoorto the- State, for- tlc-saloof
Cherokee Lnnds. it becomes a matter of
public interest, that tho debtors, who reside
mostly In that quarter, should have a" cur.
rency among them in which to mako pay.
mcnl. v
Turning our nttention to tho Eastern part
of tho State, two improvements, said to be
practicable, assume an importance that rcn.
dcrs them National in their character. ; I
allude to the opening of Itoanoke Inlet, and
tho connection of Pamlico Sound, by a Ship
Channel, with Beaufort Harbor. - Frequent
surveys of the firsfbf these proposed im
provements; made by blo and scientific
Engineers, and, more particularly, one
lately mado under tho. authority of this
State, by Maj. Walter Gwynn, whose qua!
ificalions, endorsed by the Genera Govern
mcnt. are equalled only by htspractical
J skill, established tho feasibility of this. work.
ment lo our Commerce, are too obvious to
need pointing out. But tho view to be taken
of its vast importance, is, In the "protection
it will afford to our shipping, and the lives
ofour seamen. The dithcultyji nd, dangers
often encountered at Oeracoke inlet, ren
der the connection between Pamlico Sound
and Beaufort Harbor of vast importance to
the convenience and security of our Com
merce and Shipping. It will bo an exten
sion of thai inland navigation, so essential
to us, in time of war, and give access to
ono of the safest harbors on ourcpast, and
ono from which a Vessel can be quicker ai
sea, than from any other, perhaps, on the
Continent. In these improvements, the
Commerce of the nation is interested.: it
becomes the duty of the nation to male
them, if they be practicable and proper. I
therefore recommend, that you bring the
attention of Congress to the subject, in the
manner most likely to effect the object
The attention of Congress has been re
peatedly drawn to tho first of these objects,
but nothing is yet done. We should as
sert a continual claim to our right, to have
this work effected by the General Govern,
ment. It is beyond tlio present ability of
tho State to execute it, and if it were not,
it so appropriately belongs to the General
, v.- -
considered an infringement of its rights,
for the State to attempt iu - You would be
saved the trouble of this appeal, if the na
tion could witness one of those storms so
frequent On our coast-could witness ' tho
war of elements whichroge around Hatter,
as, aBd the dangers which dance about Oc.
racoke could witness tho noble daring of
our Pilota, and the ineffectual, out manly
struggles, of our, seamen could , see our
coast fringed with wrecks, and our towns
filled with tho widows and orphans of our
gallant tars. Justice and Humanity would
extort what we now ask in vain. If one
tithe of the destruction, which happens on
our coast, wore to happen in Delaware Bay
or at the entrance of Boston or New York
Harbors, the sensibilities of the whole na.
tion would be aroused, and if its recurrence
could be perverted by human means, such
appeals would be thundered into the ears oi
Congress, as would afford the protection
desired, regardless of the appropriation.
But instead of giving us the, protection tee
so much need, a beggarly sum is doled out
to North Carolina, to repair a dilapidated
iort, or protect an -abrading sand-bank.
On the South side of tho Cupc-Fear, is a
considerable . extent of Country, watered
by LUmber River, and its tributaries, which
i heavily timbered, and wonld become very
valuable if more accessible to a good mar
ket That river is now used to carry lum
ber to Georgetown, in South Carolina but
tho navigation is somewhat obstructed and
difficult, and so distant is the market, that
the businesi is not found profitable. It is
suggsstedj by thoso better acquainted with
tho geography of that regiqn than myself,
that Lumber River can be very easily con.
nected with the Cape-Fear by a Canal
that the expense of the Canal, and of opon.
ing the river to improve its navigation, will
bo inconsiderable, compared with the ad.
vantages derived from the improvement. I
therefore recommend, that a survey be or.
dered, to ascertain the practicability of
uniting those Rivers by a good navigable
Canal, and that an estimate be made of its
probable cost. -:
The Judicial Department of our Govern
ment hns boon administered with prompt,
ncss, fidelity, and ability ; but I cannot
forbear to call your attention to tho frequent
acts of violence and force committed upon
eur Jails, whereby prisoners, charged with
the highest crimes, are released, rescued,
or escape. To such an extent has this of
fence been carried, that opon force has been
used, and lhattoo, I believe, in tho pre
senco of t'o Jailor, to break the Jail, seize
the prisoners, and inflict on them summary
punishment, for real or supposed offences.
In other instances, the prisoners have been
aided :n their escape, by external force,
clandestinely used. In others, by tho use
of instruments furnished them in prison.
Whether these frequent and repeated often
ces against the due administration of justice
ansa from the cowordice, connivance or
negligence of Jailors, or from the delinquen
cy of tho Magistrates, in not building suffi
cient prisons, are questions submitted for
your consideration, with tho hopo that you
will apply tho corrective, if the present laws
be insufficient.
Thore is another matter connected with
the due administration of tho criminal law,
that deserves attention.1 Criminals have
been permitted to go nt large, and finally to
escape, after it has been notoriously no wn
that they havo cominittcdLoffonces. If tho
present law on that subject can be improved
I recommend thatJl be done. Nothing af
fords such ample- protection to the In.
noccnl, as the certain punishment of the
Tho President and Directors of tho Li
terarv Fund, will lay before you, in due
time, a-detailed Report of their proceed
ings, aud the state of tho Fund, and of thp
extent of their operations in draining the
Swamp Lands. It will be your duty, as it
is tho desire of ih5 Literary Board, to in
stitute the most rigid examination and scru
tiny into the manner, in wnicn wo pucuni.
arr affairs of the Board havobccnmanaged4
. . . 1 L .1 ?
It is due to the People to know how llicy
havo been managed : and it is duo to tho
Board, if they have faithfully discharged
their duties, that their fellow-citizens should
know that also.
' And, in connection with this examina
tion, I would recommend a scrutiny into
tho affairs and condition of the University
of our State. ' It is the child of tho Con
stitution, and should be watched over with
Parental care by your Body. It is believ
ed that duo attention is mot paid to 'that
important Institution by tho Legislature.
Such Reports and Examinations are not
made, as will give the Public full informa
tionr in relation to its . management and
utility ; and thus Demagogues sometimes
make it-thc-hobby , upon which they ride
into public favor, by making tho grossest
misrepresentations
Government taexecuto it, that it might
c" RepoTtTf thoBtwrd of Internal ImUocquahtyJqlhe. jrightipf guuxage. ia. the
provements, will be laid beforo'you during
the present session, which does riot promise
to bo very interesting, as the Board has but
little under its charge at thisilime, , beside
tho pmall Fund binder is controlling, the
management of which they invite tho strict
est scrutiny.
By virtue of the Act authorizing me to
appoint an agent in the County of Macon
or Cherokee, for the purposes herein speci
fied, I appointed "jicob Siler, Esq., who
gave the Bond andtsecurity required, and
entered upon the discharge of his duties.
His communications to tho Treasury De.
partment, will give you the information as
to his progress. The general pecuniary
pressure, tho scarcity of a circulating me
dium in the Western part of the State,, the
want of sufficient Roads to carry Produce
to market, and the outlays necessary tn set
tle a new Country, all combine to make it
extremely difficult to pay the debt due the
State upon the Cherokee, Bonds, and it is
believed if payments thereon be rigorously
exacted, tho result will be in many instan
ces, ruin to the debtors and loss to the State;
but if reasonable indulgence be given, it u
probable, that most of tho debts, will be
collected. Tho high price, for which these
lands sold; would seem to justify all rea
sonable indulgence." " m ,
A Resolution of last Session havi ng au
thorized mo to employ Counsel to defend
the Titles of purchasers of lands in Chero
kee county, I engaged the services of i.
L. CIingmao, Esq ,who, presume, will
make a report, during 'the Session upon
the subject, which will belaid before you.
The progrcssof civilization, sustained by
tho dictates of humanity, would seem to ap.
peal to public liberality, for jtho establish,
ment of Asylums for the use and benefit of
the. deaf, dumb, and blind, aud for the pro.
tec tion of the unfortunate lunatic. . Th
helpless and suffering condition of many of
theso afflicted creatures, have long since
and often appealed to the public charity of
a christian community. It is referred to
you to say, how unhcedid has been that
appeal. It is likewise referred to you to say
how much longer wo toall manifest our
cross ingratitude to Hw, who shower sup.
on us, with the hand of profusion, all the
choice blessings of hie, while we wiihuld a
beggarly pittance from lisafllicted children.
The establishment o!" a Penitentiary in
this State, has long been a mattef of dis.
cussion, and it is proiaole, by this time,
that public opinion has determined upon its
expediency. I thcrefos direct your atten
tion to the subject. Loivt experience in the
practice of Criminal Cojrts, has satisfied
me, that offenders are often permitted to
escape from a laudable humanity in jurors,
who look upon the severity and ignominy
of the punishment that awaits the culprit,
upon a verdict of guilty, until their kindlier
feelings conjure up doubts enough to justify
a conscientious acquittal. It is believed,
that a few years apprenticeship" in a Peni
tentiary, substituted for the present mode of
punishment, would sauso many a verdici to
more nearly approximate tho truth.
Whetbor it be expedient to establish theso
institutions, and if expedient, whether this
is a propitious time to do so whether you
will embark the t unds ot tne tnie, in any
of the schemes of Internal Improvement
heretofore suggested are matters for your
consideration.
To you , the consideration of these mat
ters appropriately belongs in you, the
powers of taxation and appropriation are
constitutionally vested. You are fresh from
your constituents, and doubtless well advi-
sed oslo their wishes and wants to tucm,
you are responsible for the manner in which
you shall discharge the high trusts confined
to you, and therefore to you, are these mat
ters most respectfully referred. .
I would recommend, that whatever
schemes of expenditure you may embark
in, that jou keep within the means at the
command of the Stale ; otherwise, the peo.
pie must be taxed more heavily, or the State
must contract a loan. . The pressuro of ihe
times forbids the former the tarnished
honor of some of the Slates, should make
us, for the present, decline the latter. ..
Tne mania for State Banking, and the
mad career of Internal Improvement, which
seized a number of the Slates, have involv
ed them in an indebtedness, very oppressive
but nat hopeless. American credit and
character jcquiro that the stain of violated
fuith should bo obliterated, by our honest
acknowledgement of the debt, and a still
more honest effort to puy it. I therefore
recommend the passage of Resolutions ex
prcssiie of the strong interest which this
Slate feels in the full redemption of every
pledge of public fuith, and, of its utter de.
testation of the abominable doctrine of Rb-4
PCDUTioJf. That State, which honestly
owes a debt, and has, or can, command the
means of payment, and refuses to pay, be
causo it cannot be compelled to do so, has
already bartered public honor, and onlj
awaits an increase of price to barter public
liberty. This recommendation will come,
with peculiar force from you. North Ca
rolina has been jeered for sluggishness and
indolence, becauso she has chosen to guard
her Treasury and protect her Honor, by
avoiding debt, and promptly meeting her
engagements. She has yielded to others
lh- , 0f their magnificent expenditures,
44L:..i.i n ,,', V..
and wrtfy ield to--tliein-ll thai glorywhkh
will arise from a repudiation of their con.
tracts. In the languago of one of her no
blest sons, " it is better for her to sleep on
in indolence and innocence, than to wake
up to infamy and treason." '
But when public honor is at stake, or
public liberty endangered, sho will shake
the poppy from her brow ; and then, for her
high soulcd patriotism, for her unwavering
devotion to the love of Liberty, for her
loyalty to the Union, and for her stern in.
tegrity, the proudest sister of the Republic
may well desire to bo her rival.
The civif commotion, which has lately
disturbed Jho patriotic Stato of Rhodo Is.
land, is deeply to be regretted, and its ter.
mination in a Conflict might have been
attendedwilh serioun consequences to the
other States. Aside then from mere sym
pathy, we cannot be indifferent' spectators.
ground upon which resistance lo the cons'tH
ttued authorities, and overt acts of rebellion
aro attempted to be justified. .Without
passing upon the merits of the issue between
I the parties in that State, I am constrained
to say, that there is a spirit too tmon mam
festcd in our country, to enforce our sup
posed rights, or to redress our supposed
grievances, by apjicals to open ' resistance,
rather than to law, to reason; and to a re
turning sense of justice. It is not every
grievance under which a people may labor,"
that justifies a resort to force for redress;
nor is it to bo believed, that in any portion
of our country, in -this enlightened age,
will a course of policy bo persisted in, that
is grossly unjust and oppressive. The
steady appeal to right and to reason, is sure
iftdue time to procure me appropriate re
medy. The example of our own State, in
her steady efforts to reform her representa.
tions by appeals to the justice of her claims,
and the success which eventually crowned
those efforts, is proof of the wisdom of that
policy. I therefore deem it theduty of all
friends of social Order, to rebuke, on all
occasions, that spirit which . is ever ready
to light the torch of civil discord, and revel
in tbo blood of a brother. '
Our Banks resumed specie 'payments dur
ing thq past summer,' and it is believed will
be able to sustain themselves in future. But
while theyafford us a sound currency, it is
to be regretted, that they are not enabled
to extend their accommodations, and in
crease their circulation, to that extent tho
necessities of the community require.
North" Carolina, although an Atlantic
State, is, to a great extent, in the condition
of some of the interior States. . She has no
large commercial mart, from which is ship,
ped the principal productions of her indus
try, These are shipped mostly from tlw
ports of Virginia and South Carolina. The
balances against her at the North, contracted
for the immense quantity of merchandise
purchased there, have to be paid in cash.-
Our Bank notes have to supply this cost,
either by being presented at ouce for specie,
and that taken to the North, and there sha.
ved to the brokers at a discount, (which a
prompt redemption in specie cannot pre.
vent) who forthwith present them at Bank
for payment in specie, or its equivalent
Thus the perpetual flow of our Bank notes
Northward, to pay balances against us, is
met by a counter-current of the same notes
Southward- not to pay balances In our fa.
vor not to be thrown again into circulation
by the purchase of our produce but to stop
them from circulation, by pushing tbem into
the Banks, and drawing out the specie for
them. The only means of protection ngainst.
these continued drains, whicb our Unnko
can resort to,is to curtail their circulation
tho very thing that , operates against tho
community, but the only ihing which can
prevent thcra from being driven again into
anbther suspension. If we had a National
Currency at par in every part of the Union,
by whicb to pay thes3 balances against us,
that currency would never touch tho hands
of the broker. It would be thrown into
circulation in every direction, instead of
being thrown back upon the Bank that issued
it. Our own notes would remain among us
there would be but little demand forspe.
cie,as but few wauld return upon the Banks,
and they would thus 'tc enabled to throw a
mucn larger amount iuvj circuiuuuu, nmi.
out iho risk of their sudden return for spe.
cic, and without the risk of being driven
again into anctlier suspension. The hopes
of having a National Currency have been
twice thwarted by the President's vetoes
upon charters for Nalional Banks. ' Who.
thcr ho will continue regardless of the will
and of the sufferings of the . people, time
will disclose. Whether the examples of
W ASHiSGTO and of Madisok arc unworthy
of his imitation he must decide. One thing
we all know from the time of the catah
lishmcnt of the first National Bank, to tlw
present time, whenever wo have been with,
out that institution, our pecuniary aftuirs
have been greatly deranged. In this State,
the issuo ot a JNutional liank has been iair.
ly submitted to tho people, by tho rival
candidates, in tho two last Gubernatorial
elections. The result, each time, proves
the majority to be in favor of such an insti
tution. It is, therefore, respectfully sub
mitted, whether you ought, not to aid, by
all the minns at your command, to carry
out this expressed will of your constituents.
The disease under which tho JNationai
prosperity labors is tho want of facility in
exchanges, aud a sound uniform Nalional
Currency. The remedy resorted to in sonic
of the States, is the establishment ot oiato
Banks, whicn throw into circulation a sun.
ply of notes, which for a moment st ems to
give rclief,hut theso notes have only to
take a turn or two northward, and back
again, lo bo redeemed with specie, and tlw
vaults are emptied tho Bank suspends
tho notes become valueless, and the remedy
turns out to be a wretched quackery, '.hat
aggravates the disease. Banks owud by
States, 90 located ac to bo subject to these
continued drains of their specie, cannot
withstand tho operation, any more than
tioso owned by individuals.
The passigo of a new Tariff of duties,
nt the last Session of Congress, it is hoped,
will relieve the nation from the temporary
shifts of issuing Treasury notes, or of rc
PPriiligigLqa't to meet its current ex
pensesand to pay its debts. ATreailf W
effects are visible in the increased activity
of American industry, and in the growlin
tone of some of the Luroean journals, aw
in due time, it is believed, will be - visible in
the incrcaso of our revenue. But scarcely
has Iho law gone into operation, before
hoar iu repeal threatened, because its ob
ject is something besides raising revenue
It ii high time, the principles, uiwernm
duties may bo imposed, should be sttiW
and adhered to. . The principles being t
tied, tho extent to which the power may w
exercised, then becomes a matter of eipo
diency. All agree that duties may be im.,
pocd to raise a revenue, but some contond
that they can be imposed for no,Dthcr ob
ject." If this latter, doctrine be truc.wcn
are we shorn of soms of the most important
prcrogatiocs of a sovereign people-wo
.un K .n1.mr.loft 1(1 iho most nbjcci
.t'S!JT&-.2;Xlr-,--.. V" . j-L.-J.Kat-
cnrnmnrj-inl atnvpl"D
lt ttoetH",w
T.,,. rn.i. l.iin nnrootmtrV. the CI-
.i ' ,r,if-lJon ot BCl
ccssivc, me cxcessivu piv-v--pauper
labor, whenever she chooses, ana
can exclude our productions from her mar
ketsror tax them so high o4o. be rum?
to us, and that we have no power to protcci
ourselves against the influx of the one,-or,
to counteract the oppressive exclusion or
heavy exactions of the other-then, indeefl,
are we in a helpless ennditton. Theayow
of tluYdoctrine is well calculated o inW
foreign Powers, who are so inclined, w.
forgtTt right, to impose all such tyrannic
restrictions upon our commerce, as uk
....;AU m.o oMrrrrnct. Indeed, MT 90""
time past, we have been approximate "J
condition. Europe has been flooding
country with tho products of her lawr,
a tax of some 20 per cent, while trP
ductions of American labor have beeneuw
totally excluded from ber markets, or
from 50 to 2500 percent. Her wru
upon the wealth of nations, descant v
upon the beauties of Fbee Tee- ?.
political orators and journals, snout i'
across the Atlantic" Eeee Tiape-
the glorious privilege of buying from""
you please.