Newspapers / Mecklenburg Jeffersonian (Charlotte, N.C.) / May 10, 1842, edition 1 / Page 2
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fancied himself the only surviiror. Of conrso ho | .niglit be alloweJ nest; wkicli woul.i ^ thought it usei.'ss to cont™a sinsle.liaud.d witi. | ol iho C^ovi-aior and o,« 1-i‘l niinly It '^-irjnt en-J in traiisU-iiing tn^ 'V . :no hatids of ihe Santa Anna’s whole army; that the»c w.:s i i-.Tiit I to every thing beyond which it wouid b* tolly’.d ! power .t trit' c>M.e in.o .ne the bravest, ij go‘; an 1 that the greatest am uui ui [ ••^ovoruor :.;oiwH - do noi L^a\ aui good he could do would be to convey | may he.-and good with all despatch, to the w .Iiran uiast.MS and guards i ting this Brird have asiunied inat it may be, a ' - require a Boaid of full four mem* ^Liui anJ that he alone aiiraciilously s- | bers; and the power to fill abjjt a niil^i ott', that Kver>, s^oal in Ge.i. Iloustoa^s j tiiert to:e ih.^y require a tn to the “ OTHERS, shows that the Legislature artni/ teas cjptd! AUtr t!ie ha'.iie was over, Gni. Houston was told that onlv ono o* his nun hail luii. lie dirt'ci- ed him to be"brought in his presen.'c, and express ed his mortific ition at his dastardly conduct. Love explained iiis id-\is at the tnno; protested that he was i ^MOiant of the general order to fall at the Hash of ,L cannon anJ that the sc™oapne;ivea to inn. lo hoar you tell, urnversal ‘hat h.s solaary an. conU j make no impression on the enemy. Uen. ilou^^ion ' rt plied, “ Well, my frien 1, it may be stj, bat it has bten very unfortunate to yourSflf. You aroasiagle man, I luurn, and the be^il advice I can give you is, to in irry in the Bowie or 'j'ravis family; for your blood needs a biavecio;S.— Muiuto)', were so solicitous to keep a lull Board, that their laws do not even wait for the convening of the Council to nil up the Board where vacancies hap- ptn. ,1 • ^IMicrc innv be so-tig reasons for rill this that are unknown to me. But it there are, “ the people have been kept in the darkabout them. ‘ * 1 ^ ^ • • r I II I _• 1 ^ ^ I - ♦.-II Stiite Politics. 'I'j the ''political frlc.'Ll' of the Register loho ivrites OL'cr the signature of'" Osv. oi' Tili i-’tOl’LL. Siii ; It is very far nom my wi^h to excite mere clun-.ji’S about oar Sial'j l'i;i i-.io-s, ov t ) provoke ^Ihilors ajain^t i^whlic Agr;:ls; 1 am resolved ta il there sinil bo no wi i:iu r» ?: ni th'j puolio min i up jn a sabjcct so v;i;l lo ^Noiui C.iroiiiia as her public funds, it it is in lUV dow* r to >*xcit; it oy ! until (i ftcr he. oppose I by ]\Ii. lleiiTy s noi But a great deal has been said about Col. Jones (a Democrat) being re-appointed and su tie red to re main in the Board of Internal Improvements. It is trumptitfd forth to the world as an act ot very gracious toleration in Governor Morehead; and by contrast, Mr. Henry is denounced as a false accus er cf his competitor. But there was no such mer itorious toleiation nor praise-deserving liberality in this act of the Executive. Knowing what little 1 happen to know upon this subject, under the pres ent mviterious State Administration, I have ma: veil ed at*the t'.*merity of such as W(»uld cliail. ngt- th;^ public to avv.xrd to Gov.-^rnjr head tht; praise of disinterested Uhcrality and ol political to leration for making tins anpi)iiit;:icnt! What are some of thu tacts First : The (i jvomor did not con'-'One l;is Ciuticil to apooiat this Board at all^ m- to convict Mr. Henry of falsehootl. 1 have smee exposed the whole record to you and to the “ public eyeDo you not think it would be safer to your good name to explain how that happened, or to con fess your error instead of repeating your ofTence . Think seriously of this. Second: You have 1"^®* wise abused Mr. Henry for a certain PROTES T, and although I called upon you to give it ALL to the piiblic, you have not ventured to do it. \ou are afraid to let the People see it! Ho you not think tt would be. more honorable to let the whole record come? To put your proot/by the side of your ac* cusations? Third : You have set down the public debt left by the last Administration at more than twenty millions! (I think it was twenty-lour mil lions, though 1 cannot put my hands upon your es* say just now to slate it precisely.) Every school boy who reads the speeches ot Congress will ridi* cule you for such a misstatement as this! 1 o say nothinjT of the Democratic Senators and their state ments. The last recited act, dirccls the Board of tnier- ment.’^ and ‘-an act to aid the Internal U: nal Improvement to loan their funds, ‘‘ until requir* “ ed, ‘ tipon good security^ either to individuals or “ corporations, taking bonds therefor, payable semi- “ annually; but capable of renewal, should the “bonds not direct otherwise, and bearing interest “ from the date.” In obedience to the directions of the Legislature, the board have so conducted their funds as to pre sent the following statement; Bonds for the sale of Cherokee lands, (supposed) Do. sales made in 183G, Do. sales made in 183S, Bonds on indiduals and corpora tions, S5,000 00 20,608 79 268,679 44 Af^gregate amount, §325,049 75 Threxpenses of the board from 1837, to Novem ber, 1840, were 82,156 56. The amount receiv- de for the sale of Cherokee lands, is evidenced by The fact is now as notorious as the “‘break-1 about 4,000 bonds, halt of which is now due, ing up of the Whig Cabinet,” that Mr. Van Buren one fourth due in 1841; the remaining fourth will and his Administration left outstanding in Treasury f^jj due in 1842. • i- -i Notes less than six millions ! It is so reported in The amount loaned out by the board to individu- the public documents sent m to Congress by a Whi Secretary of the Treasury! It is admitted by hon orablo Whig Senators in debat«i! It is so ac* knowledged by every public man who has any re gard for his character, w.here he writes upon the responsiblity of his real name. But still you have lies and lair argumcuis.—-\vnjretoro, to avoid tiie possibility of circulating upon rnistaiven [iruinises aiiy censurcs even agaiiioi the ju l^Miit'iit ati i wisdom of the Literary Board, (tor I mean no more.) I ■ ■■ ■ ■ ^ ' • . • . iiia.tio7i—\uiu\ after he iiad reason to expoct he niiirht hear ot it again should he prcsevere in k^- p- i;ig^ into his own single hands this branch of trie monev power.'’ Second: He re-appointed Col. it is true ; but 1 have already submitted to ^hall poslpo.^e a discussion of the [)oiiit raised l. week, until more limc Ins been allbrded to admit or j you how far it was probable he might have been to deny the fact that thi:^ Board have been purchas- ; prompted to this single act ot ajipartnt liberality by iiL'^ in the Hail lijcid- Xil’t the St ile Lt^rids. 1 Air. Henry's letter and io-.i)iing not a cent f the. vioney, since Mr. The Governor himself seems to reii-ard it as an act of such transcendent liberali- O.'Jes got his appniuimc.-ii, viz : ever since the ! Ly, that I fear it will cost him no inconsiderable «.;f- iJ>irJ was co;n;).)S.‘d of nothisig but Whigs. lii fort to permit the Colonel to pass the ordeal, not- t'l j moan while, I iiivite yo.i to recur to some of the pi-etex’o yp)u wuioh Gv/j.njr Ai jreliea 1 s advo- cites tnve lat-. !y pi iced his d- fence lor conli ling the wh.jlo •• nuney po v. r of u-e .-J .-te'’ t> g^ nllemMi of o.LS p-zrly, ail 1 t) l.)ok at tiie e:npli:i.rss of his ciiiins to disinterested lo; iiear.mce to ins political o,)|)oaents, an I to boio'ih-i ” Crj .’ernoi' ox ihe StuAe an 1 not of a- parly.'' Tao Governor is lul m -'i'ely deiJii I j 1. but !u has b.'.'a even prfi‘.r,c.l for !iis libiruliiy! f Oecuuse ho d; 1 II it turn out .Sl.'. Stoiu tho fiist year (roin tlie Ij.terarv Baud, an I becau’c lio nil not tuin out (‘.>1. Cad. Jones, S.n., from the Internal Improve ment Boa.'-d at all. Cfrant that it was “ liberal ” in fjiiii not to proscribe tiu s;; Daaocrats t\\s first year, and what wo!’.l 1 it amo’.ml to I W^ny has he alter ed t.'iat l';.beraL policy the second y?ar of his term? ••'r'iiere’s the rub." This was Mr. Henry’s com plaint in his letter. If it was pru.ient and wise in u Gjvetnor to keep both pirties represented in iho liiterarv' Bjard Oni hiS it Inti.: though: nccessary to alter tlut slate of thin js '^aoio I If Gjv. Dadl-?y's footsteps were followed the rirst year, why quit taciu the seconJ I To suppose ta-it it was done to reward .^Ir. Editor Gales would p'-rhipsbo considered uncourteous towards him. T'lcii thii was not t'ae reason. To suppose that it w.is dvjne because the eh ctionsare to take place this year, an.l the Wtiig will require all the \nll 1: nee that their leadeis can lawfully exert to Win tlij Gocernor s re-election, inigiit he regarded as Illiberal an 1 censorious. A little perversion, you k.i ).v, might enable you, upon sucii a charge, to tiL'c iSi me of intending t.o reibd upon the per^ow.il l.LLegrity iWii nie:iroi.-:s ot the Board (which I s’liCereiy disavow, gj'.v'c far al! ) Tiiea tai.i was nui the reason, either. Bat why pursue th -se conj^ct ires? for the main reason will be found at last in tiie fact that Govern or Mort hi ad is a Whig party Governor, ani so w.j.s the Editor of the Uegister a Whig;>'i?7y man. Uoon anv cause that can be fairly assigned for this a t of his E\Cf lUhcy what wili h“Co:ne of his b.lasted "■ liberaiity'" to his politcal opponents And what must we s'ly to iiis pi'-i^ ^ of being the G >vernor ‘‘ not oi a p uty ''J Wii it :1 oes common s: nic teach US as tu his vain boas'mg laat he is the •‘Cr;)vei-nor of a S/ru', not of >i P-ir;y,” vyljen the Chief iCxecutive has hjsto.vel upia his personal favo.ite an 1 liis own p.f.rly KUtor. the vacant sea', a' a Board where all tlie m^iiey povver of the State i j •• !!o\v ’ dispensed ^ 'I'iie only seat that a Dem- o.-rai illled belore him! Is it ri^t ri hculous to talk about su'-’h a (Governor not being a pzrtisan (y-u;- eraor I An 1 what have you to say to llie fict that Ccjv- e 'n >r L):i Uny s resign ition as a member of this i-] )a:il h iS created ano h r vacancy, as long ago as six moiHhs, or more, but th it the Governor & Co. I'.ave !ept his place WVC.VN T ev;?r since? So i’lr as t!u public are informal, it is STILL YA- CAN i\ WHY IS THIS ? Sure I am that no Democrat can be very uuibitious of the honor to till it; bat then it is to be observt.d th.it tho place is certainly kept vacant, and tliere must be some sort of reason tor it! W^^hat are they? By keeping that place vacant, it enlarges the power of each one of the remaining 7nembcrs ! For example ; The Board, when full, conSists by law of four members —the Governor and three others. All being pre sent, no question could be carried without the vote of three, as it takes tiiree to make a majority of four! Bat as long as this one place is kept empty, tico imnibers (the Governor and one of his Board) can do as much as thri:e. Two can do whatever they please—they two being a majority oi three! This vacancy enlargt,-s the money power and patron age of the Governor, and he siioull not permit it t ) bo so long continued. To do it, iscitiier neglect of duly or abuse of pou-r.r. I know not if it was the case wi:h you, but Gov ernor Morehead, I well lemombei, concurred in the loud clamors against Governor Sp tight because he did not issue a writ of election at liie earliest period, for filling a vacancy in our Congressional delega tion, in 1 S3 3. That vacanfy did not enlarge Gov. Spaight’s povver I He had no peculiar interet-t in having it continu: d! I* was precisely the same thing U) him eveiy way! Filled or empty, his p.i- tronago was the same ! If, un ler such circumstances, it was right to blame Governor Spaight for being dilatory, what ought to be said of Governor Morehead now. and under the circumstances disclosed? Is he afraid to put in another ‘‘ Whig,” and yet is he unwilling to give Democrats any seat in the Board where they can see all that has bcc7i done, and may hear ail that thall be 'proposed ? Or even furnish n lisL of the debtors to tho Treasurer the ne.xt time the House of Commons demands it! However free of any criminal intent Jhi.s omission of duty may be, it is a palpable violation of law, and a great political error. The precedent is a bad one. If one vacancy is suffered, it enlarges the power of the Governor and the other two members If a single vacancy may be suffered, two vacancies isa'Treeaijie or rciraci.ory m mo 'j* ncr, still the Gjveinor and his Whig mem- I. Jesse Harper, make up a majority, and withstanding the cogont reasons that recom nended it. Any bjdy of real liberality would never have thought of boasting over such trilling foibcarance as that of pi*nuiuing such an excelLnt naan to re- miin in su.-h a post, whatever his opinions might bt* on natijual jiolitics. Third: This Board has but three meaibers, and were this Dornocrat to prove disagreeable or rcfractory in tlio vit!W ut his Exc( dlcnc^' ber, Col arc competent to act without Col. Jones or agamst him as the case may be. It is generally understood that Col. H irper is a member of the Governor’s family, and you know that his first public act smce his appointment has been to attend the Convention in Ilaleigh and return his kinsman’s compliment by re nominating him for Governor. To use a home ly phrase, “ The Governor tickles the ('olonel’s el- iion', and tJic Colonel scratches the Governor's he.2 iy — WhcrcTjre it is nol likely t.hat tho Govern- nr and Colon:i Harper wi'l dj^iTer muc!i in their views of State Improvements, t'ou/'^h' It is known by the R‘ports of the Internal Improvement Board, in 1833 and 1840, that Col. Jones is in favor of a Turnpike Hoad from Raleigh towards the West. It is not so generally known, b-U youknow the fact, that on the 23th November, 1840, a Bill was pro posed in the Senat(' of North Carolina for the con struction of tho R'lLeigh and Western Turnpike Ro'.l I at the piiblic exp.'ns(j. And, by that Hill, the Roal was to b • LOt'ATKD by tiie Board or Internal I.MPRovr.MENT.” Now then, vvith- out venturing to assign tiiis as the all-prevailing rea son for (..rovernor Mor». head’s noi proscribing Col. Jones, or as torming any a Iditional inducern» nt for Selecting Col. Harper, I think I may fairly urge it as an answer to the loud claims .set up in his behalf. By LOCA'ri NG tl'.is accord ing to the known opinions of Col. Jones, and afttir the manner that w;ll most probably square with the opinions of Col. Harper foo, it miglit not run very far from (gov ernor Mo:u:heau’s I^’actorv. I do not charge that ho was influenced by siich motives, as it is im possible for me to hyin^v: yet I am no -‘11110 wor- shijiper,” and still regarii iho Governor as a mere win; and when he deman Is our applause, Ih^ must be jiidged by his acts as a m%a. .^Vll that I insiat upon is this,—First; d’hat here aro considerations abundan'dy suiHc*.eini to nullify iho self exalt.ition which his Excellency and his supporters claim for him for his nomin ition of Col. Jones. Secon.lly : Here arc ends and purposes whiich, if not designed to bo accomplished un ler t!u present Board, are yet as likely to beattaiii*-d by it as if lh‘*y had be. n {•■sigU'- l to accomplish theun. I Ucitlier i*i lulge the sjiirit of unreasonable su-pi- clon againot tin? motives of public agents, nor do I love to excite it in others. Certainly not to the dt‘- gree that Governor Morehead has done. But, sir, it is the right an 1 the duty of every man who va- hies the best interests of the State, to inquire into the reasons for nominating a Board of Internal Im provements, for the first time, consisting of men who reside in ojie and the same small section of ihe State.. Ifthe?igM7 member {Co\. Harper) possesses any extraordinary qualifications which have pro duced this necessity of over-ruling all precedent, and slighting the whole Eastern and Cape Fear section of the Stat;, so as to tn.ike sure of his most eminent services, pray tell the world what they are. and when they were discover«!d? ISut it will not be pretended that he tl >es possess any such qu.ilifi- cations; and since 1 li ive pointed out other n)ore obvious re.isons. which wigbt have caused his nom ination, I leave the mifer there for the prestnt. Well satisfied am I that those who are so charitable .as to believe that sue.h considerations had no*influ ence whatever in this selection, must concede to me, in spite of their party confidence, that they'deprive tho Governor of all pretensions to make a boast of his disinterested liberality in his appointments, ac cording to all appearance of the lights we have yet got. tor this f'urpose alone have I asked your at tention to them. 1 must remark, however, that the Whig Conventio.i who resolved that the President was corrupt an I buying up a party with his pat ronage, can hardly make a stronger case against htm tnan these ficts make against the Governor on a charge ol seliishnt;ss in bestowing his patronage. 1 kiV)W no rjilb of judgment upon the acts of a public agent besides acknowlt;dged facts, and com- mon experience upon the motives which generally influence men. And now, leaving you and the pub lic to test the claims of Governor Morehead by ex perience and common sense, I make no further re marks upon this subject. Though it might be excus ed in me if 1 did, I must not digress so far, as I have much more to “disclose for the public eye.” Suirer me to remind you that, in your eflorls to examine Mr. Henry’s letter, you are debtor to the public in some matters that you must not pass loo lightly. If you should do so, they may be remem bered until you are yourself forgotten. First: You “ inutilaled'^ (I use the word in the sense al ready explained) the Journals of the Assembly which you ofiere;] a?' evi lence in a vain endeavor als and corporations, is secured by ten bonds. It is due to the members of both boards, to state, that every facility has been given to tne committee, in examining into that which they conceived to be their duty ; and it is due to the Legislature, to state, that the statement of the funds, of each, has been stated it otherwise! For your own sake it | from reports, submitted to the present Lfgisla- had better bo correctf-d by you. If you do not feel jture, which the committee believe to be correct, peisuaded to do it ujion this array of truth and au- The Literary board consists of the Governor and thority against your single siatenieot, then I must | three other members; and the board of Internal Im- intreat you to kepuok it, for, as it is, it puts you provenicnt consists of the Governor and two other in ti>^i condirion of the witness who thought he had members, each of whom are entitled to three dollars TO SWEAR roil THE SIDE THAT CALLED HIM, but p^r (jay for attendance and to travelling expenses, his zeal carried him so far beyond the mark that no From the statements before made, it has already body believed him. He swore too strong. Unfor- been shown, that the two boards are directed to put timately you have Sirained up your conscience to a I their money to interest upon short credits, and upon sum far beyond the, u'hote oj the national debt as it! semi-annual credits, and that there are, exclusive ot is NOW. Tijough every body knows it has been the bonds given for the sale of the Cherokee lands, increasing every day, even NOW^ the actual 1 upwards ot seventy bonds due the two boards; that DEUT is not as much as TWENTY-FOUR MIL- | the existing law requires a majority of each board to transact business. The resuit is, that in some in stances, the expence in renewing a loan is greater than the interest received. The committee beg leave to take another view of the subject, from the report made to the present Le gislature, it is probable, that a large portion of the svv'amp lands will be brought into marketduiing the present year; if so, the labor and expenses of the board, wili be increased in proportion to the amount of its funds. A large portion of the lands acquired from the Cherokee Indians, remain yet unsold ; when these lands are thrown into market, there wull be, necessarily, a larger increase in ex- ocnditure. ment of the State.” HI. Be it further enactcd, That any three members of the Board shall constitute a quoruiti for the transaction of any business, of which the Governor or Public Treasurer should be one. IV. Be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the said board, to collect all monies be longing to the said board, which are now due, or which may hereafter become due from individuals or corporations, and invest the same as early as practicable, in the stock of any of ihe banks of this State, provided the same can be obtained at a reasonable and f- ir value. If such investment can- 30 761 5‘^ I made, then the same shall be loaned upon ’ short credits, upon individual responsibility. V. Be it further enacted. That said board shall reserve out of said monies, a sufficient sura to meet the appropriations made by the Legislature, to aid in Common Schools, and for draining the Swamp Lands. VI. Be it further enacted. That it shall be the duty of the Public Treasurer to receive all monies hereafter paid on account of the Literary Fund, 0? the Internal Improvement Fund, and the monies so received from cach source, shall be kept distinct and separate from each other, dnd from all other funds of the State. VII. Be it fur the) enacted, That cach and er. ery act and parts of acts, in relation to the Literarv Fund and Internal Improvements, as herein recittd, which are not inconsistent with the provisions 0^ this act, are hereby declared to be, and remain in full force and cffcci. LIONS ! ! CUMBERLAND. REPORT or the Joint Svloct Cynnnittec on tlic subject of uniting the Literary aiid Internal iuiprovouient Boards. The Joint Select Committee, to whom w'as re ferred so much of the Governor’s message as relates to the expediency of uniting the Board of Internal Improvement and the L.Iiorary 13oard, have had the satfic iiiuit'-* consideration, and submit the following report; In order to come to a satisfactory conclusion on the subject, it is deemed necessary to inquire into the organization of the two boards, the property and effects heretofore gianted to each, how the same have been managed, and their present condition. In the year 182'), the Legislature created the board known and styled “ The President and Di rectors of the Literar}*- Fund.” The same act transferred to that board, among other things, the dividends arising from the stocks owned by the St.ite m the C.ipc Fear Navigation Company, also on the stocks owned in the Roanoke Navigation Company, together with the taxes imposed on li- c*’nce lo retail spiritous liquors and auctioneers, and the monies arising from the entries of vacant land. Other stocks were transferred; but as some of them are included in tho funds hereinafter set forth, and others becoming woi'lhlcss, n ftirl.hor notice of them is deemed unncccosary. By the act of tho Legislature, passed at the ses sion of 183G-’37, the Literary Board was remodel led, and the board known and designated by the name and style ofThe President and Directors of the liiterary Fund of North Carolina,” was then created. By the same act, the funds invested by the act of 18:2 ), in the Literary Board, were transferred to tho newly created board; and, in addition thereto, the Lr-gislaturc transferred to the said board, the foilov.’ing property, stocks and effects; to wit; all the swamp lands, which had not been previously granted ; ono million of the capital .'^tock in the bank of the State and the bank of Cape Fear, also 80OO,- 000, to be invested in the capital stock of the VV'il- mington and Raleigh Rail Road Company. A’, the same session, the Legislature set apart the sum of S200,0()0 to be expended in draining of the swamp lands, and tho Literary Board is directed to put to inter- St ijpnn short cred.its, sindi part of that sum as shoiil'i not be wanted for immediate use in draining the lands, a* d the interest arising therefrom, also, to filll into ihe Liter.ary Fund; a!.-?o to re-invest the profits arising from its funds to the greatest ad vantage. In obedience to the Icgislritive mandate, the Liter ary Board purc!iased stock in the Bank of Capa Fear, to the amount of 83’2,200; and invested in the bonds of the llileigh :md Gaston Rail R.o.id, the sum of 0140,00); an I in the bonds of the W'llming- fon and R.ileigh Rail Road, the sum of 885,000; and loane‘.l to other corporations and to individuals, the sum of ^n.3,053 7') The latter sum is secu red by ab)ut sixty bonds from in lividual:i and cor- por.ntions. The commiitGC boiieve, that tlio situation of the funds of this boar I will be better mvdeistood, by a recapitulation of its m(m?. Fund,-i of the TAteravy lioard. Stoe.lc, I>.ink of Capo Fear, .*15532,200 00 “ Bank of State, 500,000 00 Xote.s on individuals and corpora tions, 155,953 7> Swamp improveineaf, G2,827 25 Bonds on Raleigh .iiul Ga.=;ton Rail Road Company, 110,GOO 00 “ on Wilmington and Raleigh Rail Road Comp.my, 85,000 00 Stoc!{ in Wilmington and Raleigh Rail Road Company, 000,000 00 “ in Cape Fear Navigation Company, 37,500 00 “ in Roanoke Navigation Company, 50,000 00 Cash oil hand, 7S,007 05 DEMOCRATIC MEETING IN CABARRUS. In pursuance of previous notice, a public meeting of tho Democartie party of C.abarrus County, w:is held at File’s muster ground, on Saturday the 22d inst., when :—On motion of Henry Propsf, Daniel Cress, Esq., wasappointed Chairman,and on nmticn of Jacob Goodman, Ludwick and J0A71 Crvse, Jr., were requested to act as Secretaries. The Chair-, i man was then called on to explain the object of the meeting, udiich he did in a brief but spirited man ner. After he had concluded, I). M. Walker, Usq., rose and offered the following Resolutions which were unanimou'Iy adopted : Resolved, That the present aspect of public affairs is of the most alarming character, well calculated to excite the attention and interest the feelings of every true friend of the country. Resolved, That tho profuse promises of the Vv'h;;r parly made to the people during the campaign 01 1840, have been only followerl by open and profli gate disregard and violation of every profession and From the views above slated, it is more a matter of I pledge thi n solemnly given to a confiding nation, surprise, that the expenses aro not greater than that j Instead of the universal prosperity ” so eloqueniiy they are so great, j foretold by every Whig orator as the certain consc- In the opuiion of the committee, the whole sys- f qucnce of a Whig triumph,—the people now espc- idically defective. V/liatever may have rience harder times with prices lo tem is radically been the object, the Legislature had in view, in di recting the monies of the two boards to be put to interest, on short credits, the effect is, to convert the E.veculive branch of the government, into a loan office, and to assign to that department, tho perfor mance of ministerial duties, wholly mcompatible with the dignity and constitutional functions of a co-ordinatc branch of the government. The commitlec hope that they may be pardoned for a few obscrva'.ions upon this branch of tho sub ject. It is one they touch with great feelings of de licacy, and intend nothing more than lo clicit the attention of the Legislature. The 4th section of the Deciaralion of Rights de clares “ that the Legislative, Executive, and supreme Judicial powers of government ought to be forever separate and distinct from cach othei.” By v.’ iicn it is clear, that the legislature was to pass laws; the Judiciary to interpret and expound them; and the Executive to superintend their ext;cuiion ; and, in order to enable the Executive to fulfil this high du ty, the 18th section of the Constitution declares, that the Governor shall be Captain General and Commander-in-chief ot the Militia. It is submitted, under this view, whf'ther it was intended that tho E.'cecutive should perform minis terial duties? If so, who is to superintenl him, and comple him to perform his duty ? The Lo gislature cannot, because ho caii only bo impeach ed for violating any part of th-3 Constitution, mal administration or corruption. It would then seem, that the strange anomally is prisented of a ministe rial olfiucr who cannot be reached by law, for an omission of duty. Again: under the existing law, times with prices iower, money more scarce, and every branch of industry in a more pro strated co.adition, than at any former period. Instead of the ‘‘ cconomy and refo! m ” promised, those who aro nov/ in pou’-vr have shown themselves nioie recklessly extravagant and corrupt than they had even falsely represented the Dv^mocratic party to be. Instead of allowing freedom of opinion to office hol ders under the Government, and acting out their professed doctrine of ” proscribing proseription.’' the)’ have forthV.'ith removed every Democratic of ficer from ?»Iaine to Louisiana, v/ithoul regard lo age, ability or merit, to mtike room for the hungry is- pcctants who before tht? f li'ction professed such be- ly horror of ofricc-holdci'a and otucc-sctVjcT?: fn- stOcid of reducing the expenditures of the Govorn- ment to the standard of economy they had set up. the expenses of every Department have been alarm ingly increased, until by spend-th.-.d prodigality the Treasury is empty, the Government Batikrupi and no longer able to pay its just debts, and yet the Whig majority persist in their determination to rob the 'I’re^asurj' of the money arising from the public Laiidi — which constitutes so important a part of our na tional revenue—that it r.Kiy be given to pay the c.k- j travagant State debts, v.diile to meet their daily peiiditures of Government they are borrowing mil lions upon milnons, thereby constantly increasing the Niitional De^bt which will have to be paid fcy addi- tonal taxes laid on the laboring classes, ani wrung from the hanl earnings ol the people. Resolved, 'I’hatthese siavtling facts ougiit toarou!? the freemen »f this nation—thij’ought to break the delusions of Federalism, and cause the tenants c! real log cabins as well as all others to shake off the the Governor appoints, under and with the advice j jileep which followed the carousals of hard cider, of his Council, tlie members of the two Boards, j and open their eyes to the workings of Whigery: Among other powers conferred by the 19th section especially on seeing the recent elections in Connec- of the Constitution, Is the power to pardon and re- tiv Ut fbllovvdng in the train of New York, Pennsyl^ prieve. From the very association of the Boards, vania, Ohio, and other States that have with such their acts are joint. Suppose violation, mal admin- overwln lining majorities, rebuked the faithless vio- istration or corruption by the members—they have the pardoning power among them, by which they may escape punishment, and si t the law al defiance. But in reference lo the opinions of former Legis- slatures, the commitlee forbear a further train of reasoning, as to the fundamental question ; but they lalion of all the solemn Whig promises. Re.cohed, That it is vain for the Federal Wliig? ■^o3'‘cgale amount, .$2,2dl,480 CO Tho above sum of 62.2H,180,00, includes the anmunt of property and the increase thereof, from 1S37, to 1st of November, 1840. The expenses of the board for the same period havo been $3,790 55. Tho Board of Internal Improvement w'as estab lished by an act of the Legislature, passed in 1819. and by that act, the funds arising from the sales of the lands, acquired from tho Cherokeo Indians, to gether with the dividends of the stock, owned by the State in the Bank ot Cap Fear, were invested in saivl board. By the act of l836-’37, the stock owned by the State in the Bank of Cape Fear, was transferred to the Literary Board; and the surplus revenue, re ceived from the Treasury of the United States, was transferred to the Board of Internal Improvement, deducting from the sum received, the sum of 300,- 000, to be applied to the redemption of the public debt of the State; the sum of $300,000, to be in vested in the Stock in the Bank of Cape Fear; the sum of $200,000, appropriated to the draining of the Swamp Lands, and the sum of 8100,000,* ap propriated to meet the expenses and appropriations made al the same session. have no hesitation in coming to the conclusion, that the two boards should be united. From the examination of the subject, the com mittee aro further of opinion, that the dividends, de clared in favor ot the two boards, and the monies received by them, should cease to be kept by the boards for the purpose of loaning. ^I'hey, there fore, recommcnd that the boards be united; and that the newly organized board, be directed to collect ail the monies now due both boards, and lo invest the same in permanent funds; and tor that purpose, tho committee herewith report a bill, the passage of wiiich they recommend. All of which is respectfully submitted. JAMES T. MOREHEAD, Chairman. January 2, 2341. A BILL To unite tho Board of Internal Improvement and the Literary Board, and to amend the 60ih, 61st, and 07th chapters of the Revised Statutes. I. Be it cnacted by the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina^ and it is hereby enactcd by the authority of the. same, That the funds here tofore appropriated and set apart from the Internal Improvement of the State, by the GOth and Gist chapters of the Revised Statutes, entitled “ Internal Improvement,” and “an act to aid the Internal Im provement of the State,” be, and the same are here by transferred to the management and control of the President and Directors of the Literary fund of North Carolina, to be held and converted lo the same purposes as heretofore appropriated by the said recited acts. II. Be it further enacted. That the President and Directors of the Literary fund of North Caro lina, shall hereafter consist of the Governor, the Public Treasurer, and four other members, to be appointed by the Governor, under and with the ad vice of the Council; which Board shall be invest ed with all the rights heretofore given them by the 66th and 67lh chapters of the Revised Statutes, en-. titled “Literary Fund,” and an “act to drain the' Swamp Land of this State, and to create a fund for Common Schools,” and 60th and 61st chapters of tho Revised Statutes, entitled “Internal Improve- to undertake to escape the odium justly their acts by the idle tale that the present governnig power is not a Vv’^hig Administration, and caiino therefore givii tiu! relief promised to the John Tyler was electcd a Whig, and he is ” — his opinions were well known inthe Harri.' Conventi('u, and freely discussed, and tj-erj of them who now abuses him, then voted tor wdth open eyes. Even the very cnildrni 0 peafed their songs for “ Tippccanoe and ^ can bear witness against them. But havetnev'' ' all the power in their hands—and have tnev passed all the measures thry proposed one? There is a largo Whig majority in ho' Houses of Congress—a Whig President of the ate, nnd Whig Speaker of the House, who packed every Commiitec with Whigs; can they atti'mpt to deceive ihe people by the Whigs have not full power to carry schemes—that this Administration is not Vv^ith Capt. Tyler they formed the conneciion betler or for worse, and together they must r till death does separate them. Resolved. That we agree with the Republicas^ in other parts of the Stale, that the present incuoi bent of the Governor’s office ought to be discnarj ed fiom further service as soon as his term expiry and some sound Republican chosen in his some one opposed to squandering away the rcv^^^^ of the State on useless corporations and Kai Companies, who always wield their fluence to promote the Whig cause, as was in.. . ed in the conveyance of delegates along one roads to the Whig Convention for half pncc. Resolved, That we cordially 'he nn nation of Louis D. Henry as the Kcpnblic»o ^ didate for our next Governor; and wnJ use norable means to secure his election, an , Chairman of this meeting invite him to aa citizens of Cabarrus County at .gygr ap* as may suit his convenience, ' -„g puh* pointment he may make, the Chairman give P lie notice of the same. Resolved, That we entirely aPP™’® „prcsc» ' of the Hon. G. W. Ca.ldmll, our present rep tative in Congress. Resolved, That we Salisl"'?- vention to bo helJ on the 20ih of May. >n
Mecklenburg Jeffersonian (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
May 10, 1842, edition 1
2
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