v ".
1 '
"-Ssifllfrf "aft.-:
j
nrovemcta. equal, and perhaps superior, to
any loins of .which we can boast. , t";
' to probable existence f jflJl both in fonn and management cannot be
' w agricultural -ana mierior i , .,h ,,oc . -A . ishinf
uuviuieu iiuwj tvucii " " " y " ir
improvements have taken place in Agriculture,
Tt r" :i ro-im hirs - Rail
v - V...L. k mii-i i hnvA had his at-
y i ..hoii Ha ninrift Illia aswiy
C lention nxeu, - . -
agricultural
rwnpte: p?r'L " .Wr inrtn-
tt.' WCat omer vwi , - - --
' . :i kino lwn ih(T specie must
euce can ?r" : ",.r.
trie person,
position in
be
, r i -(iiiianiir:iu ir"" t, -
au invigoratiog renuxi : .
It is due to the State and necessary to a
storaiif happy, prosperous, and
honorable condition, as iar s ui our power,
0-roark:WitbanquaIiSetUr4robaiion, this in
. rjir4Btjoaj6& rtghJs'', audi credit of the
tafes- this "war on the institutions and capi
tal of the couutry. For when the accumula
tion "of wealth? is the result of industry, econo
mv and skill, it is" certainly honorable to the
owner; ana wnewer iwuismu m muu, mi-
telat or stOCK, W unquefeuuuauiy euuueu kj in
storo protection ot the law.;-, and
rir not what nis srancnug or
"society, who ind ilges in lue practice of mis
represeDting ani detracting from the valuo of
either, deserves its severest lash. Let us put
the sn?l of reprobation on the unfaithful officer
who viol ites the Constitution in letter or
spirit. Let us inform the Pi evident that we
con dicier thi purposes of Government to mean
something more important, as the regulator
'of ' trade aud commerce with the Stales,"
than merely picking out the gold and silver
from the currency, in the discharge of the
public dues, to pay out to the officers. That
(.hft currency of the country, no matter of what
11 COUSISIS, HU-M Lie o
nnd is a. essential to " trade and commerce
with the States," as the circulation of the
1
blood is to the animal existence, ana as ne
'cessary to a heahhy State, to be regulated by
a ce'ntral power, as the other is to flow from
the heart. Cold and silver are tests of the
value of ihe currency be it what it may, and if
'so applied, are valuable; but their intrinsic
value is of stmll consideration, compared to
the advantages of bank notes, checks, and
bills ofexchauge, as a medium of exchange.
"What power should apply this regulator ?
Certainly the United States, for none other
can.
The object to be attained, is a "uniform
currency throughout the Union, bused on
specie and on ihe credit oj (he Slaics or of
the United Slates. How can this be accom-
pushed : is ine rigtiltui enquiry, i nave no
fear in the answer, that it can only be effected
by an arrangement entered into by law, be
tween the State and Federal Governments,
for improving and using the local banks, or
by the establishment of a bank of the United
States, with sufficient capital assignea to each
State to supply the amount of notes for all
useful aud necessary purposes. One kind of
bank notes, with a specie basis and ample
guarantees, can alone meet the object and ac
complish the purpose desired. Whereas at
present, a large variety of Bank notes, issued
from eight or nine hundred Banks, are thrown
into circulation, experience has proved that
they cannot stand on equal footing actual
nnd fictitious circumstances will produce de
grees of value, totally destroying their worth
as a national circulating medium.
I would prefer an arrangement by which
the local Banks would be remodeled to the
establishment of a Bank of the United States,
because the renewal of their charters could be
made to happen successively, without produc
ing the political convulsion which has twice
attended the renewal of the chaiter of the Na
tional Bank ; because, too, some of the pre
sent institutions could be adopted, and the
redundant merged into them, or allowed to
expire at the end of their charters.
A Bank of the United States, of sufficient
capital to supercede all the local Banks, might
be made an engine of oppression, aud dan
gerous to our political institutions, which the
local Banks could not. The superceding the
local Banks by a National Bank, must un
questionably produce a revolution in the mo
netary affairs of the country to an immense
extent and unforeseen consequences.
Capitalists in all countries, and more par
ticularly in ours, are the pioneers of their own
fortunes, and look with an eye single to their
interests on the selection of the managers of
institutions in which they 'invest their funds
Nor are they usually combined with the poli
tician, for their notions are antagonisticr.l.
The study and success of the one, destroys
that of the other. Stockholders are the mana
gers of the local Banks. The funds of the
B:inks, divided over as great an extent of
country as ours, and under the management
of their own officers, presents an insuperable
difficulty to the formation of political cabals or
nny other, for the injury of the great interest
of the country, with whose welfare they are so
intimately coTinectod and identified. A ISa
tional Bank might. fall into the hand of a
clique, who, conscious of their power, might
be tempted to interfere in federal policy to the
great injury of its pecuuiary affairs, anl infiic-.t
a stab on the liberties ot'the country.
The Banks in the North are much more
numerous than iu any other section, being
established in most parts where money could
be usefully employed, and in such sums as
were demanded by the capacities of the coun
try ; an J they have been ably and successful
ly managed ; pushing and developing the na
tural capacities of the country to a great state
of perfection, stand high in their own section
where best known ; yet we seldom ever see
one of their notes iu circulation iu our State,
and a greater part of them never pass out of
their immediate neighborhoods. The Banks
of the Southern and Western States, have
pirtaken of, aud, no doubt, have been in
fluenced by, the character of the country.
Many have been established on false princi
ples and bcisn badly managed, and the result
could not be otherwise ihau disastrous to the
stockholders, who had actual capital invested ;
but that appears not to have been the case to
any very great extent. I have no doubt that
those which have capital, and will take warn
ing from experience, will yet do a valuable
business.
The recuperative powers of these sections
of the country are immense, and afford great
room for the employment of capital. -Lven
under their recent management, I do not
. K.DOW Ul ll WC UUtCt IISUIV tttUSC IU jjiutriit
national character and credit have sustained $
Va.t'ha resulted in many great and solid im-
..' '....' ....... . . . i
Manufactures, sail and steam fchips,
lloads and other inventions. J
--The operations of the Federal Government
continuing to effect the Banks, ours as well
as many others, were "a second time compell
ed to suspend specie payments, or force the
collection of their debts to the injury and ruin
of many of their dealers The wisdom of
their choice I am not disposed to question
Most persons seemed to acquiese iu its cor
rectness. . The few who did not, complained
to cover their demands for the double interest,
the penalty imposed on our banks for refusing
specie when demanded.
For political effect they have been subject
ed to the constant fulmiuation of spleen and
vituperation by certain partizan presses and
orators, who hope to bolster up their falling
fortunes by exciting popular prejudice, and
diverting attention from their own misdeeds
in the popular clamor. And the usefulness
of these institutions have no doubt been con
siderably curtailed by these "attacks. Surely
they calculated greatly on the ignorance of
the people, when they expected to acquire
either reputation of strength by such a course.
Of what, I ask, consists the Banks of this
Slate ? The State has put into the stock
about one million fifty thousand dollars. This
constitutes the Banking capital of North Ca
rolina, and for every dollar actually paid in,
two may be issued when prudent to do so, by
the Bank's, in their notes. At this, time
thsir issues amount to about one half of their
capitals. The interest they receive on loans
is limited to six per cent., per annum. Should
they refuse to pay specie when demanded, the
holder of their notes is entitled to 12 percent,
interest. Every six months they are requir
ed to pay to the stockholders whatever profit
may have been made ; aud if the individual
stockholders derive any unusual advantages,
it should be recollected that the State the
people, participate in about one third of the
profits that being the proportion ot her
stock and also a tax on the individual
stock.
We need more, not only to develope th.o
vast resources of our State, but to keep off the
notes of other States, and supply our entire
circulation, i have been well situated to
learn, mese facts. Many applications have
been made to this office to borrow the funds
of the Literary and Internal Improvement
Boards. Those who contend that we have
capital enough, I am persuaded, must have
confounded capital with. Bank issues, and
were induced to say so because the Banks
had suspended specie payments. .. I have ever
understood that the more capital, either Bank
or individual, a country possessed-the strong
er and richer it was.: considered. If our "
Banks had more capital, I am satisfied they
could the sooner resume specie payments and
discounts. Can there be a question of a
large : floating debt in the country, subjected
to the shaving process? In the place of pay
ing six per cent, per annum at the Banks,
many debts are made at 10, 15 "and 25 per
ceut. between individual debtors and credi
tors. To obviate -sch an usurious shaving
process, more banking capital would be valua
ble to the State. Our merchants, unable to
obtain discounts at home to make their, pur
chases in New York.with cash, are compelled
to submit to credit, and if not paid when due,
have to pay seven per cent, making a loss to
the State in the regulation of the balance of
trade of one per cent.
A difficulty, is apprehended in 'obtaining
subscribers which may be so. Capitalists
have had such good reason to be alarmed for
the safety of their funds, by the constant
senseless attacks on these institutions, and
the instability of our laws, that they will part
with the management of their money, doubt
less with some apprehension and reluctance.
But I hope those acts of usurpation, violence
and detraction, have passed never to return;
and that confidence and liberality will again
iaKe meir places, ana mat ottering Jair in
ducements, capital will be drawn to the State,
aud from its hiding places again to afford the
poor, but honest and enterprising man, the
means to benefit himself and and country.
Whatever might be the result to the owner of
capital, whether in the hands of individuals or
stored away in Banks, its presence could not
possibly do the country any injury.
The four years I have been in office, the
naiiKs, in jJividends and Taxes, have yield
ed to the State the sum of two hundred and
fifty three thousand two hundred and one del
lars S7 cents, which has been paid into the
puulic Treasury, the most Conclusive proof
ot tneir value to tnc State, and during which
period the receipts from all other sources of
of Taxation in the State amounts to three
hundred and four thousand three hundred and
sixty-eight dollars 69 cents; showing the ad
vantages of a small active capital over heavy
landed and personal property. That the stock
in the present bank is goud, requires no bet
ler uemonstrauon man that it continues at or
above par, while all other nronertv ha
- i i j - -
greatly reduced. Borrowers generally, so far
as I have been enabled to discover, prefer an
accommodation from the Banks to any other
source; and note-holders find abundant indem
nity the penalty of twelve per cent, if specie
is relusea. i can tneu discover no sensible
reason to doubt their utility or to circumscribe
their operations. ,
This State participated less in speculations
of the day than any other iu the Union. We
felt for a while the influence of the general
prosperity of the couutry, from the Institutions
ud means of other States more than our own.
Bank capital has increased but little for many
years, aud except what funds were devoted to
the construction of Hail Koads from the sur
plus, a small amount on loans aud the credit
of the State, the active capital has decreased
by investments iu the stocks of rail roads and
manufacturing companies; but surely furnish
ing a basis abundantly justify iur its restora
tion and increase commensurately with our
wants And until some general arrangement
can be made to put the State Bankt of the
country on hgher ground, and capable of more
oliat usetut purposes, or the establishment of
u lauonai uanK, i would respectfully re-
commend the increase of capital of the Banks
of the State and Cape Fear, one million of dol
lars each, and that the State hand over to them
equally, v as for - subscription of stock, all the
Cherokee bonds and - the bonds and notes
belonging, to the Boards of the Literary Fund
of North Carolina and Internal Improvements,
convertible as collected, with such other . funds
as : can be spared from other purposes, provid
ed the Banks will loan to the W ilmington and
Baleigh and Gaston Kail Road Companies
$300,UOO to 400,000, on the bonds of said
Companies, guaranteed by the State, on the
property of which companies the State being
already secured by mortgage, at a rate of in
terest not exceeding G per cent, per annum,
for the period often years, unless these com
panies are enabled sooner to pay the
same.
The higher the grounds upon which the
Slate cau place these Banks, by protection
and strict supervision, the more she will in
spire publ.'c confidence, fill the subscription,
and enable the sooner to resume specie pay
ments and extend their usefulness. For the
recommendation cf increasing the capital of
our Banks and requiring their aid to the Rail
Roads, I would endeavor briefly to assign you
my reasous.
Aud although I have the pleasure of, con
gratulating you ou the completion of two Rail
Roads in our State which, for cheapness,
length and rapidity of construction,rejrn
parable to any m the world; yet it is " attended
with the regret of having to inform you that
their cost and extra expenses have exceeded
their means. In short, they are in debt, and
turn to you for assistance; for there is no oth
er source whence they can and should so
rightfully seek it. No doubt they do so with
reluctance, yet this but proves the urgency of
their necessities.
Whatever reports may be made now by
their officers of the prospects of profits to the
stockholder, the advantages to the State, to
the farmer, the landholder near them, to the
mechanics and laborers, and their gre,Vit utility
for the diffusion of knowledge and for the
concentration of troops in 'cases of emergen
cy, cannot now be questioned. Their desti
nies seem now more or less identified with
the character and prosperity of the State.
Mf.'.jy patriotic persons have nobly put their
la 1 .1.1
snoulders to tne wneeis, invested meir mo
ney in the stocks of these works, and will for
some time receive less compensation than
they might have done by other investments.
If a few months operation of a Rail Road had
given evidence of great profit and the Road
needed immediate assistance, would it be the
policy of the State to w ithhold it? I r should
say not. Then how much more the necessity
of exerting this policy in granting assistance
to establish these Roads on. such , a footing
that they may freely and fully test their utili
ty. , ;: ..,v . , " - v-" .:
The advantage from such improvements,
to the State, are of higher and loftier impor
tance than, can possibly accrue to her from
any pecuuiary profits, which her investment
could yield. She is above all risk. . But the
Stockholders can; derive or receive no other
advantages but those arising from dividends,
and while these are devoted to the payment
of the debts and yielding no remuneration,
cannot - reasonably bo expected to enlarge
their investments.
It is generally admitted, and I believe, can
not be denied, that one half at least of the
travel , has been arrested by the disastrous
times brought upon the country, as I have en
deavored to show, by the acts of the Federal
Government. .We may now trust that more
prosperous times will, ere long, be restored,
and the travel resumed. ,
On the "let us alone" principle, the recupe
rative powers of this new couutry would soon
restore prosperity. But we may expect, in
addition, the heart)' co-operation of the foster
ing powers of . the General Government in
brinmnji about the highest state of national
prosperity, rather assisting and relieving than
distressing all the institutions of the country.
As the country becomes more thickly settled,
travel must increase on the roads and enhance
the income in proportion. In proof of this,
1 have seen no report of the operations of Rail
Roads in this couutry or Europe, which does
not show an increase of receipt.;; and their
operations in our country will yield a greater
increase on account of our disposition for
travel.
It would be idle, gentlemen, to talk to you
relative to the many advantages resulting to
the country from the establishment of Rail
Roads. They have ceased to be experiments.
Their facility in expedition afforded to travel
lers, in connection with Steam Boats and
Steam Ships, will ensure their construction
where the current of trade and travel require.
They may be subject to mutations in profits,
like all other property, but if correctly located,
economically constructed, and well managed,,
they must be good property to the Stockhol
ders; and if not, their utility to the other in
terests of the country cannot be question
ed. The attack of the President of the United
States on Rail Roads, is exceedingly strange
and unjustifiable. In the transportation of
the mails, diffusion of knowledge and inter
communication, the easy and quick convey
ance of armies to points where the country
may be assailed, must be decidedly important
and necessary to the Government, and favora
ble to the liberty of the citizen.
W here, then, can be the sense or propriety
of these attacks of spleen and eumity? I am
satisfied your honorable body can entertain no
such feelings; but that you will afford such re
lief and succor as is commensurate with the
means and character of the State and the
wants and merits of foe work.
It may be contended that our Rail .Roads
have been injudiciously located, tooexpen
sively constructed and even badly managed.
But we should bear in mind, that they are" out
first experiments, and made at a period When
the country was in more prosperous circum
stances, and every thing of higher value:
That both mistakes and unnecessary expense
are the usual results of new works; but it
should also be held in remembera nee that
many individuals backed their favorable Opin
ions ot tnese enterprizes uneeiy with their own
money, and that they coufTlibt have practised
any intentional - deception , on the public,
when, it would fall so fccaVSy "n theojlves.
Suppose' we shoHkl adir fact that our
Roads have not, so far met'i Jic expectation
or even ofjhe individual.stskholders to the
full extent; yet should we shfcour eyes to tjie
causef Should - we : not remember that the
general prostration of" aUtheydbranches of
busiuess i may have reached; the works on the
Roads; that tew extensive works immediately
prove profitable; and that have been only a.
few months in opera tion :errtainly not long
enough to test their worth to the stwkfSgJders?
To" all 'their interests., their utility canp of
no doubt. We see every species of property
greatly sunk in value: slaves, ourraost tan-"
gible and active property depreciated least
50 per cent.; land yet more; and lots in pur
most favored . places; scarcely selling fbrthe
cost of improvements: very few farms. yield
legal interest, and, in the aggregate; probably
not 3 per cent, on their value; yet who so bold
as to say that we should abandon the farm
or neglect to build houses and improve town
lots?
Wrhat, it may be asked, is the cause of
,.-h a statn of thiiiss? The President of
the United State informed us, in his message
at the extra session in 1837, that it was over
trading, sumptuous living, and the issue of
too much Bank paper. But such reasons,
however apt for other places, are totally inap
plicable to North Carolina. There has been
no. overtrading here, no extravagant living,
less Bank ? issues than ice had twenty years
ago; and although our Bank capital was in
creased a small amount four years since, we
have, about the same now we had 1 0 years
ago, exclusive of the capital of the branch of
the United States, which was employed in this
State; during which time our demand has cer
tainly? greatly increased. It is the want of
Bank or other acAive capital which has been
the cause of Sacrificing real estate and every
other large amount of property, when forced
into market for cash.' More is actually re
quired, not only to save property already ex
isting from changing hands at great and ruin
ous sacrifices, but to assist the manufacturer,
trader, mechanic and laborer, in the va
rious branches of business, and the im
provement of natural advantages of the
State.
Under a resolution of your honorable body,
at its last sessicrh, I addressed a communica
tion to the Governors of the several States,
requesting information on the subject ofPcn-
itentianes, Iiunatic- and Orphan Asylums,
and the l louses of Refuge; from whom seve
ral interesting replies have been received; but
not . sufficient to enablo me to give you
much light on those subjects. I hand you
herewith, marked B the information obtain
ed, and submit the following general remarks;
That all seem ' to concur in their useful
ness; that by the establishment of a Peniten-
tiarv, the punishment of a crime may be more
correctly graduated to its atrocity. Under
our present code of criminal law, many pun
ishments are fixed, and others left to the ca
pricious" estimate of the Judge; aud to many
cases neither the one nor the other appears so
fitted as to give satisfaction to public feeling.
The result is, that in almost every case, a pe
tition for pardon is perferred to the Executive,
with whom it is idle to say that the petit ion of
many respectable persons should have no
weight. Although he may be satisfied that
petitions are generally drawu by partial and
prejudiced hands, in the absence of all infor
mation which no law provides for his guide,
he is not able to act satisfactorily to himself
or justly to the State or petitioner; but where a
doubt is raised, he feels impelled to act on
the side of mercy.
In the establishment of Penitentiaries and
Laws for their government, punishments
could be better graduated to the crime and
leave . less room for complaint and petition.
As they are generally used in all christian
countries, to avoid shedding human blood
and the exposure ofpunihments, in obedience
to the more advanced state of civilization and
refinement, profit and loss should not be a
matter of consideration in providing the
means of saving human life and obtaining
a mode of punishment adapted to the crime.
Regarding them, however, in an economical
point cf view, it would probably be less bur
thensome to the country than the present
mode of confinement in the jails of the coun
ties. As regards Lunatic and Orphan As
sylums, I presume that there can be but one
opinion.
The returns of the Clerks and Sheriffs of
thirty-six counties show the number of Lu
natics to be two hundred and forty-nine of
poor, wretched creatures, most of whom call
strongly on our charity and philanthropy for
shelter, food and nursing; and no doubt if
the number and condition of orphans could be
ascertained, the appeal to our sympathies
would be equally strong.
The State is abundantly able to construct
the necessary buildings, aud it only requires
the action of your body to establish the pi in
ciple and place upon which they shall be
erected; the appointment of a competent su
perintendent to visit the various establishments
of the kind and collect the necessary infor
both of Penitentiaries and Lunatic and Or
phan Asylums, and to commence the work as
soon as the plan should be approved by the
Governor or-a Board of Commissioners raised
for that purpose, and an appropriation to meet
the expenditures, placed subject to the Gov
ernor's warrant. In the mean while, the nec
essary code of Laws might be prepared under
a commission granted by your honorable bo
dy for that purpose.
r: Most of the counties have adapted a com
mon school system, and a few have received
me States quota of money to aid them in this
most estimable object.; The want of School
masters is the only complaint which has
reached Brae, and will, iu all probability, be
the most "" formidable obstacle to further suc
cess. J By applying the proper corrective,
that and all other difficulties, I hope, may be
overcome-; The several counties which refus
ed; lOadbption of (he system, no doubt acted
on . mistaken views, or wrong information;
aife participation should, in justice be
provided for by law. . '
It is with the rupst unfeigned gratification
that I congratulate the genera! Assembly on
this , work of their own, which has placed io
reach of poor parents (he opportunity of obtain
ing for their children what will so eminently
improve their moral and mental condition, to
make them better and more valuable citizens.
and inspire them with grateful feelings to their
country, v which will never be forgotton' in the
hour, of danger. V . -
It is with great pleasure I have to inform
. 1 . m -mm
you tnat, in obedience to the direction of the
last session of your honorable body, a survey
or iags nead nas been procured- Under
their resolution, directing a report to be made
by some able and experienced Engineer, the
Board of Internal Improvements appointed
Major Wralter Gwyun, who commenced ope
rations in May last, and reported to the Board
in jjune. I his able and lucid report amply
sustains "the propriety and importance of your
inviting ine attention ot Congress to the open
ing an Inlet at that point as a national work
of the highest importance. The resolutions
claiming the attention of our Representatives
and Senators in Congress, were forwarded to
them. The Representative from the first dis
trict, in which Nag's Head is situated, gave
the subject his prompt and unremiUedatten
the survey were also forwarded to the Repre
sentative from that district; but it reached
him at too late a period of the session to be
acted on.
Would it not be well again to urge this
work on .Congress I am decidedly of the
opinion that the enterprise is among the most
important of any in the United States in a
national point of view, in the saving of lives
and vessels, and the increase of the revenue;
and to the State, in enhancing immensely the
value of their lands and their products, and
securing a mart to a large section of the
country, which has now to seek elsewhere at a
j?reatlv increased expense and hazard. No
principle has been better established by prac
tice, than the right and propriety of the Fed
eral Government to execute works of nation
al importance; . and none, in my opinion, is
more clearlv so in the United States, than
opening an iulet at Nag's Head. If we
turn to the estimates of the War Department
for improvements, we shall find many vastly
inferior, uuder the patronage ot the ixeneral
Government. It is, - then, due to the State,
and particularly to that section, io urge the
execution ot tnis worn dv tne govern
ment? '
The very able report, on this subject, by
Major Gwj'nn, will be submitted by the Board
of Internal Improvements; to which I beg to
invite your especial attention
The work for draining the swamp lands
has progressed considerably. The Pungo
Canal is finished, and the Alligator about
half completed. The lateral ditches on Pungo
Canal are now being cut, and some 15,000
acres uearlv prepared for market. I see
no reason to doubt the wisdom cf this im
provement.
I am very clearly of the opinion that open
ing an inlet at Nag's Head reclaiming the
swamp; lands improving the Neuse river
as far as practicable, and thence the construc
tion of a rail road to Raleigh, and turnpike to
the mountains and the construction of a
rail -road and turnpike; flanking South Caro
lina, from the head of the tide water, ou the
Cape Fear, to the West from the system of
improvements alike demanded by the charac
ter and interests of the State, to be accom
plished whenever her means will permit.
The depressed state of the pecuniary affairs
of the country at home, and its impaired cre
dit abroad, would not justify undertaking, at
present, improvements of very great extent
and magnitude ; but as far as the means
which the State can command will go, there
uever was a more appropriate period. The
disbursements iu the construction would be
nefit every branch of business in its vicinity,
by giving employment to laborers, mechanic
and a market to the farmer ; and the work
could be executed mote readily, and at less
cost, than in more prosperous times. In what
could the surplus money and credit of the
State be better employed, than by relieving
the distresses of her people, and the improve
me nt of her natural advantages?
As an improvement particularly called for
oy tne wants ot the State, entirely within her
means, and important as the connecting links
between her existing rail roads, the seaboard
and the interior. I would call your attention
to the improvement of the Neuse river from
Newbern as far up as practicable aud useful ;
thence by rail road from the Wilmington and
Raleigh Rail Road to this place, for which the
country and material are best adapted ; and
thence to the mountains by turnpike, as best
suited to the use and material of construction
of the country. This chain of improved com
munication and intercourse, is due to the
State, and especially to the Northern tier of
counties, the trade of which has been diverted
from our own markets to one in a neighboring
State. This improvement would place at the
pleasure of the farmer one or many markets,
in or out of the State, with equal facility, and
regain their lost relative position ; and as it
may be presumed that most would prefer those
in the State, it would secure the profits which
might otherwise accrue to our neighboring
States, and assist in obtaining the balance of
trade iu our favor. At least, a fair competi
tion would be afforded. The advantages to
be derived in the purchase of West India pro
duce in Wilmington and Newbern, and their
better facility for shipping, will more than
equal any advantages their competitors abroad
cau offer.
It is probable the stock would be readily ta
ken by individuals if companies should be
incorporated for that purpose, for the two-fifths
or one-half of the amount, with proper privil
eges of payment.
The rail roads in our State have not had, as
yet, sufficient opportunity to test the value of
such stock, and as for investments in turn
pikes, we have but few data on which to base
an estimate. The Buncombe road yields a
handsome profit, and it appears to me that a
turnpike from this place to the west, would be
still more profitable, if the value of the stock
were the only object of the State in construct
ing it. "'
The Board of Internal improvements agree
ably to law, caused books to be opened, under
the superintendance of active agents, to obtain
the pre-requisite subscriptions before the Kay
etteville and Western Rail Road Company
could receive -the State's subscription and or-
ganize, and, I regret to inform you, without
mi ft.wl r Ha thf fnvrkt-ifn
success. J. nis pp'" -. "
scheme of the State and I was anxious to see
it executed. To the poverty of the country
through which the greater part of. the. road
would pass, and the depression of the mone
tary affairs of tire country, may this failure he
attributed' -""-t ;..' V",;-; ,
Soon after the adjournment of tne last ses-
sion ot your . nouorauie uwj,;
Courts, Esq, resigned his appoiutment as
public Treasurer of the State ; the vacancy
occasioned by which, was temporarily filled
by the appointment, under the advice of coun
cil, of Charles L7 Hinton, who has since se
dulously discharged the duties cf the othce.
In the course of the preseut year, the won.
R. M. Saunders and the Hon. John L).
Toomcr, Judges of our Superior Courts of
Law aud Equity have resigned. Ihe vacan
cies thereby occasioned, have been supplied,
under advice of Council of State, by the ap
pointment of Edward Hall, of Warrenton,
and William H. Battle, otVtfiis City, whoso
cjorotmsionswiexpife at the close of your
tention. A copy of the report and marTofT present session ; and they both entered ini
. i- .... .t . ..
mediately on tne uuues ot tneir respective
stations.
It is with great diffidence I venture on anv
observations relating to our Court system ;
but I should not believe my duty discharged,-
it x remamea suent. ine resignations of
Messrs Saunders and Toomer have brought
to my knowledge the feelings and wants of
the State in the appoinment of these highly
valuable and indispensable officers. The
East, W'est, North aud South, claim the right
and propriety of being supplied ; and I hare
no doubt these considerations will be felt in
the election of these officers in your body. If
the range of the State were necessary to sup
ply the higher order of? talents, no change
ought to be made; or, If the yielding to sec
tional considerations could meet the wants
and wishes of the people, we might be con
tent with the present arrangement ; but I am
s persuaded that neither the one or the other is
effected. In every district, many men may
be found abundantly qualified to discharge
the duties of Judge. W hen the claims of any
section has heretofore been gratified, it has
proved only for a short space of time the in
cumbent generally changing his locatiou for
convenience or health, and again the district
is left destitute of one of those valuable offi
cers. To comedy this defect, and quiet the
conflicting interests of the different sections of
our State, I would very respectfully recom
mend th3 location of the Judges in each dis
trict respectively. The law must, of course,,
be prospective, and the present opportunity
can furnish two vacant districts. It appears
to be due to the Bar, to the wants and conve
nience of the people, and to the Judges them--selves,
to make this alteration. The ridings
might alternate as now, or the Judge be con
fined to the duties of his own district. The
latter appears to me best. A person from the
mountains cannot ride in one of the seaboard
districts in the fall with impunity. His risk
of sickness and death is certainly alarming,,
and the result has been that the busi
ness of those districts is hurried over in a
state of mind which must detract greatly from
comfort and a satisfactory discharge of duty.
The services of a most valuable officer has
just been lost to the State by fear of riding the
first district this fall.
Allow me, gentlemen, to call your attention
to theacts of 1836 '37, creating the Boards
of Internal Improvements, and of the Liter
ary Fund of North Carolina. Of both these
Boards the Governor is a member, and f.r--offirio
President. Large sums of money are
at their disposal, which they were required to
invest in Bank stocks, and lend to individu
als and corporations. These funds are daily
increasing by appropriations, interest from'
loans, and Bank dividends. These laws are
clearly defective, and should be altered. If
it were intended to establish a loan-office, the
necessary provisions should be made, and
competent officers appointed with adequate
salaries. But it certainly never could have
been intended to convert the Executive into a
loan office, occupying more of the attention
and responsibility of the Governor than all!
his other duties combined, and diverting him
from the higher and more enlarged trusts
committed to his care.
It is considered radically wrong in the
State to adopt any law by which individuals
become debtors to it.. What spare funds the
State may have, shouid be invested in stocks,
or devoted to the improvement of the people
and country. If no other alteration is made,
it would be a matter of great relief to the Gov
ernor for a Union of those Boards. Such an
alteration would curtail one half of his services,
reduce the number of the members, and save
expense to the State. Loans should be for
bidden, and authority extended to investments
in the stocks of rail road and manufacturing
companies, by purchase or by subscription, as
me lioard may deem best for the interest ot
the State, and all sales for the future of pro
perty belonging to the State, to be made for
cash only. Should the contrary course be
pursued more money will be lost than credit
sales would seem to promise, and your table
iiuea witn petitions lor indulgence which
would be exceeding painful to refuse.
1 he standard weights, asreeablv to an act
of your last session, have been contracted for;
and they are nearly completed, and being de
livered to the several counties. No standard
for measures has yet been received from the
Federal Government.
The proceedings of Georgia, South Caro
lina, and Virginia, herewith submitted iu file
C, to your consideration, at the reouest of
their respective Governors, relative to the de
mands of Georgia and Virginia, on the States
of Maine and New York, for the apprehen
sion and delivery of fugitives from justice,
and their refusal, present matter to the South
ern States of the most delicate and important
nature. It is believed, under an influence of
the most pernicious kind, that these States
have acted in bad faith to the compact which
secures the right of demand and surrender of
fugitives from one State to anoiher. The
causes assigned are considered unsatisfac
tory. In connection with this subject, the forma
tion of a military company of negroes, most,
if not all, supposed to be fugitive slaves, cloth
ed in the British uniform, stationed on the
Canada frontier, and permitted to insult and
I