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RALEIGH, N. C, THURSDAY; NOVEMBER 23,- 1871.
No; 74.
i 5 !.'.- I '
ii i ii i. 1 1 -i ri ii j i n i l i
VJ . -s- .-vj XZT
GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE.
To tlu Honorable, the General Assembly
of the State of North Carolina :
11 the Constitution of our State, the
Covcrnor is required from time to time,
to jjive to the General Assembly informa
tion ul' the affairs of the Slate, and recom
mend to their consideration such measures
as lie may deem expedient."
IVfore" proceeding to the discharge of
this duty unposeil ty the Constitution, it
h iiH-et and proper that in the name a id
in behalf of the people of the State, I
should m:kc due arlcnowledgements to the
Supreme Huler of the Universe for the
many iicssings anu privileges lie lias be
stowed ujxtn.u.s and to invoke his con
tinued guardianship over our State and
Nation.
For the last six year?, gentlemen, we
h ivc leen struggling to repair and rebuild
the fortunes of the State which were wasted
and squandered in a most calamitous
struggle with" the General Government. It
v. ill answer no good or useful purpose to
enter upon the causes which brought on
this collision. Every one has his own
opinion on this subject, and instead of en
deavoring to open afresh the bleeding
wounds, or to revive the memories of the
-nd oust, it behooves us all to throw the
mantle of oblivion over our deferences, and
devote our energies to raising up our
In-loved old commonwealth from the low
rotate into which she has lallen to place
ht-r upon the proud eminence which she
occupied prior to the events inaugurated
ii a. a . i st r
in loo l, ana urougut 10 an enci in 1000, uy
tli triumph of the armies of theFeder.il
(lovernment.
However uutcli many of our wisest and
Ust men may have believed, they were
justified in resorting to hostile measures
lor the purpose of enforcing or defending
rights which they deemed to be in jeo
pardy yet it must now be apparent to
every candid observer that the step was
unwise in the extreme, bringing upon our
State nothing but calamity, and reducing
many f her people to bankruptcy and
min." With this sad experience continually
u-lbre our eyes remembering the former
grandeur of North Carolina the happiness
ami prosperity of her people the peace
and god will which once reigned supreme
in all her borders the mutual forbearance
ami respect her citizens entertained one for
another witu all these memories crowding
our minds, may we now resolve thnt here
after, whenevci it is" consistent with our
honor and our good name " to bear the ills
wr have, rather than fly to those that we
knv not of.,?
DEBT AXD FINANCES.
The most important subject which will
demand your attention at this session is
the debt and finances of the State.
The report of the Public Treasurer exhi
bits the condition of the debt. An analysis
..f it will show that the debt consists of
the following classes:
Firt : "01d,M or ' ante-war
debt' including 3S3,045
held ly the Board of Educa
tion which is in the form of
a certificate issued in lieu ot
old bonds, $8,761,245
Accrued interest, 1,588,515
$10,340,760
Second : Bonds issued since
the war under acts passed
before, in aid of Internal
Improvements,. $3,015,000
Accrued interest, 542,700
$3,557,700
Third : Iiouds issued since the
war to fund accrued interest
and past due bonds, viz :
I'nder act of 18CG,
44 J8GS,
Accrued interest,
$2,417,400
1,721,400
744,984
$4 883,784
Fourth : Bonds issued during
the war tor Internal Im
provement purposes, but
not marketable, because of
the time of issue, &c, viz:
Bonds issued under acts passed
iMiforc the war,
II ukU issued under acts pass
ed during the war,
Accrued interest,
$913,000
215,000
383,550
$1,511,550
Filth: Bonds issued under
acts passed since the war for
Internal improvement pur
poses, not special tax, viz:
I'nder ordinance of Conven
tion ot 18CS to Chatham
Railroad Co.,
To Williamston & Tarboro
K ulroad Company,
$1,200,000
150,000
$1,350,000
234,000
Accrued interest,
$1,584,000
Sixth : Special Tax Bonds, is
sued under nets passed in
180-09, and since repealed
by act of S4h oQIarch, 1870,
viz :
Bonds to Eastern Division of
Western North Carolina
Railroad Company,
Western Division of Western
North Carolina Railroad
Company,
Western Railroad Company,
Wilmington, Charlotte and
Rutherford Railroad Com
pany, Wilhamston & Tarboro Rail
road Company,
Atlantic, Tennessee & Ohio
Railroad Company,
$273,000
0,367,000
1,320,000
3,000,000
300,000
147,000
$11,407,000
1,475,670
812,882,670
Accrued interest,
Seventh : Bonds pronounced
unconstitutional by Supreme
Court, viz:
Bonds issued to Chatham ItaiJ-
I
road Company, now out
standing, Penitentiary on Deep River,
$350,000
100,000
$450,000
SUMMARY OF DEBT.
The principal of the entire
debt is $29,900,045
The total amount ot accrued
interest thereon to, October
1, 1871, is 4,987,419 45
Total amount of principal
and interest is $34,887,464 45
The only securities held by the State
from which she derives any income, are the
$300,000 stock in the North Carolina Rail
Road Company, on which six per cent
dividends have lately been realized
which dividends, by a decree of the Cir
cuit Court of the United States, for the
District of North Carolina, have been sub
jected to the pa-ment of interest due on
the bonds of the State issued to pay for
said stock.
Commenting on the foregoing list, I re
mark that the first class, consisting of the
ante-war bonds, originally sold some over
par, all averaging nearly par, the proceeds
ot which mainly built our railroads, seem
to be of the highest dignity. The second
class, although issued under acts passed
before the war, it is notorious were sold at
not more than fifty cents in specie, and not
exceeding sixty-five or sixty six cents in
currency, when tneir depreciation was
heavy. It is believed that many realized
less than fifty cents in specie.
The bonds of the third class are also of
undisputed validity. In fact, many were
exchanged for old or ante war bonds which
had become due, or for those which had
become mutilated or scratched the resi
due for coupons at par (without interest
at maturity) which had become due main
ly on the ante-war debt.
The fourth class the General Assembly
has heretolore, except to a small amount,
refused to recognize; but it seems difficult
to piove .that they have not been valida
ted in general terms by the ordinance of
the Convention of 1865-'66, declaring all
debts binding on the State when not in
curred in aid of the rebellion. But it rec
ognized they should be scaled according
to the rate of depreciation at the date of
issue, and of course they should not he rec
ognized unless it shall be proved that their
proceeds were applied to building our
railroads.
The fifth class stand on the same foot
ing as the second, but they were sold prob
ably, at a lower average price.
The bonds of the sixth class were sold,
nearly nil of them, at ruinous rates
many bringing only from ten to thirty
cents in currency ; very many were sold
under circumstances which ought to have
put prudent men on their gurd sold in a
reckless and gambling manner,so that it was
plain to the most unwary, that the agent
of the company to which they were issued
was not actiug with fidelity to the inter
ests of his principal besides many were
disposed of after the General Assembly, by
the act of January, 1870, give notice to
the world that they had ordered the return
of said bonds, and that future sales ot
them would be invalid and lastly a large
number, according to a report made by a
committee of the House of Representatives,
were issued without the certificate required
by law.
The seventh class, I am of opinion the
State cannot recognize, but if she owns any
property, purchased with the proceeds of
these bonds, such property might be sur
rendered to bona Jide purchasers of said
bonds before their constitutionality was
questioned further than thi3 in my opinion
the General Assembly cannot go.
In considering the important and most
difficult problem of the public debt, the
following questions present themselves :
1st. What is the actual amount for
which the State in equity and good con
science is liable ?
2nd. This amount being ascertained, are
the people of the State able to pay the
annual interest on the same, regularly and
promptly ?
3d. If theoretically able, are they in their
present condition of poverty and depres
sion, willing to submit to the sacrifices re
quired ?
4th; Supposing that the people are either
not able or not willing to pay the interest on
the public debt for which they are justly
liable, what shall be done ? Shall we do
nothing, or endeavor to effect an honora
ble settlement with the public creditor ?
With regard to the first question as to
the actual amount for which the State is
justly liable ; in my judgment this cannot
be ascertained without investigation by
able financiers and business men men
trained to weigh evidence, and of discern
ment sufficient to detect fraud.
As to the second question ; I remark
that the report of the Auditor shows that
the people of the State are in such a state
of depression that the total valuation of
real and personal property will not exceed
$121,000,000.00. The immense natural
resources of the State are admitted, and it
properly developed, the taxation necessary
to pay the interest, on a much larger debt
would be a light burden. The low valua
tion above stated shows that the annual
profits from this property is small. To
my this interest and support the State and
county governments, as well as to provide
for the education ot our children, to say
nothing of the payment of old debts owing
by counties and towns, which in mauy in
stances is being enforced by the courts,
will be such a large per centage of the in
come of our people, that I am U reed, re
luctantly to conclude, that they cannot
bear the necessary taxation without being
deprived of their property, and in some
cases of even the necessaries of life.
If I am correct in supposing that the
people cannot now shoulder this taxation,it
is unnecessary to inquire into the third ques
tion, ad to their willingneu to do so. Our
people are generally honest.- Repudiation
directly is lar from their thoughts. Any
such action will be in the last degree pain
iul and revolting to them. Their evident
unwillingness at this time, arises from their
belief that they areunaMtf to pay. Whether
right or wrong in this opinion,they are Imn
estly determined, I think, on this question;
If I am correct in judging the public mind,
then the public creditor has no means ot
enforcing the satisfaction of his debt by
law. The State cannot be sued by him;
but even if it were otherwise, all legal pro
cess against large communities, unanimous
in resisting, would be vain. The experi
ence ot creditors of single counties in the
North-west and elsewhere, shows that it is
difficult and costly to recover satisfaction
out of a single county in a State.. If all
the counties are in the same mind, and
threatened with the same exactions, sucM
recovery will oe utterly impracticable.
. . . i jr. i
Officers could not be found to enforce the
process of the courts, and even if enforced,
the recovery would be- valueless. INot
only in America, but in despotic countries,
t lie seiuea tout or ine vsopie wuu always
prevail against the tjj&rries and'technical
ities of law, however supported by prece
dent just as in the late war we found the
courts always 'deciding stay laws to be
unconstitutional, yet the people, thiough
the Legislature, in defiance of the courts,
managed to stay the collection of debts.
The only remedy which the public cred
itor can possibly make available, as to -the
legality of which I express no opinion, is
the enforcement, through the courts, of
the provisions of such charters of the vati
ous Railroad ComDanies in which the
State owns stock as subject the stock held
by the State, and all dividends thereon to
the DaYtnent of the principal anj interest
of the bonds issued for the benefit of such
companies. In the case of the North Caro
lina Railroad Comoanv. the Circuit Court
o. the United States for the District of
North Carolina, has already decided to
subiect the dividends declared by the
Company on the stock belonging to the
State, to tire payment of interest on the
bonds of the State issued for the benefit of
that corporation. It is said to be in con
templation to ask the court to order a sale
cf stock held by the State sufficient to re
imburse to the bondholders' the dividends
heretofore paid into the Public Treasury.
I respectfully suggest to the General As
sembly whether it is not proper to order a
sale of all the stoeks owned by the State,
to be paid for in the securities for which
such stocks were originally pledged.
Such a course would reduce the debt of
the State to a large extent and seems to
be demanded by the terms of the contract
with the public creditor.
The last question is, what shall be done
with the public debt, supposing that the
State cannoiyOt icill nott pay the interest
now, and will not give any assurance of
paying the same within a reasonable time?
Several schemes are suggested in this re
gard. Some say, ''Let matters remain as
they are -make no provision for paying
interest make no effort for a reasonable
settlement pass no act of partial repudia
tion let the future take care of itself." If
this plan be adopted, certainly interest
will accumulate so rapidly that the very
magnitude of the debt will lead to total
repudiation eventually. I think this plan
neither honest, nor manly, nor wise.
Another plan is to pay two per cent, in
terest the first year on the whole debt
after the just and true amount shall have
been ascertained ; three per cent, the next
year; four per cent, the third year; five per
cent, in 1875 and so on in regular progres
sion, so as to make an average of six per
cent, in the whole. Such a scheme was
adopted in Missouri since the war. This
plan could not be successful or expedient,
except in a State rapidly increasing in
population and wealth. The annual pay
ments would soon become so large that
they would be intolerable, unless the taxa
ble property should correspondingly in
crease. It i3 also liable to the objections
that it is complicated and cumbrous, and
that it is a mere speculation on the suppos
ed events of the future.
A third plan is to assure the public
creditor that the State is at present una
ble to pay interest on its debt that it
acknowledges the binding force of the
debt that it desires to fulfil all its just
obligations, and will do so at the earliest
time possible; but that it is a matter of
uncertainty when that , time wilj arrive.
The people can pay something at present,
possibly they may be able to pay a larger
proportion herealter whether they can or
not is one of the uncertainties of the future.
Hence according to this plan we may offer
the following proposition: -Let the btate
create a new debt, issue new bonds bear
ing three per cent, interest, payable iu spe
cie, with a tax imposed in the act, suffi
cient to raise funds to pay such interest
then make it optional with the bond
iiolders to exchange their old bonds for
the new issue or await the chances of such
improvement in the condition of the State
as will secure to them payment of their
claims in full. I suggest, without mak
ing any recommendation either pro or
con, that it might be provided that in lieu
of $1,000 bonds bearing three per cent, in
terest, $500 bonds bearing six per cent, in
terest might be given in exchange for each
-$1,000 bond held by him.
In my opinion the people can bear the
burden of such a settlement, and those
bondholders who do not think they have
a specific lien on valuable stocks owned
by the State (e. gy those of the North Car
olina Railroad Company,)would be willing
to accept one proposal or the other. . Ot
course it will be entirely optional with the
creditor whether he will accept either
proposition, or await future developments.
By pursuing this course the General As
sembly would merely acknowledged
frankly a palpable truth ; they would ofler
the best, which in the judgment of many
the people can do at present, and they
would refrain from a repudiation of their
contracts.
But ; whichsoever course the General
Assembly may see" fit to adopt, I think it
absolutely essential that a commission shall
be constituted, in whom the public have
confidence, to ascertain and report all facts
connected, with the public debt, so -that
some definite conclusion may bev reached f
reached by-the Legislature as to the true,
leal, equitable liabilities of the State,
; This commission should likewise ascertain
'' from the creditors1 their views -as to what
final and honorable settlement can be made
: of their claims. Considering the enormous
J losses of the State, in able bodied men
' slain or disabled in the sudden overturn;
ing of the system of labor in the,destrucv
tion of property in the insolvency of all
its banks, and the loss of their circulating
medium-in the ruin of crops by various
causes-ih the want of good faith of some
, ot her agents, and in fine in the countless
losses and disasters of a people conquered
'. after a lor g' and desperate wary the credP
tors ought to be reasonable and willing to
cbmpromise; and certainly it U not un-
- "I i " A.
maniv in our people iraniciy to coniess ine
facts of their condition the results of their
fruitless struggle.
The above observations are made, be
2 causetl feel painfully anxious oh' account
f oi inconuiuon oi our-puuuc ucui, --xw-1
pudtation hf our contracts in any shape
would leave such a stain on our conscience
and our honor, would bring such disgrace
and, directly and indirectly, inflict such an
injury on pur people, collectively and in-,
dividuallv. that I have felt it my duty to
state all the" difficulties of the' financial
situation with the utmost frankness, in
order , to show the necessity for, prompt
action. Let us ascertain the full extent of
our obligations, and then manfully address
ourselves to the task of fulfilling them in
the most practicable manner which will
commend itself to the wisdom, and good
sense, and integrity of the people of the
State. If the General Assembly shall sec
fit to authorize the appointment of a com
mission as above suggested, it may be
advisable to defer maturing any financial
plan until their report shall be presented--and
perhaps by that time such renewed
prosperity may, in the Providence of Odd,
be vouchsafed to us. as1 will demonstrate
our ability to meet all just! demands, and
infuse into our people the disposition to
bring back to North Carolina her ancient,
proud financial reputation.
CONDITION OP SOCIETY.
It is a matter of unfeigned regret to me,
to feel obliged to call the attention of the
General Assembly to the disorganized con
dition of Society in our State. I shall not
consume your time by entering into a de
tailed statement ot the extravagances and
crimes which have been committed in
various localities within our borders. They
are fresh in the recollection of ?tll. Their
commission lias brought reproach upon
our people, and the material interests ol
the Srate have been most seriously and
injuriously affected by them. The tide of
immigration, which at one time seemed to
be setting towards our shores has been
driven back, and thousands of persons with
millions of capital, have -been deterred
from settling among us by the talcs of hor
ror which have reached their ears, as .oc
curring almost daily in some portions of
the State.
It behooves you. gentlemen, to take this
matter into your serious consideration, and
to devise measures and enact such salutary
laws as will restore peace and good feeling
among our people, and deter evil disposed
persons from taking the law into their own
hands and becoming the executioners of
unauthorized judgments. Until this be
done, and the civil law is made to reign
supreme in the State, and its ministers are
respected, and their hands upheld and
strengthened, there will be no peace, pros
perity or real happiness among our people.
What greater good then can you accom
plish than to strive by wise and prudent
legislation, divesting yourselves of all party
prejudices, to put down and utterly ex
terminate all unlawful combinations, by
visiting upon offenders such a measure and
such a certainty of punishment as will
deter them Irom further prosecuting' their
nefarious purposes, and give to the law
abiding class of our people assurances of
protection in the enjoyment ot their lives,
liberties and rights, both of person and
property ? Do this, and in a very short
time immigration will begin to flow to our
State, our waste places will be built up,
our soil will groan with the rich products
of the earth, our deserts will be converted
into gardens, and our whole people will
dwell together in such unity as becomes a
civilized and christian community.
EDUCATION.
I desire, gentlemen, in an especial man
ner to call your attention to the educa
tional interests of our State. No people
can be prosperous or happy who are bound
in the chains of ignorance, and who have
not facilities for bursting asunder the fet
ters which dwarf their minds and cripple
all the nobler faculties of their nature. It
may be said that Nonh Carolina is too
poor to do more than she is now doing for
the cause of education. It may be impru
dent at this time to place additional bur
dens on the people in behalf ot ourUniver
sity, or any ot the colleges or high schools
in our midst. But we are far behind the
people in the cause of common schools.
It is much better that all shall receive the
rudiments of a good English education,
be taught to read fluently, write legibly,
and understand the use of figures, than
that a few shall be educated in the high
er branches of polite literature,' and im
bued with a knowledge of the dead lan
guages, and made proficients in the higher
branches of art and science. , The one is
absolutely needed to make our men and
women good and useful citizens, while the
other may be dispensed with until a new
era of prosperity shall dawn upon us, and
enable U3 to rebuild and rehabilitate the
University, and establish throughout our
borders 'col leges and schools of high grade
and character. Go totvork then, gentle ,
men, and resolve that every', child in the
State shall be taught to read and write
that those who are not able to ? educate
themselves shall be educated by the State
-that in the next decade every person be
tween the ages of ten and twenty-ope years
who is ol sound mind, shall , be able to
read the word of God and the Constitu
tion and! laws of the country.';4 'Fear not to
i levy tribute tor, this 'glorious cause." ' It
will be like bread cast upon the waters
uthon shalt find it after many days."
i , : i! TiTE UNIVERSITY.
With regard to the University of the
State, a principal obstruction J to its! " siic
1 cess is its pecuniary embarrasmcntsV for
which, as far as I can judged the present
board of trustees are in no wdse responsi
ble. The principal debt amounting to
about sixty thousand dollars was incurred
. and a mortgage made to secure the same,
before they came into office. In 1?68 the
, patronage of the Institution had been' re-
duced to less thah onc hundred 'students.
; Prior to this time, however, the chief
portion' of its endowments had .been .lost
bv unfortunate investments. , Until the in
stitution is relieved " from debt, and its
property froni . incumbrahce",'tliere can be
but Uttlo hope of its success or useiqiness.
' In my opinion an ' bonest and faithful ef
fort was made' to lilt the University, from
the condition in which it was found 'at
the close of tttie' ate'tva" Tjivi Viiet: with
little or no fayqr from,' the class of persons
by whom it rwas crushed. They have hot
aideel : the Officers jd their effiarts to build
, it up. Public opinion has 'bee'nniOulded
against it b,y the most' unscrupulous mis
representations, tand , by ' Violent'' appeals
i through 'a'V tiartizan press? Those-; who
: would have patronized "Jit 'were threatened
with social ostracism.; The VoungJ were
deterred from entering, its ; nails, and
parents, ve"ry naturally hesitated to compel
the attendance of their sons,' and now' the
cause of failure is imputed by some to the
Trustees and Faculty. The remoteness of
Chapel Hill from the railroad'; i4 bdieved
by'many tb be in the way of its prosperity,
It is more difficult of access than ny other
colleges; uui iius is u iiiuiiei ui uiiuui im
portaoce. 1 ; " , ":
The forewo i h & a i e 4 so me" of : 1 the " d i ffl Cti i
; tiesVwi th which the University has had to
- cuuieuu. jusi pnui iu iiie iaic, cicuuuu a
spirited controversy begah In some of the
' religious newspapers, in which it'was prb
posed to abolish the University. This,;!
imagine, was in view oi hib. caning oi a
Convention. Those Who have since pur
sued the Controversy seem to have done so
without adverting to the change in the
situation.
The Constitution of the State not only
contemplates the continuance oi tne uni
versitv. but actuallv prescribes Yules 'tot
its management. The corporatiih,cann6t
. be dissolved while the present Constitution
stands. It has been suggested that the
. Trustees should sell somuch of the prop
erty as is situated at Chapel Hill and pur
chase a more eligible location elsewhere,
From such a sale, at this time, the trustees
would probably not realize half the actual
value of the property, and it could result in
no more, if as much as the bare payment
of the debts, and leave the Board without
the means of future operations. I cannot
believe that such a proposition will meet
with any favor in any quarter at the pres
sent time. Under all these c;rcumstances
I recommend the legislature to adopt such
measures as in its wisdom will secure the
interests of the State from a great loss, arid
prevent the property of the University
from a forced sale for the payment of debts.
Then close the doors ot the institution until
more prosperous, times. In the meantime
give to the Superintendent of Public In
struction power and authority to take all
the property into his possession, and make
such a disposition of it by lease from year
to year, as to him shall seem most condu
cive to the interests of the University and
the State requiring from the lessee a bond
with ample security for the safe keeping
and good care of said property and also
for the annual payment of the rents until
the expiration of the lease. .
SUFFRAGE.
The greatest bulwark of civil liberty,
and the one best calculated to promote
and make perpetual the freedom of the
citizen, is the right of suffrage. The sov
ereign people are the rightful custodians
of power in all well regulated goverpments.
.Upon them fall all the burdens of keeping
the machinery ot State in running order
They furnish the means to build up your
schools and colleges ; to make your Rail
roads, and canals ; to erect .your asylums
and charitable institutions; to sustain your
ministers of law ; to repress domestic vio
lence and to defend our country against
invasion from a foreign, foe. For these
services they ask nothing in return but the
right to choose their agents of govern
ment and their representatives in the na
tion and State, and the enactment of such
laws as will protect them in. the enjoy
ment of all the rights apd privileges ac
corded to them by -the. Constitution and
, laws ; of their common ' country. While
the people have the privilege to select their
own law makers, without let or hindrance;
while they feel free to march up to the bab
lot box and vote according to the dictates
of their own better judgments;, while they
have ample and unrestricted opportunities
to exercise this-inestimable right,. .there
need be no fear for, the perpetuity of our
republic. Then; gentlemen, it is your im
perative duty to make the ballot box as
accessible to the people as it is possible to
make it.- Thrw .no . obstructions in the
way of a free ballot ; to those who are ep
titled to vote., Let the poorest and hum;
blest individual , in oqr State . feel that he
is as welcome at the polls as is the richest
and mightiest man in the land. Cause
;him to feel that if he is made to bear; the
beat and burden of the day in time of
danger, when the sons of our soil are called
upon to defend our rights on the battle
' field, so in time of peace he is welcome to
-: all the immunities,' privileges and Tran
chises which : his valor secured. I there
fore warn you not to place the ballot, box
f beyond the reach of any of our people who
fare rightfully entitled to- approach it
Throw no troublesome obstacles in their
.i;way give them nd just cause to complain
; -of oppression, : injustice 1 or a withholding
of any of their rights, ; but aid and en
courage, them in j all their efforts to dis
charge 'their duties-1 as J becomes ; free-'
limen." In order' to accomplish this "end
I think; it necessary to amend the faw now
' in force; so that the elector ' may have the
; :right to deposit his ballot at any election
precinct iu ux wuuijr. xuec is.xiu gvuu
'reason why he . shall 'W; restricted ' to the
- townsnip in wuicn ue resides, it olttn '
' happens bnder our present system that a'
voter is forced to travel a' much greater'
distance to reach a polling place in his own
township than he w-uild be to one in an
adjoining township. - I am also of opinion
- that registration ought not to bo-allowed
on -the day 'of election, ! and that nd voter
" should be challenged except at the time of
registration, and it should bo made the
sworn duty 61 every registrar' to challenge
every man who applies to be enrolled as
a voter unless he knows of his own
knowledge that he is ; legally entitled
to. be , v enrolled. , Many persons ji have
been prevented fromV exercising the ribt
of suffrage by reason "of. evil minded, per,
sons 'challenging their Tight on frivolous
; grcwlsfto, as o consume the time-within
which the. polls. arc to be kept open. This
i evil'shoultl be .jrcinedied,' and I know of no ,
other ;way in :which .it can; be done unless
?; it VeJ by, exfcriling the, time "of,, voting-
tlughout tw , The " ,
I law shquldjj
i" deposit ailThi's" ballots in tho same box,, in
1 steadjof rcquiricja.. multiplicity of. boxes
to receive thet1irio'us ballots for the differ ;
; ent officers" tu' lie vyted for., Jt is ii iiotori
. ous and lamentable fact that a largo num
ber of the . electors in orth Carolina v of ,
both colprs.are uneducated and notable to ,
- read, and; under the present system of yo
- tins where iiersona are reouired to vote bv
- bajlo.ajtbiiavo 'a separate ballot, for
every perso'n voted fori many , of the pickets
necessarily' hnil their,, way .into the. wrong
box. and arc discarded as, blanks, and thus
the ypter -is;bjrj . law. chetd j,0ut , of jiis
.' rlintpff. . T takft it fnr rrrantnti ' tliafc cvrrv
! law. nv)ker is not only willing, but desirous
that qycry, man entitled to vote shall exer-,,
cise tho, privilege, and shall have eyery, fa-,,
( cility ;for exercising it, ;f nd tbnt.H wiU be
the aim of his General Assembly to amend , ;
the law. upon this subject, so jthat the eyiU
and difficulties above enumerated may. bo
remedied; and; avoided. -It may be said
that frauds will be perpetrated -roorc read-.
ily if persons arc permitted ' to vote- in
townships other, than the, ones in which,
they reside. , In reply to this pbjection it
' is 9nly necessary to refer to the former
1 method of voting in North Carolina, under
; which there were ;ew frauds perpetrated
; and seldom a complaint made. And now
with the additional safe-guard of registra
tion, it will be almost , impossible for any
one not qualified to avoid detection in an ,
attempt to vote illegally. If, however, any
one phall succeed in eluding, he vigilance
of the poll-holders,, and vote when he has ,
no legal right to do so, t lien let the sever
est penalties of the law be visited upon the
offender, and in order to deter every one
from the commission of this offence, I rec
ommend the General Assembly to subject
any one convicted of casting an illegal
vote wilfully and kro.vingly at any elec
tion, to a punishment for at least two years
in the State's prison, and a depiivation of
the right of suffrage for a term of years
thereafter. The purity and inviolability of
the ballot box must be preserved, and he
who is so corrupt as wilfully to invade and
prostitute it, should be made to know that .
he will be held to strict and fearful ac
countability. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.
The subject of amending the Constitu
tion has been agitated for some time before
the people, and many well informed per
sons differ among themselves as to what
amendments shall or ought to be made.
. I am free to confess, gentlemen, that. I feel
a very great reluctance to make any re
commendations to you upon the subject,
although my individual opinion is that the
instrument may be very materially- im
proved in some of its provisions. The
question of calling a Convention for the
purpose of revising and amending it has
recently been before the people themselves,
and by a large vote and in an emphatic
.manner, they declared against amending
it, at least in that way; it i may be that
they believe the clamor raised for a'change
of the organic law was due more to legis
lation under the Constitution than to any
defects in the Constitution itself, and that
the greater portion of the grievances com-
plained of might and should be removed
or remedied by wise and prudent legisla
tion. In this opinion I heartily concur.
The Constitution is not to blame: for the
(high salaries and fees paid to various State -:
and county officers; neither is it censura
ble! for the great length of time consumed
,by the-present and preceding General As- !
sembly in enacting, laws ; nor 'can it bo'
held responsible for the extravagant a p-'
propriations made for Railroads and other
t works of improvement. There ;is nothing
-in said instrument which'' fixes' salaries'
an i fees, or prescribes the length of your
sessions, or which directs the lavish appro
priations of money all5 this is done by
- persons chosen ;by the people- themselves'
to be their- la w-makers," and upon .fhee
law-makers who have been faithless to the
trusts confided to them -and riot upon the
Constitution should "be ''visited the con
demnation of their constituents.1 'They are
the parties to; be 'held responsible for a
. betrayal of the people's confidence. Un
faithful stewards who have not improved
t he ' talents committed ;. to their keeping,
they 'should be reckoned as unprofitable'
servants and no longer worthy of; public"
confidence. Then. I entreat you ip'retracu ',
any false step which may have' been taken ;
be diligent in fhc discharge of t' your legis- !
lative : dutjes ;f ' waste rib' tfnie ' In ; useless
legislation go to workSvithout unnccessa-.
ry delay ; enter at once upon the public V
business ; and bring your labors to a Close af '
'the' .earliest f possible moment' consistent
with the public good I recommend the'.'
following amendments to the Constitution
First. Let section 2. of .Article II, be s' , ,
'amended that th6 General Assembly shall ''
"meet biennially on the third Monday in u
November, instead of annually.' and that it
; shall not remain in session for a longer" :
'' time than seventy days, unless the seven-" '
Jtieths day occurs on Saturday, or Sunday, ''''
i:and in that case, it may be.' prolonged to
7 the seventy first or seven ty-second day ; antl
further, that if ;it reniam in ' session a "$M
'longer time, the members shall receive no ,!
pay after the seventy-second day. f ' " :
1 Second. Xet the 5th fcCtion of, tlic sahic "; ;