THE NORTH CAROLINIAN, F A YETTEV1LL E, N. C.
GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE.
Executive Department, y'. l
Kamsigh, Kot. 11, l5-
To the Honorable the General Assembly ' -
pf the State of North Carolina:
Gentlemen: You have been elected by the
people of the State to represent theui iu this
General Assembly. They have confided to
you powers, the highest and roost important
known to our government and laws. Coming
as you do fresh from the great body, of your
fellow-citizens and from every section of the
State, it is supposed that you are acquainted
with their wants aud necessities, and that these
will be provided for, sq far as it can be done by
wJiolesome and enlightened legislation. 1
doubt not that every eifort will be made on
your part not to disappoint tiiese reasonable
expectations. For my own, allow me to assure
you that my aid, however feeble, shall at all
times be giveu towards facilitating your labors.
Before touching upou matters concerning
more especially our owu State aud polity, al
low me to congratulate you upon the happy
termination of the exciting political contest
through which the country has lately passed.
For the first time iu our history we have . seeu
an attempt seriously made by one section, or
more properly speakiug, by a political party of
that section, to get the control of the different
departments of the general government." with
the determination expressed to administer that ;
government on.strit.-tly sectional party grounds.
itwn& vitttutJM su attempt to degratk one
action and toVudaoger its institutions, and to
ireuy to it tiioffc equal rights aud privilege to
which all tbt Date iu tlto Union arts entitled,
and which hiUrcrto they have enjoyed; '
True it is, that all this was sought to be doue
according to the forms of the constitution.
But the attempt was not the less atrocious ior
that reason.
The general government was intended by its
fr .inters to operate for the protection and safety
of all, and it properly administered, will only be
felt in the most be j intent manner. But when
ever it is seized upou, even under the forms of
the constitution, by one section of the country
aud so wrested autl perverted from its leiriti-
inate purposes as to become an instrument of
oppression or degredation to the other, he knows
Tery little of the Southern people who believes
that they would submit tamely and ignoiuiui
ously to such a government aud to such au
Union, however dear one of a different kind
may be, aud, I trust and believe, L to all.
Whatever may have beeu said to the contrary,
we of the South have not sought to control the
affairs of the country or its governmeut, so as
to advance our cwu peculiar views and interests
at the expense of auy other section.
All we have asked for is to be protected in
the rights secured to us by the constitution, to
be let alone iu their enjoyment, and to be
treated-aa. equals among the States and in the
eommon Territories of the Union. Alore than
this we have not sought to obtain. Less, if
true to ourselves, we will never submit to take.
Ugf ye have been, mainly, m the late
contest, trifnave nothing to fear. For a time
madness and fanaticism ruled the day, and the
wisest, aim best and most patriotic iu the laud
were filled with fear and misriviur. But the
result shows that we have as friends a large
and influential body of patriotic, conservative,
national men at the North, who, in a crisis like
the one we have passed, are ready, at every
hazard, to btaud by the Union aud the rights
of every section. The task set before them,
1 regret to say, was one not easy of accomplish-
UWaL liut Wall Ull - nil n n I ffi I Ij 1. -
performed it, and entitled themselves to the
thanks and plaudits of all and the eternal grati
tude of the South. For the present the contest
Is ended, perhaps to be renewed in a short time.
Let ns hope otherwise, aud that peace, order
aud good feeling may returu and abide with us.
Oue of the foremost statesmen of the land, a
man eminent for his taleuts, of great knowledge
and experience iu public a flairs just in his
purpoj'PSi national in ins views, moderate in alt i
thintS whose private life has been as pure!
and irreproachable as his public one' has been
honorable and useful has beeu elected Presi
dent of these United States. Scarcely inferior
in all the qualities of a statesman, though of
fewer years and less experience iu public affairs,
is he who has been elected to the second office
within our gift.
With tit legislative department of the gov
ernment in accOrd, surely we have ample reason
to hope for a successful administration of our
national affairs, a restoration of peace aud har
mony, and a strengthening of the ties which
bind together the States in oue National Union.
It gives me pleasure to be able to state to
you that since your last session, the general
condition of the State has been one of prosperity
ana improvement. our puouc works are
steadily advancing, our congress and schools
are on the increase, and are generally in a high
state of prosperity; our Common School system,
though by no means perfect, is yet gradually
improving and manifesting very decidedly some
of the beneficial results anticipated from it.
Our great interest, agriculture, to say nothing
of otiiers, is attracting the notice it deserves,
aud our people are on the enquiry for the best
modes or improving tueir lands and increasing
their crops. upon tne whole, our physical
comforts are being increased, while it is believed
iiiai our inorai couuitiou as a neonie. is im
proving. Aud though one of our grain crops
lor the present year has been cut short for the
want allimcfa raios.jet. iu-.yiew" of jtho Xjjjanit
fold blessing;! we have enjoyed, and the evils
from which we have beeu ,. spared,
ample cause to render thanks to
Providence which hitherto has so
blessed our people and country.
The first subject to which I desire to call
your more particular attention is, the important
oue of the public debt of the Stale. .
In advauce of the report of the.Public Treas
urer, which wilt in due time be presented to
you, that officer has, at my request, furnished
uie -with the following statement, .shewing the
indebtedness of the State by bonds, the various
items composing tbe same, for what purpose
incurred, aud the times at which these sums
respectively fall due:
AKOT.VT
41,000 00
. 67,000 00
44,000 00
500,000 00
500,000 00
500,000 00
130,000 00
370,000 00
1000,000 00
Do do oo no,
The foregoing axe regis-.,
tcred bonds. ;
The following are coupon
bonds, under act 01 zitn
Jan'y, 1848, for construc
tion f Gaston and Weldou
Railroad, and for improve
ment of the navigation of
the Neuse and Tar rivers,
running ten yearn,
Do do do
Do do do
On account of N C Railroad
bonds, running 30 years.
Do do
Do do
Do do
Do do
Do do
Fay. & Centre Plank
road bonds, ruuuing
twenty years, 20,000 00
Do do do 10,000 00
Fay. & War. riant
road bonds, ruuning
tweuty years, 4,000 00
Tar river, under actof
14 th Feb'ry 1855, .
bonds running 30
years, 15,000 00
Lunatic Asylum bonds,
ruuuing teu years, 40,000 00
Do do 19,000 00
Atlautic and N. C. . "
Railroad bonds ruu
ning thirty years, 15,000 00
Do do 33,000 00
Western and 2s. ' C.
railroad bonds, ru u-
ig mjrtr yara, 8O-,0900O
:s for money ear- "
rietf to public fuud
by resolution of
(Jencral Assembly. 40.3C0 55
Bond for money borA
rowed of the Liter- j
ary Board, jl5,442 00
20,000 00 In 1872
JjOil864
Jan. 1, 1865
July 1, 1865
Jan. 1, 1883
July 1, 1883
Jan. 1, 1884
Jnly 1,1884
Jan. 1, 1885
April 1 1885
Railroad stocks,
Fay. & Wes. p. r. stock, par value,
Fayetteville & Warsaw, , "
Fay. & Albemarle, paid for "
Plaukroaof stocks, .
N. River Nav. Co. stock, par value.
Yadkin Is a v. Co., paid for "
Cape Fear & Deep Riv.
, JSav. Co, .
$4,220,500 1 sufficient to meet the severe! liabilities as they
. tr.1l rtne. " " '
$120,000 Prudence and a wise forecast, as well as the
10 000 experience oi umcr 3i uuu governments,
30'00CMwould seeni;io dictate such a course, and the
' debt can be wore easily met aud extinguished
i fin nnn hi way-., iooiting to me present obi, poi-
,vu i w . . . ;-
would seem to injuuc u, u iw uv uuerre-
than that OI maintaining our , credit ; unini-
. i i . ' l -
aa HP
i Aasera-
April 1, 1875
July 1, 1876
July 1, 1875
Jan. 1,1886
Jan. 1, 1866
July 1, 1866
Jan. 1,1886
Jan. 1, 1886
Oct. 1.1986
; io.ooo
5,000
wy
sou
.i tniiK Minniiuir us to use il rpamiv
. . i. 1 1 ( 1 1 n - j
Vnn the best terms for extending oar public
'works or ior otner purposes, iuo euw -w
,h . svstem would surely be to seen our
1T CBlswte bouds at par (a very important eonsider-
,v.r . ...AoKillto nut tlmtn t a
i iitiou. ) , anu m jiiiuj v j.. -
160,00
Roanoke Railroad Company, each
for $5,387 14, dated January 3d,
1851, payable iu two aud four
years, interest payable semi-auualy 10,774 2:
1
Navigation stocks,
The Stats also holds the bond of the
Wilmington aud Weldou Rait-
-l itiaU flV lllkAll III ltk t am ill--
. : - -...7...i.V.. -.. ara aaa a& I .jss.. however, if oue be provided., tlat its
Also, two bouds of the Seaboard and ' -4 management oe ui.u-w .
, .X -J , f
J I submit to your oeuer juugweni. ib
ITbest means to be adoped for raising such a fund
ISo interest lias beeu paid on these
named bonds, and the lust General Assembly
extenueu lue tune ior payment oi principal au
interest ou the urst boud to 3d January nt!
aud should the same be theu paid, the time i
the payment of the principal aud interest
the other bond was extended to the 3d Jauu
1856.
1.. tUa onnnootl.lil it mnv I.o nrniwr tmT
thnfc 40 1)00 was Mimi-oitriatBd to lu:i
t rtf iVctua river, mxl tllu miiVfff JPMi
savey"or t(ie rirer tt Wuuce MjCSpM)BJlWTJ'
as directed, to tne stock of. tuo is euso lviver
Navigation 4Jmpauy. ,
ad reriort haa bees made to me by the Presi
dent oft,,,vlasrequuretl by the charter
.. Uni.Mkiiirv LnH ruuiit; ireaaurur lu .uc
made the Treasurer of the board, but the funds
to be kept separate and distiuct, at all times,
from the other fuuds of the State.
1 1 has been already stated that it appears
n T7i a. : c fhA hooks of the Public Treasurer, that
Vv,nMMHVi "... i. t:.
la-ithere was Que WU accuum,, iu uic uiicmij
" . .. ntiin ill sa aii ikaiDf nv
fc llllll Llie SUia W Cliv,n w, vu vnu ou - " "
1856 ad that tke State was.further indebted
n that fund for interest ou sundry bonds, in
the sum of $30,532 82, or thereabouts, making
the whole amount due $17 1,04a, la.
; A considerable portion of the -balance ap-
fing ou the books is principal . money, aud
oU,rht tbe mvested how mucli does not ap-
. . I . i . I t . r
r ills'1 ue uccouni, uuii uiay yeUBcermiucu.
HCO M i. mi nt1sClulJUagiA
a.. A large pvrwuu ui iwv uimnt iuchiiuu-
ed aiove, as not carried: into, the accounV is
due npou two bonds of . the ' state constituting
if!
il
iAMCa
tently with her means of doing so. It
oo this principle that the last Oeneral
bly acted, and such I believe will be the future
policy of the state. Whether farther apnro-
priations should be made at this sessien, and if
so, to what extent, is more especially year pro
vince to determine, and is submitted to your
wisaom ana oetter judgment.:-
inuring the present year, the State Oeolotrist,
Dr. Emmons, made "known to me his readiness
to prepare a report of his survey of the State.
so far as completed, and the matter haviug been
Drongnt to the atteouon of the Literary Hoard,
under whose supervision the law required the
report to be published. Dr. Emmons was re
quested to prepare it for publication; and the
Board determined to Jiaue 1000 copies printed
and bonnd in boards, with suitable plates and
explanatory maps.
. 'I lie work was put to press as prepared and
furnished u sheetshas all been printed, and
is now in the hands of tha binder, and will be
ready in a short time to be laid before you
It was deemed advisable to publish the re
port in manner stated, as it will be no doubt
found worthy of a place in our own public aud
private libraries, as well as in those abroad:
aud it was supposed that the tinmber ordered
to be published would famish a sufficient supply
for distribution, leaving copies enough to reiffl
burse the State for the cost of publication
should the Legislature order tbem to be sold
A statement of the costs of publication will be
sent in witli the report. There was unexpended
aud in the Treasury, -of the amount appropriat
ed ior malting toe survey, a sum more thau
sia srawuuss V
the several Cir-
$.5,038,802 55
The books of the Treasury further show an
indebtedness by the State to the Literary Fund,
on accouiit, ou the Jst November,. 1856, of
AHA no D T.: . . 1 . . -
snu.ii oo. j i. is proper io state iiiai mis
amount should be iucreascd by about the sum
of $30,632 32, for iaterest ou bouds of the
State held by the Literary Board, as above
set forth, and also upon coupon bonds of the
State, purchased and now held as part of the
Literary Fuud. Further reference will be
made to the matter before concluding this com
munication.' ;;
By virtue of legislation at the last General
Assembly, State bonds for the following
amounts are yet to be sold, and the proceeds
applied as follows:
Fayetteville and Albemarle Plauk-
road, running 20 years, . $20,000
Fayetteville and Warsaw Plauk-
road, running 20 years 6,000
Atlautic and L C. Railroad, for
balance of State's subscription, -r
30 year bonds, aud which will
probably all be called for in the
Rut I lef
has resu'
propertj1
been solw
Ry viriv
aud by the
that no practical benefit
-yeudituie, aud that the
e compauy have, all
l848-'49, $25,000,
5 $15,000 wire appro
priated aud raised by the sale ot bouds for the
improvement of Tar river, to be expended under
the direction of commissioners appointed by the
Governor. No provision was luudd for char-
ninir tolls ou the river: and the. suid expended
is not included, therefor, amonir the stocks
owned by the EState. 1
The Western Turnpike is owned entirely by
the State, aud. 'will bj uouced more particularly
hereafter.
The State has also some . iueon&ideralde
amount of stock iu Turnpike Cotnianies, wli:h
have not lately been, nor are likely to becope,
proutaoie or oi uiucu vaiue. y
It is hardly necessary to aud that the oper
railroad and navigatiou stocks owned by Ate
State constitute u part of the Literary Fuuu.
The receipts into the Public Treasury foe the
two last fiscal years, eudiug the 31st Octoier,
18o6, are stated as lollows, Irom the booki oi
that office:
J! iscal x'r, f lscal i t
the item of $40,360 55, in the statement given
of the bonded debt of the state. These bonds
were executed by the Public Treasurer, in " the
years 1848 and 1849, by virtue of a resolution
of the General Assembly, in lieu or other funds
belonging? to the
transferred to the State
Western N..C. Railroad, 30 year
bouds, for balance of State's
subscription, and which will pro
bably be called for before the
meeting of the next General
Assembly,
Insane Asylum, 20 year bonds, will
be required at an early day
$533,600
600,000
21.000
R.R
Total,
$1,180,000
Gen-
Ral. & Gas,
' dendes,
Fay. & Wes
road do.
Tax on Attorney's
license,
Tax on Bank stock,
Interest on W. & R.
railroad bonds,
Cherokee bonda,
Public Tax,
- l854-'o.
divi-
v $30,7 12 50
Plauk-
1855-
$20,25 00
4,S00 00 4,800 TOO
ffffjiffsnt fn.H LIfeaTgyiise of pablica-
For reasons already stated.!, Jwve not been '
able to read the report; .but I ' have reason to
believe tbs( it will be found of much interest,
uot oiilj to li aw tj x.nce, batto the gen-
eral reader. Th mineral resources of ; the
Sute, eseci&H, -' will be "folly . made known ;
aud it w.iU fee re thatL ln this, respect. . our
Literary Fuud, which were j State is arc6q l only r-f9 in tie vuion.. 1
tate Treasury. No interest some other vK.rt irtacomjf-
several Countttf oTthe State :
nowledeed importanie A
is uue ana is ex pec tea irom our juaiciai omc
but more thaitAhis should neither be xnect
nor required, ethr on grounds of pwicy or or
justice to meritorious public servants, For, if
more labor is required of a Jndga- thantie can
wen perform, any one who - has had expert
iehte iu onr CourfSjweU knows that it results iu
an aceumstftttvoiaseg npon tne docket, in
creasing toe-expenses of the conifties, .and reu-
aenng extra terras of the Courts necessary, and
cwug iv suiters a large accumulation of costs
uu expenses.
. ljooking to the present arrangement of r
Superior Court Circuits, it seems to m ff.t
an additional Judicial Circuit, making the 8th
buuuiu tm esiaousuea.
- The number of Couuties in
cuits is as follows:
IstCircnit, 10 Counties; 2d, 11; 3d 10
12: 5th, 12; 6th, 14: 7th. 15. ' '
Eight of the 15 Counties in the th circuit are moun
tain counties, Wert of the Blue Ridge, covering
large territory traversed by many ranges of smaller
mountains with indifferent road?, rendering the travel
-difficult and laborious. In aiiUon to this, it will be
t.sMn that, from the present arraDgtment of the Courts
?of.hiJeircuUi any Judgv. riding it. will necessarily
liawe? cross the- Blue Riuge four time. With rach
ehjgiuii and such labors to perform, we may well
imagine that a Judge, wbwsvcr diligeut sml lul u r r -1
would be worn down, and in a gnat dl, ef
for the performance of his duties, tow ar as lUJur
part of it. -""
This need of a new circuit has arisen from the crea
tion of new counties in the 6th and Ttb circuits.
But as the country is settled uu. eMxciallv 5n tli
mountain part of the 7th circuit, other counties will bo
required sod made, and the evil wili be thus increased.'
Iimb. aWyw that tbt mgtta wm broucht to tbe
to establish another circuit; but as ar matter of fslrtig
to our Supcviflr Court Judges, allowed them iu addi
tion to their regular salaries the sum of $90 for each
court held by them on a circuit, over anu above
565 60
7,973 25
3,000 00
963 00
!55 08
279.
535 SO
14,1823
1,300 00
341,b3:J
last
15y virtue of an act passed at the
trul A&4uihlv. siO.OUU u n..l,
stock of the Yadkin .Navigation Company, of
which $5,000 has been paid; and under the
provisions of a similar act, 20,000 was sub
scribed to the stock of New lviver JCavigatiou
Company, of which $10,000 has been paid,
Lcavinsj to be paid the sum of $25,000
The payments above were made out of ordi
nary fdnds iu the treasury, there being no pro
vision for raising the money in any other way;
anu tne above balance must be paid in the same
manner, unless other provistou is made therefor.
The State is bound, as endorser, as follows:
On bonds Qf the Wilmington and Weldon Kail
road Co., $250,000
Ou bonds of Cape Fear and Deep
lliver Nav. Co., falling due iu the
year 1885, 300,000
Uu uonas oi unesapeake and Albe
marle Caual Co., falling due in
thirty years, ' 250,000
. $800,000
mortgages, ; accord-
Assembly directing
The State is secured by
ing to the several acts of
the above endorsements.
Lit the amount last named, $o0,000 ouly of
bonds has been endorsed and delivered bv the
public treasurer. But the whole amount is put
down, ns the company has given the certificate
of therequisite subscription of stock in the
same, and executed the mortgage required by
the charter to entitle it to the endorsement of
its bonds, to the amount stated, when cubed
for.
1 he interest has, for many years, been paid
promptly by the first named company; and its
present prosperous condition removes all doubt
as to its ability to pay for the future. The
interest has also been paid on the bonds of the
Cape Fear and Deep River Company. The
bonds of the latter company have been issued
Within the past six months.
From information unofficially received, it is
1 1
To the item for puu:sAe3 received lor the
ast fiscal year should be added the sum of
$10,211 34, lor uelaults by Sheriffs, the larger
portion of which has beeu siuce paid and tle
residue will be collected. ' ,
It will appear also that the sum of $3.000
interest ou the bond of the Wilmington aud
id, tljle
WeUon llailroad Company is not credited
last fiscal year. Properly speaking, it shouki
have been, was omitted by a mere oversiirli.
aud will be found as a credit iu the present A
cal year. Including these sums the amounts;
revenue for the last heal year, may besetdofh
at $405,113 31. , ... - f
1 regret to that this amount will be A v
in the present fiscal year, in ail probability, )
the divi'deuds received heretofore from llae fi
aud Gaston Railroad, stock, and partially, i
not entirely, ou stock in the Fayetteville ; :'i h
Western Plaukroad. Ho divideud was mi ii
at a late meeting of the stockholders of n
former company, owing to " the fact that u
eartiiugs of the tompany were chiefly expetu u
in heavy aud extensive repairs to that port )i
of -the Road extending from Gaston to Weld r,
which, though lately 1milt, was so' defectiv lr
constructed as to render these, repairs inJ
peustble. !
The bridge over the Itoanoake river, at uls
ton, is also undergoing thorough repairs, aid
large sums will be required during the ensuilig
year for both purposes. It -is expected aftr
tiiese repairs tre maue, mas tne siock owned i?
reii li
the State iu this company will again be
neratina. t'-'tvfciAis. - '
Nj d'if- "" en made daring the prs-
-yeiteviiie and Westeru
'Construction of the X
$i& said, impaired to a
j business of the PJank
,jJW be safely looked to (or
, c J; . j 1 i .
wureumucuus wuicii it lormerJv
ent yr
Plant
Carof
consjv,
road,:'
pay
yielw
It
has beeu paid upon - these Tboods. Calculated
to the last semt-anoal payday on same., the., in
terest amounts to the sum of 122.955 60.
Under the circumstances presented, and ia " the
uresent state of the public treasury, I tespect-
fully recommend that this amount be couverted
into principal, and that the Public Treasurer
be required to execute the bond of the State
for the same, to tbe President and directors ol
the Literary Fund, bearing six per cent, inter
est, payable semi-annually. . . ' . V..''.
liy the existiug taw .x the subject tbe; cou
pon bonds of the State are payable , to bearer,
and no endorsement by an owner. or bolder is
required for their transfer. I be holder for Jhe
time being collects tbe coupous for interest, and
may collect the principal money wheu due. As
a general rule this provision is best, for ' bonds
thus transferable are more saleable.; in . tbe
Northern market. Rat it has been suggested
to me by some of our citizens, who have , made
permaueut investments in those foods, purch
ased either of the Public treasurer or others.
that when the holder or purchaser of a boud
desires it, the Treasurer of the State should be i
required to note the number, date and amount !
iu a book to be kept lor that purpose, sua to
whom it belongs, and also to endorse upon the
; bond that it is transferable only at his office by
writing on the boud wituessed by him.
It is generally the case that holders of these
bouds uinotig our owu citizens, have no safe
place to keep them. They arc liable to be lost,
siolcn, or destroyed by accideut. The conse-qluiK-'e
is that those who hold them feel inse
cure, aud those who do not, fear to iuvest in
tfiein. It seemULiue such a provision should
tri; mid cisij .siviucemeut lieia out to our
own ciuzeiit to maKe investments iu these se
curities. It gives me pleasure to inform you that by
means of the liberal aid extended by the last
General Assembly, our maiu lines of llailroad
improvement are being extended east and west
as rapidly as circumstances will allow On the
12th of September, 1855, a subscription, on be
half of the Slate, of $1,060,600, was made to
the stock of the Atlantic aud M. C. llailroad
Co., of which the sum of 535,000 has been paid
by sale of State bonds. . ; v'1 ! -1 r 1
The whole road from G oldsboro' to the ter
minus at Shcphard's Point on Reauiort harbor,
is uuder contract a large portion of it is graded
and another portion extending miles west
from the town of .Newhcrn has been laid with
iron aud is now in use. 7 " . . . . . . 7 . . .t.
On the 20th Sept., 1855, a aubscrijition of
$800,000 was also made - by the State to the
stock of Uie Western JS. Ura Railroad co. ,pl
which the sum of $200,000 has.iately been paid
by sale of bonds The greater part of te .ljiie
of this road has been surveyed, and the )or
tion of it from Salisoury to a point ur States
ville aud thence to the west bank of the Cataw
ba river has been located, and let Out to coji-
tractors, aud a considerable portion -of it has
been graded. Fuller information as to Uese
work will no doubt be laid before you bKSie
resoectite comoanies xluriuf your session, .
I havtS bceu pcouiistd a full report as to the
operations" on DVep Kivcr, ' and regret that 1
have hot an oDoortunity to lay the same before
vou .at this time. Some of the" works on the
river were damaged to iome extent during the
present year by high water, but not to the ex
tent that was at first supposed. 1 was invited
during the present" fall by the directors of the
eomuanv. to iro unou the Hue of the works aud
a w r
and more ti;se u f ar Cr xrilitions are
necessary ' i"V-r:
It is doe ta 1st. , isoons .. to state ior
the past two years Or more, he has had but one
assisvant, instead of two, as originally contenv
plated, and that during tbe present year a con
siderable portion of his time .has been nccessart-
Iv devoted to the orenaration of bis report, in
compliance with the resolution of the last Gen
eral Assembly, be has collected and arranged
a cabtuet of rare and beautiful minerals, written
may be seen in the west wwjr of the Capitol,
and which will be found well worthy ofjoor
examination
jLeeming it a mailer vi didvu ubjiuiuiu
that the surrey commenced should bs-conipteted
lrespeetfully recommend that the act passed
for the purpose , by your predecessors, be.iwt
repealed. I kuow that niauy of our fellow
citizens incline to the 'belief, or perhaps do be
lieve, that no benefit will result to tbe State
.from What -has been done, or what may be done;
if tbe'nrork is farther prosecntt-d. Such is not
. i i .r ? m. , . . . r " . r
tue opinion oi scieuiiuv men, or at icusi ui some
of themJ I have before me now' a letter from
one of the most eminent geologists and chemist
in the country, speaking in the highest terms of
tee scientific discoveries of Dr. E. in this State,
and of the successful maimer in which he had
conducted the survey. In conclusion he says
"Tbe time will come, if the Legislature per
severes iu carrying forward this survey au
prints the reports properly, when the State
will be proud of this.work." And further
"I do l.ot kuow of a single instance, iu whit
the people of any State has ever regretted th
expenditure of money in a eeol.ojirieal survey,
nor one where the good effected has not been
immensely beyond the pecuniary cost of the
work."
By the provisions of the act entitled "an net
to amend the Constitution of North-Carolina,"
passed at the last session of the General As
sembly, the Governor of the State was required
to give notice of the passage of the same, to
the people of the State, by proclamation, which
twelve.
But for the reasons eta ted, it seems to me that a new
circuit should be established. It will be seen that by
reason of the set of the lat session there will be five
extra courts to be paid for in the 6th and 7 th circuits.
making for eacb year tbe sum or wity nearly ban
ttte SSOairy of a Judge. No additional expense would
be iaenrred for another Solicitor, as under the law
SsxtCKors receive o much for every court tbey attend.
I would, therefore, suggest that the 8 counties be
yond the ftlae Ridge, now belonging to the 7th circuit,
ad one county on this side of the mountains (McDow
ell, I think, would be most convenient,) tball consti
tute tb ifth circuit, anu tnai out oi ins six remaining
counties of tbe 7tb and the 14 counties of the eth cir
cuit, two circuits, tbe 6th and 7th, ehall be made.
x Accurate statistics or crime in a fctaie are siwsys a
matter of deep interest to many, and furnish inort
aaefal ibfonuation to thoe whose duty it is to make
oar ertmhm! laws, or to have them enforced. Since I
fcaare tee Governor of the btate . 1 have been called
HBO, repeatedly, from abroad, to furnish ruch infor
mation as to this Slate, but was uuablc to do so.
ldeem It a maiter of sufficient importance to bring
it to: TOor notice, and recommend that tome means
should be adopted to have reported, at least, all trials
for capital felonies. Tbis way be done very readily
by reqniriag the Solicitors in each judicial circuit to
report all such eases to the, Attorney General of the
State, wno s&oaia oe requireu 10 report mem, logemer
with the cases in his own circuit, to the Governor
of the State, to be laid before each General Assembly.
Under a resolution of tbe last General Assembly I
was required to appoint two commissioners to superin
tend the publishing of the Kevbed Code. H. F. Moore
and William B. Rodman, Esqrs, f m Sf
that purpose. The work was jiiini i i lllui
owing to the severity -of the last winter, could not be
shioiM-'d to this State as early as the lirt January last
when it took effect as the stat ute law of the Stale.
' we have
that kindl
robable that the Wilminffton. Charlotte r-rr.1hT Kail road will nltimntolv -i.Af &e's directors mat tne uiwma
andftuTSrdrWtroad
comply wTth the terms of its charter, eranted HividnH .r. n Parlv lv h. niPR"an5,". 1 S.rcSn-'' -jruoM h b
For bonds issued f vr of
Raleigh & Gastoa iC.4ad.
Ou bonds issued at sundry
times in no dor act
of 17 th Jzu. Ulin pro
vide for tUepsym'eut of tbe
debt of tha &tae to tbe
13 auk of Cape fear to the
Hank of theState.and other
debts due .on . acsoaat of
cndoi'seuieut by the Stae
for the Iiaieigh and Gum
ton Rail Road,
Under act to provide for
the payment of the debt of
the State, parsed January
28th, 1351,
Do. do. ' do. do.
Fayetteville and Western
Flank Road bonds, roa
ning twenty years,
Do. do. do. do,
Vs. do 1 do,
$500,000 00 Jas. !, i860
20,ooo ae i a ij
40,000 00 la 1861
130,000 IXi In 1862
2fi00 00 In ift69
33.500 00 Iu 1870
41,(W0 00 la 1S71
see the extent and progress of the improvement,
Bpt lay engagements were such,that 1 could not
ontw Avn.r.t,t ilo so. It is i represented to me bv one of the
r ,r. ""-r . St-W- J.r-that th nltimata-uraeticalMUt
,T. . . - . - - 1 ft k .. J A. j m.
nt
T mo -o alert HfuP va '
Western i. U. lia,;
at the last session of the General Assembly, ns
fr ...... I . ; y ii.ll . . o . p 1
i ciictuic ii ujiuu me oLaic ior enoorse-
ments of its bonds. As to the probable amount
of such endorsements, or the times when they
may be called for, I am not able now to give
any definite' formation. It is proper, how
ever, to refer you to the charter ot the compa
ny, and to say that, more definite information
will be laid before yon during your session,
should it come to my possession.
to the charter of the
d Co., by . which the
State is pledged to Swucribe two-thirds of the
stock for the sections hereafter to be built,
should private stockholders subscribe one-third.
Iu this detail of the present and prospective
indebtedness of the State, I have omitted tem
porary loan? by, and indeptcdness to, some of
the banks of the State, authorized by resolu-
1 tbOIlS of the last Gfnrrnl AKKpmlilv Thpse
Ti-'tj r i.ri-.r a . . . ... i
; p ia uumes arc nucmaimg, ana win more properly
appear in the report of the public treasurer.
To meet these liabilities, besides tbe means
to be derived from taxation and othr ordinary
sources of revenue, the State owns tlie ' follow
ing stocks and effects:
Raleigh & Gaston railroad stock,
par value,
X. C. Railroad, do. do.
N. C. R, preferred 6 per cent do.
Atlantic aild Jf. c. llailroad,
faid for, par value'
WcsTo N. C. Eailroad, do do
$487,500
2,000,000
1,000,000
533,000
200,000
dividend at an early day, aud thus measmijj
relieve ine puouc treasury. t$ut X am nocBuftj-
tiently informed upon the subject at this .time,
to form a reliable opinion as to how such 'tnav
be the case. You will, however, probablykave
sucu iuiu.iiuui.iuii iuiu ueiurc you uurmg tie
session, as will enable you to determine wbeih
er any aid may be reasonably expected' 4om
that source ih making provision to meet the
liabilities, present and prospective, of the State.
The ordinary expenses of the State grui
nient for the two fiscal years ending thetSigt
October, 1858, will not, I think, exceed ti'O -OOO.per
year. They wilt be more this yAr0u
account ofjyour session, and less the" uext ,
From the statements given it will aVCar
that the interest payable, annually, oiy the
present bonded debt of the State is $302,32? 15
And upon bonds 10 oe issued under
existing laws, the greater part in
the fiscal year, .70
And uuless provision is made for
raising it otherwise, there must
be paid out of the Treasury, in
- all probability, for the Yadkin
and New lliver Navigatiou Co'g,
the sum of 25,009 00
It will be seenj therefore, that the pitsent
revenue of the State will fall short of meeting
these , liabilities, and that further provision
should be made for that purpose.
I deem it a matter, too, of the first hnpor
tance, that provision should be made for the
ultimate payment of the debt of the State, pre
sent aud prospective, by creating a sinking' fan(j
f -
LrOckvUle, ou Deep river; that above litis point
i.v the liuitiueer in charge, and when that is
i-mnriieted, that the navigation will be open to
-oal fields. 13ut that some of the older
works must be replaced, to a considerable ex
tent, by new ones of a more substantial charac
ter -'and that to complete all the work contem
plated and relieve the company of an outstand-
... - 1 - . 1 ii rwwi ... 1. : .. u 1. n I
jujr debt Ol auoufc ? iw,uu, which uh gintuj
embarrassed the company - in its operations, a
further sum of about f 300,000 will be requisite.
I can ouly add that wheu mdre definite informa
tion as to this importaut work is' received, it
hali be promptly laid before you. : A report is
soon expected from the commissioners appointed
to superintend uie work on 'lor river, which
when received, .win oc iuiu oeioreyou.
it is my purpose also, in a short timef to sub
mit to you reports , irom other companies; in
eluding one from the ageut to superintend
the construction. of the Western Turnpike. He
informs me that all of the road from AsheviUe
to the Tenucssec line near the lines -Iowa
Copper Mine has been' completed,; excepting
about two: hundred yards near Wayaenflkv-ia
the county of .Haywood, ia relation to which a
suit at law is now pending,, ,. - .v t
I knorf not whatrcas may bd made vpon
. nt the present session - for furtnec-aiii to
works of interual Jmprofenieot. I hate her'
.rrA RYnressed "the opinion that the State
should foruish liberal aid to works of the kind,
extending them as rapidlj as she can, eousis-t
as to be published, together with a copy of
the act in ten newspapers iu the State, at least
six mounts oeiore tne election 01 memoers to 1
the uext general Assembly. - ; ;
In accordance therewith, my proclamation.
accompanied by a duly certified copy of the act-
was issued on the z4th January, leob, anu pnb-
siied for six mouths thereafter, consecutively,
iu the 3f ortli Carolina Standard Raleigh Beg?
tster, Democratic Tioueer, Warrentou ;Acws,
Daily Journal, Jforth Carountan, iayetteviHe
Observer, Greensboro. Patriot; Salisbury Ban
ner", and AsheviUe Newa. ' J. ,
The propriety of making the proposed amend
ment to our constitution ba undergone so mnch
discnssioil' throughout trie State for some years
past, and my own opinion has been ao c'tto
unbliclv expressed m its favor, that it. is hardly
necessary' for me to say more npon the subject
at this, time than to orrng tae matter to - your
attention, and earnestly recommend th' speedy
passage of the bill by requisite constttntlonal
majority iu the shape that passed the last
GFeneral Assembly : aud that Vou will, In on-
formity to the po vision of tbs constitntio on
the subiect "prescribe t mofle by vtuch tlie
amendmeut may be submitted to the ' qualified
voters of the ilouse of Commons - tarongbout
the State,w for their approval of Cisapproval by
At the last session of the General Assembly
bills were passed to rechaftef the Dank of Cape
Fear and the liank of the KUte of TiortD-Car
oliua.f I was duly etiTNM th: jsav prn.
1855 ihat the Btpch61dejffi;tlHTar
!....!. ...nllll llul MIWVU MHUIr.
milt UHUIUVW J www -.S-Ji a A-2T. -
of the Bank f the State decCaed to- reef.: of
the new charter , granted to Jnat ; isaiik. , jy
the terms of the present charter their corporate
powers will cease on the first ' January, 1860.
If this Bank should go into liquidation, it
would in my opinion, be - highly expedient to
charter, at this session, some other banking In
stitution to take its place, as well for , the pur-
pose Oi supplying ubuiux wu,un w we pub
lic as to enable tne state to maae a saie ana
nrofi table investment of the proceeds of her
stock in the present Bank, constituting -a It
does a laree andv wry producttTe part of the
literary guntL, . . ' . , ' ;
-; Should a hew cnajner not oe granted to ine
present Bank I respectfsllj , recommend to you
to charter a. new uimmiw : mm swi iw
millions of capital, based upon the same gener
ai principle, with qch gaurda and restrictions
as experiance may have sbown to be Beccasarj
placipf: Beither jatvn aci oecssaJ reslriatie
upon tae Uas, wor, ou ine,uicr
h bi lt nriviVta ..nd imoMinities over: -wad
above, irlidiijti. iilcs fteeessarj and . proper
for the aoobetsfl etmtet f itt bues.
It vikCtrri f -t rrsA ca iuftltatuti,4 pro-
periy - saett J, oc;j answer our vrants
furaklOr-r a-jciud e-nncY. jt3rd safe nd
profitaUa jaasuaent -for oef Literary Fnnd,
aiL sMttaf timea. ke f essential servirj to
the State i .abucial pot of view.
Tha4h2akinr. is KouLj, fit mv jOOUk be
safer to set apoa. Ihi'expwem of the bast
than to venture upon airy untried expmfnts.
A oroocr administration oj justice in , iaeA
;
Some of tbe volumes were damaged at Ptu by ttrcst. of
weather. ' Tbote directed to be di.- tribute d in this
State, and to tbe other States and Territories, were
dispatched at as early a day as practicable. Of the
residue, bat a small portion, comparatively, has been
sold. The greater part of those ou hand in Morcd in
buxes 10 the Capitol At an i-arly time 1 will submit
a more ce atted statement relating to iLe w hole matter.
Uuder ihe resolution directing distribution among
the Justices of tbe Peace, copies were oulj vfornit-bed
to those w hose names were.fieJtuZnett: by the CJerks on
their lists. Many ol those appoiuiod by the last Cent
ral swBirlr, (jualilird after tlie.Jl'iiV of It ugiKlraU-m u,
strut up by the respective Clerks. By the terms of the
resolution 1 was restricted to tbe list fnruii-bcd.. I
therefore recommend" tllat all those Magistrates ap
pointed by the last Central Assembly who qualified
subsequently, shall each be furnished with a copy of
the Code.
There is no provision now for sending our laws, as
published, to the different Departments of the General
Government. 1 have been applied to for them by one
or more of the Departments, but was unable to furnish
them. -I therefore recommend that provisiou be made
for that purpose.
It is iwbortaut to know, at many times what our
law is, and moreover, it would be but an inadequate
return for many valuatle books gent us by the general
government.
1 communicate nerewitn a conj
Renort of Mr VViler. State iSuperiutendent of Common
Schools, beine his r port for the year ir55. 1 am in
formed by hUu that his report for tbe preunt year will
bemaue at an early day.
Tbe one herewith sent will fee touna to contain niocn
valuable information ou lie subjecc of education ia
the Statev and especially as to the condition and pros
pects of oar Common Schools, and many valuable
suggestions arc made for the improvement of the sys
tem. The-.Statements mane 110m pages &a 10 34 or
the renort. inclusive, and the tables at the end of tbe
report, are especially interesting. Copies of this re
port will be lata upon your ucsks. - .
1ST lae centos of-ieou iv appears mat idc namncr ot
fwhlte-yersoas in the State between the ages of 5 and
?1 years, was x ld,4a3. sr, nucy reports tuewnoie
awoer oieuMren at Uie vommon acooois in a coun
ties in ihiaState from retaras to him) for the year
18&5, to nave been 11X.63Z. fcstiroatiDg for the few
remaininK counties, be gives tbe whole number of
Children At these scbooLs, in tbe State, at about 130,-
000: and at other acnools and colleges in the State
about 10,00; making the whole number at school in
the State about 140.UOU. unless be is mistaken in
the statements, and I do not believe that he is, the
day is .not distaat not more, at farthest, than one
resera-tloo wuen we , snail no longer oe reproacneu
tat th ignorance of our people, but all or nearly all,
w ill be able, at least, to read and write.
Aa oDUUoa baa prevailed to some extent in the State,
that the Common Schools have hitherto been of little
benefit, and that thus small benefit, and that this ehmu
benefit has been more than counterbalanced bp the in
jury resulting therefrom to other schools that most
Ot these nave .been aestroyea ana tuat in men places
we have tbe Common Scju ols but Jor a f mall portion
of the year. This may be trueo some extent, and in
some tocatlties; bat tbe evil, if it be one. 1 am satisfied,
is much less than many have supposed. Inferior schools
raeded ay the Commoa Schools, itut Ibis report shows
UMt - privaio scofKMS ana acsocinira oic invtvuecii
largely, and are ctill oa the increase.
1 am satisnen irom my own ooservauon,; anu in vpq
vwo years last past 1 have had ample opportunity to
observe in traversing every section of the State) that
th number or schools, male anu remale, especially tbe
latter, of a high grade, is rapidly increasing in every
part of tbe State; and I have observed it with pleauro
as one of the bast and Barest indications of the progress
of oar people.. y---
leavtir this subject, I deem it but an act of
justice tsvtte&iJwriBteodefit of .Common Schools to
say that, tn nvy-iPyyuoa, ne nas neon auigcnt, laitbful
and coMeientioua ib the discharge of his duties as such
, that be baa none tnca already to , introduce order,
bAnpoey, -ana unifbrtaity into the systeia, and that he
isetklotts and active in, endeavoring to carry oat fur
er piJWH,MJwprvvjDeu. .
-hie Stae, su'"asl am informed, baa succcssfnllv
poakroiecaCea a.Comjnoa School system, without a
Saperia.saUt, or soae omeer' of tbe kind: and it ia
fceltevedfhaixach aaofltoer is essential to the success
Bjatbe law, as It nowilands, the Governor is to have
prluteA )L3e copies of tit ananat report of the Super
iatendeat. 66 copies mmnfcft beta to distribute anions:
tbe pabl oOcea aad libraries of the State, and cob-
legea, Mta wacn ovuer. nierary imniiuiioiie, in ana out
of the Stated as he shall: 4sa proper the residue to
fca .daUveresa AX 'OmS t Superintendent for
dJsutian febi!'tasach manner as will best pro
ante the eanaa. ;af coanaoa education in tbe State."
This nasaber fbr general distribution is entirely too
niill to effect the purpose designed. Tbe additional
eostjsf larger number wonld be only that of the ad
ditional paper and press ork, which is comparatively
small. TJm type-settiaaf constitutes the main item ia
the cost tf paalieation. JfcTSuflfclent number should
brrpabiiabed to aappiy most Of those who arc connec ted
with, or takeao aonve Interest ia, oar Common Schools;
the expense Of printing .ad pnblishing to be paid out
of the liitet-ary Fnnd. ; The latcrary Beard, seeing thi
: