Newspapers / Raleigh Times [1847-1852] (Raleigh, … / Nov. 29, 1850, edition 1 / Page 1
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r f4 TT 1 nn ri iti.isiii.n r.r.ia.Y by en. c. uahotkal', i.in r.t ami rnoi'Kurrou. TERMS: 6250 PER AN.NTM IS ADVANCE, OR 3 w if nv.niiM is ijli.ai ki six months. VOl,. IV RALEiGH, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21), 1850. 'IP H A ME So and ariitut opposition, yet a m ijority al the ball -'.t box had so decreed il; mid the supremacy of tli:it arbitrament is acknowledged mid acquiesced ill by sill Hi'cf itMW Bliii by f li Mauv subjects uf paramount importance to the tii-ir Mu.., -.111(1 jui administration, and (o minute "late, will claim your attention during the present ' the p'ii?f:i welfare of a iieople is ti nut of high t session. uwirr'igiit , present anoreesioii of the decest The duties of the Executive of North Carclina interest In II vtasi of tin1 People, ami suggests I have, by cumulative act of the Genera! Assembly, in every I li piirhiietil ot Ihe Government llie solemn 'become si) multifarious and heterogeneous, that MI'.Ss (,f, i.' .'jv.v(. ncp Covt.K.'iOi; MiNlY tn iln- Legislature ol North Carolina. the t.i, h- -.(' A....,.,,.;,. ,t-e. The fnii.( tulioitn! esseinblage t'"1 Represen tatives!'! Freemen, In enact . laws, In provide lor ll II' I II 1 1 'IH t" in tllVIll, I II U i l, III IK l.t.l.l'll , tt; sut.- einctand desultory. In giving, through yuu, to the people of the State, an account of the manner in which they have been discharged, I slull, at the Raine time, take a rapid review ol the general con diiinn ol our Stale affairs; andiihall, with utmost !, candor and becoming respect, make such suggCB duty lit Muniing tier sincere thanks to the Groat Governor n! llie Ciiiverse lor continuing to us, as a State, those bnun'lfiil gilts of Ills , Providence, health and pi-ace mid plei.ty. Sinn- !li.' lastme-tingol' Hie I ionera I Assembly, tnr I'.i uu ' v iiis pissed through a fiery ordeal, of c 'iillic.tihg p i -sinus nikl section i! interests, rostil- "H iitr fi'otu t iii iirqiiisitioii uf Va-t regions of distil ut I Hons lis in my judgment shall be . worthy of the I err tury, c insing just alarm lo the friend or the I moll nnd of free irnvertlim-iit throughout tho V. iit'i. 1 )uritiij tliis pardons contlic: in our Nation a I ( 'oil n i' i Is. ami aniid.-t the agitation of the ie:pie o'm me i if i,e States aioutnj u, NorthCitrnhna has remained a 'silent, but not Hu lllluinved nor listless jiecta li;r. . Ardently devoted to 1 1 it porpe-tnilvof our Union, to the Const ituliou 'us is is," and at die saine-time knowing h ml daring to maiiiiin an I 'defend her rights, granted or guarantied bv the National Com pict, Im Stale rejoiced with inure unalloyed HUis taction at t'ie amicable settlement of thin distrac ting controversy.' The late uiljustment, by Con press, of these jimculiies, was h proud triumph of piitriolisiu nnd compromise over fanaticism and the spirit of disunion ; and exhibited to the world the possession, uyour people of that tii.'ble. 'public v irtue and dcvul.on to cniintry, lbs true test of the inestimable value they place iip.ui the Union, and the sure harbinger of the stability of our (iovern in nt. . .' This adjiistuienl, and the acts by which it has lieen consummated, are now, however, met with violent denunciation and opposition, ttnioiig some ul'uur brelhren North unci Sotilh, . . While it the .North: ilmorjratiijtera and fanatira are contederatin' tocethor to nullify ami obstruct the execution o! the laws ol the land, certain Soiilheni politiciat.s are zealously engaged ill concocting plans aim assoe.iuti.jis, which, howev er designated, may lead tn I nion. Lxtrenic f.irtionists ing for their own selfish cud, sinisUr influences upon the public uiiiiil, have alwavs existed in our Ooveniineiit, nnd will o continue, while a pcpiilar lorin of uovernineiit t-xist among us. Their iimchinations have hitheitu yielded to the lorce ot reason and enlightened patriotism. 1 lit; Hpiril ot disunion, boretolore confined to some ptrticti'ar section of the country, u now, however, acquiring all expansion Hiid and strength that deumnd the combined counteraction of tho boos of freedom mid friends of the Union through out llie land. In this imridicul .strife, let tin lake neither lot no: part. Let us hold fast to tlie uniuu of the States. ' calm eonsiJeralion of the Legiflative Ilepiirtmenl ot our tnivcrninciit. AMENDMKNT' OF T1IF. CONSTITUTION. It is not to be denied t-tat a large, n-spectable and intelligent pnitiouof the Stite are strongly ' in clined lo alter (he Constitution. lii n this topic was started short while aco, the denire of u change ill the Guvenunent weiu no further than a sin jie iiJteralion of the (.'on- itutiou, io wit to enlarge the persjnal right ol has power to calls Convention into being, but no jmierr of : hemic! ten to prescribe a limit, tint!, aid'vtrilii. I hazard little in saying that the people ot mirth l arolina have not Intlierlo exhibited a ftong ili'sire lorsiich an experiment as thif upon (heir .(lovernoient ; and, therefor , it be hooves their Kepreserilatives to look weil to the mode, they adopt for introducing reforms into the Constitution. If it should be the pleasure of this Assembla to avoid the instrumentality of a Convention altoijetH cr, you, ran, of yotisi'lves, initiate nn alteration of the Constitution, in virtue of the second section ot the 4tli article of amendment stn the ('unstitui on of 1S35. To effects reform bv tliis mode of pro- ceding, it will be requisite that the alteration proiosedfiSha.liI be Brni'tional by a in ijurity of three fifths of all the members of a II the members ol your bmlv : llrat the Mine, shall be sanction"d bv two thirds ot tlie members of the Asremh'yvif 185-: and afterward continued by a iiiiijutity of the people votmg at the 1'olls. Ccnfesseilly our Con sti'ution lias thus been hei'ged in against hasty or Ireijiient changes, unJ tin re will be no little difli culiy in procuring an alteration of it. Ought not this consider it ion tooperate poucrfully up "il the iiiiiiiisof those whosiiwrei VisT"free BiiltriiiO," to prevent, if they can, its association with oilier propositii.n for amendments ? Would il be either unite into on'' bill pev'Til ami ciillVu.ri. mi uli u llitii' u 11 iL'hiln frimnioi, ill' ttm v. ... ...'..... u. ...;.i v.... I wise orproiier to m i c v U1C 1UI uciiaivis, THII ill iiuuiiL il' r- : ,- , , ... ,,. , I ljH ... j uislincl proportions? II niore than one,boiv mt- '", ' i . . V i. , i i nv separate questions of the kind will von combine? I need not inform yon now much nnd how rap-; .... , ' , , , , ... -, , . . . ... 1 ,. , , i I,- i 1 he precedent i be set now, will probably d-ter-idlvt hi demand or relorin has cu argei . 1! al- , ,', , , ,. , :! , i i,i -. , . . I ... . I mine the futnrepraclice, and may it n.it be asKed, readv embraces a chaliL'i; in the basis o reprtg"ii-; , ,, ., ... , . , .. ' ,. , ,. . ,, ., . ,, i wh'ther it will be fur dealing to combine two or tation in. (he deuera Assetnb y : and uu entire . ... , V , i ,i, ... , i ' . i , umre propositions into one act, nnd so compel the revo lt l mil of our Judiciarv system, and ol i , . . , .,',. ' - , i ,. i ' i - i . r !ir people to vote against wliat thev desire, or else to hi) principles upon w ric i it has s ood from ' ,rf , ... 6 , , , r ., ! ,!. .. .. , ,. I vote fjr what thev do not approve? It is, therefore, the beginning of rec government in North Caro-;- . , " i.,- i..i . II : Coinmended to your serious consiiierntmn, wheiher ,i "! '., , I. . . o.icb slterntion of the Constitution, when proposed, hptlmr mn.nrilii ,.l II.o nAni.ldam . .y-iMilfiiil. . . ' ... '. ! ' luiir it not to be nresented bv Use f uucoiia eil with in i , ed Willi the Constitution as it is, and therefore really desire to alter it in any or all of these itn porlaut respects, 1 cannot undertake to any j though that is the question which, in niy judgment, ought to be settled and ascertained an lecedent to any IsjislHthe enactm-Ms for altering the organic law of the Slate. A certain mode of determining the I point would be to pass a law at once for taking! .'.lati.ilis w or i howev- 1 e i . i e i i luu 411 article, or I ue .vssi ,.i.ii .jus, wincit, uoy v ivMe f ,e v,,,rs Up0l) , lp question o cinnge or . rj .-, ' ,. , dismemberiiient of the m d , Yml wjJ ,,, kM,H,w ww, lbU"c . J f m tt banc st. and agitators, exert- iliull ,;, ,oln(!t!lin of tlml Kfml -g,,, ' f ' " ' ' ' mid. s n ster nfluences i i. ' j "... . ........ . : i . tiiiou each proposed alteratn have been done, any action that is intended to be based upon the popular will must rest upon con jecture. 'This act may be passed by a majority of the Assembly. If the result uf the popular vote should show either indifference or hostility to the change, none ought lo lie attempted by the General an associate to do it harm, or an ally to help it through. It has been intimated by enlightened men 'of our Stale, 'that according to the trua spirit and meaning of the Constitution,' the power of the General Assembly to adopt a specific amendment, is confined to the case of a siuge amendment, and that it would be a violation of the 2nd section of llie 4ih article, for the Assembly to pass an act one alteration of the the duty of sciiiig upon each prorxised alteration separately, and ot enabling your successors, and, afterwards, llie people, to do the same, is imperative. . The opinions which 1 have thus hinted nt, upon this important subject, might he enfurced and illus trated bv many considerations which t have not introduced into this conimiiiiicatimi. I content the faith and the honor of the Stite, it will be' your first great duty to examine carefully her fi nancial condition. To learn her liabilities aim her means, and to make promptly and uoidly such provisions, as, while it may develop and increase her resources and ullbrd aid and succor to- the various industrial pursuits of her citizens, will ot the same time. establish her on sure foundation to meet without let r liindrame ihe payment of her debts and the maintenance of her credit. The reports of the Public Treasurer and Comp trnller will, in due time, be laid liefore you, giving in diUiilhe receipts and disbursement, at the Treasury fur the two preceding fiscal yetirs. By On you, and yon, these it will be seen that the receipts, under tae , amended revenue laws for the year just closed, ex clusive ol llie trusr funds belonging lo tha Board of Literature and I.un ific Asylum ; and the sums raised by Wns, amount lo about 8136,000; allow ing an increase, over "the avenge annual iiinoiiot I received under the old system, of about 92,000. The ordinary expenses of the Stale, may w.th sufficient precision fir the present purpi , be Bin ted to average $75,000 per annum ; and thus the present revenue b.iis may be estimated to produce 'km annual excess of receipts over the ordinary ne cessary disbursements, to be applied annually to the extinguisliineni of the State's debts, and liauili ties, of 00,000. The present indebtedness and liabilities of the Nute may be stated to be li lly a guaranty of bonds of the Raleigh . atiilGision Ruilioad ; the interest of which is payable semi annually, and lbs . . priucipalnft.TlstJ.iliiiary, 18-10, , 500,000 i. I.l.i. Do. iiit-rest payable sen::- .' annually-, and principil. by instalments . ol'lS30.000,on 1st January, 1851. 1852, . lS52,andthe residue 1st January. 1854, 10G,5t)0 3. 11a la nee due ihe Literary Fund for that amount, used by the Public Tren surer 1 rum lime to. lime ; interest payable an- .. . nually, principal ul lbe pleasure of the : Government, ' .118,192 4. Bunds of the Public. Treasurer, given years, and until some re urn shall be yielded from inc profits ol our public works. It is loo plain for comment, that the temporizing policy of borrowing money to pay interest will be disastrous to the Stale, will impair her crcdii,aiel may reduce her, sooner or liter, to the ignominious and dishonest condition of repudiation, An absorbing crisia lias, arrived in the finahria! affiirs of tlie Si.iie, which requires ti-ie energetic exercise of all the caution, wisdom and patriotism of the ftcpresi ntatives ol the people. I b.ive lelt it to be my i'ldispi ussble duty to lay lb js important subject Urns liainly before you. s'.oiv , r at tiie tiSK euu respoli- sibili y id' providing the .vays and means forpny ing the debts, sustaining the f.iiihainl cr d t ot t- e St ite, nnd for preserving untarnished her 'cha rue let for plain dealing and honesty. . COMMON St.TI'.i'iLS. In. 'this age of iuiellectiia 1 iidvaiicement. in the middle of the I nth century, and to this enlightened b' .itv, it would be a vvsste of words to press upon your attention, or li; offer arguments to prove the pissed upon, together with his report of statistics as requited by law ; and the Public Treasurer slnuld be prohibited from pay ing out llie im ney without. a certiti'Mte from the Hoard that this rule ii.nt bei ii ri.iiipii"d with. At present there is no specific ie"'!e isinted out, nor is it made the duty ol atiy ; irtit'obir person to compel the receivers of this fiiiiii iu the several enmities to freltle their account-; Those who ciinoso lo do so, submit them to ihe eomiiiiiieeH of Finance or- County Court Clerks; wbiletla.se who Tail to doso, escape for feiture or censure. :. It may be safely stnlid that thousands of Dull irs remain from yea r'to year in the bauds of ii erjtilf ndeiits ; and if a rigid .set-;" lleinent were enUic.'d, the public would be aston ished nt the agaregalflfsuiii thus ivithlieid from it. legitimtile destitmJjiMl !l'he .'whole fund, annually di-t.rihited, nlthoiigd large , is yet in i'leqii.ite to the public exigency e Accoiding to the provision of the exisiinir law, the i sever.il County Courts 'may. in their discretion, I levy a tax, us other taxes are levied, for county i pmp 'ses. not h s than one half tlie amount an- value of u wise and liners! system of pupal .r edu- '""'. r""'1' M 'rr " -'"erary 1 unit, vv ere .......... i. ii.j,.,,..i' ,j'Dl I th.s pruvision compulsory, or earned out in c.iid ... ' r i'. ... i . .. .. .1... ...,,. .... .... r ...... iicali. Libertv. Deeply impressed with this trull! AsseuiDiy. ii, on inu oiner nanu, u snouiu i xinuii a . if . , .:,i. ,.i.,i, ,. n i,i, ..: I A very decided popular feeling in lavor ol he alter-, , f (;ar,,mw u properly ations, or any of hem, the moral .fleet ol this , t,xclui, w ,c rjunstitution f,o, the duty oil 'k uipiilur vote might sullice to procure .from our ; m, - . - ft . . , () L(iw Wh;ll. Legislature the reqinsHexonstiti.tional sanciion io . s.(iJ . Imrlv i,,,,,,,,,.,, , MV:,k(M1, r any desirable relorm. ou are better able than I , i( tl,a (u , - hi ,,; , ft... Irt I. .rnoQA ...IiaIIio (1... 1.. ntn ..... ...ril... j ,f ll.nin- ' ' .... .-..v. .t, .t ... majuiiuin . MI.IMIicr. Till llT I ban 111 lIlSC.IISS t II! Jll.ltrC ul fifths of this Assembly, and Iwotbirdsof niiotlier are i ne nisi io cumi into me noiy alliance 01 me t io. , .. ;., ...,J :,;.,. .,r i ., ,i;,. HthirtreuM be the last u. leave-it. The ; . , ,.,.;. f ',,, ,u v.., I 1 toot prints of Washington an.l his matchless com peers, may be followed without doiibtlulucss or Havering. It is union winch gives us all we aro i to be, It is the key-nrch of on: liberty lor hope and national greatness; and rcliiim the privilege of my official t l iun. solemnly to invoke the pm- 1ile uf Notlh Carolina, ami tin-ir Kepresentatives, io tieware how ihey bold coimi.nuic-dijti with cabal or l onvenliuu 10 sap and overthrow it. . ,.1'ut let us not hu misunderstood. Lot it not be hiippiiscd that our deep soil abiding devotion tothe II niou, is such as to rvmJer us insensible to the in' .ipprecialiou uf our rights, or cilloiis to the Istain of dishonor. Asa southern portion of the ll 'iiioii, we liave rights which are ours by the Con stitution ; uws by coinprmnise, nnd by Ihesupreme laws wiiii'li govern lis. . hese will neicr be, sur- rtiidcrttl i'e tnke our stand in the ran);s of smith- vrn d stiny. We have been assured by patriotic Hat. amen of the North, -that, in the free Suites, Ithe in.issu uf the people a re sound hkii the ques lii ii ol i:egrit'sl.ivcry,aud are onnosed to disturb- 11.1 ...V ,tlv..,l. ,!,., II ,"A l-ll" . 1 II I IOC Sp'l II HI ab' litioiiism is confined Ion body of fanatics con- einpnbic for numliers or respectability. As they valuetlie union ol these States, let them see In it. Is't these patriotic, masses now rise up in their jslreiigth a tal put down the treason and rebellion Iwlncli are exp-indnig nnd noting in their, midst. We offer no uieiMco i but let the staid anil sober out a previous vote of the people. No one, I presume, is anxious to force upon the people an alteration ol their Constitution,' without some con vincing proof of .their desire lor it. ,. Hvc-ry intelli gent mind must perceive th it it is the interest of the Stato nnd a duly of patriotism to have the ques tion settled and put to n-itoue way or the other, t Until it shall be done, there will be political agita- ! lion and sectional discord. These will bring forth j a multiplication of new proposition for altering! the Constitution, and the people of North ( a roll, im may be thrown iiitoth.t. perilous situation wherein the "desire of ihnngo preieiideth the reformation,"' instead . of tint safe condition, wherein "reformation only drav.eth on a change." It may lie, however, that a constilutionnl majority of three fifths of the Assembly. mining as you do directly Iroin aiiiiuigyourcutistiluenls.kiioiv alien dy llie will of a majority of the people upon ibis subject. If public opinion be decidedly favorable tu immediate action, and you feel convinced, with out any previous vote of the p'ople, that this de mand for altering the constitution is the demand of a majority of the people, then, of course, ihe necessity foianact to take the sensi' of Un people will lie superseded ; and it is believed von . Cniistiiuiioiial reform.: Ill .nv opinion, tlie ii.amir i of dealing with this subject is vast1)' ' important, j and will prove to be much more than a question ol ; mere reform. I '- In connection with this" subject, let me be inditl? ! ged in a suggestion lel.itivc to the .c. iis itutiomi 1 j i period for toy iusiullation ot ihi tiovi-rtior. j i The (i iveiiior ol tlis sVtnleis elecied bv the I People biennially m. August; blithe does not go into Juice belore the 1st J nuiry succeeding. It Hie Genera! Assembly met on the 1st of January, there would be nothing niijeciionable in this. Hut that body, chosen by the People ill the same time-tin 1 elect th? 6W nor, meet in Xit:mkr a ml ha ye nea rly completed their session before the Governor cOiiies j into office.' Moreover, the Governor goes out oft otheeoii the lstdayot January, but his successor is elected in August preceding, and therefore the F.xecutive of North Carolina is never cnll"d upon to express his opinions or to roinniiiincale the poli cy ofbis administration, until be has been either re-elected or superseded iiy the choice of a oompr ti tori . This is not right and it ought to be recliriid. Whenever a Governor shall be willing to conceal his policy and avoid the just resjionsibihty of his station, be may be thus enabled to do so. Thi is unjust tothe people. When he sb ill be ready and willing to develop bis plans of administration. ense of our people and the calmness which ll.ey j of ,e ,. ,e n, euaciing spe. ific, . , ....k,y .1,1,. u,,., ..... 4.. tlere 1() ()U ( rt muty uliorded lor it under .... . . '7si . . ' . .'. . the existing mate of things; and if he shall be i b.'inui i, in in ii.tt. , uu uru "u won pov. i respond to a known iunani! of . the people; fr cointitutionsl relorm, either by calling a C oriyentn n liave ever inaint lined amiilst abortive efforts at ligitation, be, to nitriots every where, a solemn Jwarnir'g, tniHipet-tongued, wlfit North Carolina Woes sinmnnn lo tlie rescue, that the union is in llatiger ! W hat a spectacle ! A sacred alliance. stay, morn than that, a Constitutional Nation il pinion o( a noble people in peril of beinir disserved 1 1 ml broken up by gangs of runaway negroes, and flieircrnzyailies!! llow liuinihatlng tliecoutcm- i ,' .ti,... i " i ameiidmeiits, and submitting them, first, M the review and decision of your inunediate successors in l8.)2, antl alter that,' to the votersofthe State, at llie polls in 1853. . There aro several interesting questions which will present themselves to your consideration, up on tiiis view of (hi. subject.' I shall relerto .them briefly, not with any design . to forestall thejuge ment of others, nor for tho mere purpose of put ting lorward ill advance of your action my inter 1 forbear to enter into any particular discussion ,,,(,; ( ,lt. t'oiisiilnlion ; but because ynur f the various measures adopted as the basis of his -adjustment by Congress, al its late session, lo indicate them Iroin objections taken in dillerent eotionof ihe. country to one or more of them. I'bis wine by ihi means a I'itficnlt task ; but would em scarcely aimrouristn tothe purpose and char- ctiof an Kxeculive Htatt Message; and would well Ibis cumniuiiicatkin tu an inconvenient siz -. refer to the subject al all, only, because a high tense id duty seems, in existing state of affairs, to .quire it at my hindi ; and having thus briefly nt 11, I submit llie subject to your calm, dispas- urn. lie aiJ ji,tr:u ic coiisijeraiinu. with tiiec.v- iresi-iou iil'uiydeiilierate iipiuioii, that our highest action will nmbably form a precedent in the future coins ol the Mite; and the consequences of a mistake might be vsry injurious tu the llepublic. Therefore, I would desire to have nuihi ng done without ea reful investigation and calm delibera tion. This is all I i. i n at. . , The Constitution "f 1835, we know, was framed and adopted upon principles uf compromise. It was intended to adjust, upon equitable grounds, a sect mil. 1 dispute and conflicting pnlilicalopiuiiins, which had distracted our State Councils fur many years; and gisxl faith requires an honest adhe rence to its true meaning,; until it shall have been reiii.a led i ir 11 Itl-rpJ In. !ln sni..riiiii n lit tmril V rif the it.'iests and tf Inly, require of Us a wl hug and 111.I.,,r,lii,lT ie.wmenmke in our mnended leaity aupjiurtof the uiljiislwM i it is, in all it' (.'on-titiition. " yi-iil ug. lor the siiki; ol the Lnmii stet tlie v... u it sb,iU b il, nlo-.nro thl. tomn. ;.n.siit,iiiu, such uhjeclious as we may have to I (jI ,iri e Mu u(- al, ., mraAeTt concurrinir. lo art c u i, r measures, whne we insist usin Ihe j ;i') ruiive.itjuu of the people, a slight ex iniiiM ..ithiiil execi.tiiui ol such as may be most nfeept- j tl(m uf.p , 1(.ljm, of!C 4(( Artu.1, f th A. I.,p ami neec-sai-v to us, from those parts of toe , !,!., ,;il i, jir;,.m..i i 1 1 . ; tiiwn , in, ii ....ii,.,-. ,s- lui'iu ,i, u. I .il V. 1 1' ' 11 ilifv Thus ill North Carolina e; a uoliie ix inple Worthy of her spirit of patriotic moderation ; ndidnte lor re-electimi, his 'enemies, and tnulucers can pervert and- misrepresent him to his conslitu ents, without his being allowed a legitimite occas ion to expose falsehood by a reference tn his de clared and published opinions. That is not jmt to the chief F.xecutive uf the .Suite, Besides, there isa plain absurdity in this : that where the people change both their Executive and their Representa tives at the same election in August, the one does not pi into office until the others have nearly clos ed tiieir session; and the tw i never emmii together for the in'erest of the state. Contrary to the theory of our Government, the Governor, whose first elec tion might have been intended to ensure ihe com mendation of an important mensureofStaie policy, has no lair opportunity tu enforce it upon the Leg islature, and Ii is term ot office maj, expire without his ulighesl jxirticipatinn in the matter. This might be remedied by. an act altering the time prescribed by law for the meeting of the General Assembly.. It is respectfully submitted to your consideration, ns a topic woithyof your notice. It isa political evil that ought to be corrected in some way. REORGANIZATION OF PUBLIC OFFICES. A thoronght reform nnd re-organization of llie several State departments is a subject that emi h no longer postponed without detriment to tiie public service. ' s . '''-'. The office of the Secretary of State is a mere land office. Almost the sole duty of its he id is to issue grants nnd to ceilify copies, except the oc casional employments of making contracts for printing and distributing Ihe laws, and for the purchase of stationery and tire wood, in oilier States, he is made, what is greatly needed here tothe President and Directors of the Lit erary Fund, for like amount transfer red to Public Treasury ; interest pay We anunlly, principal at the pleasure uftbe Government, 48,360 5. State llonds, issued by Public. Treas urer to pay the U ink, &o... by resoln of the last Assembly j iilteresl payable ; seuii-nnnuiilly, principal after 10 years,. 2(10,008 6. By endorsement of Wilmington and Rah igh Railroad.lionils, by act of 18 18 : . --inleies'. payable semi-annually, pr'ph bv instalments ' 1550,000 on 1st Jan uary, 1S5:. lSbO, jGl, l8tW. I8ii3, 250,00 7. Stock in Fayettevife and Western Plank Road ; interest payab.o teuii- , aiinu.illy, ''principal after 20. yea'n-i; 120,000 S Suck in Deep River and Cape Fear . Navigation t'oinpniv ; interest semi-. . aimn.illv, principal to lie provided for, : 80,000 0.' For amount appropriated .by act of 1819 fur improving N'-use ami Tar ' Rivers ; interest payabf' s Miiiaiiiitially, ,' . principal to be provided lor, 65,000 10, For Stock in the North Cnrnlins lliiilronil" by act of 15 IS ;oue fourth of. ; ' vvltii li is to be paid when the work ,; sliai! be commenced, . mil the remaining three fouirh.H in equal instalments, at intervals ul six months thereafter ; in- -terest piviiiile semiannually, principal after 30 yea rs, . .' " 2,000,000 11. For uiniii'v borrowed from the Dank . . 'of Cane Fear, - .' ' . r 40,000 'Thus it anpiMrs ihiit the liabilities of ihe Slut", alrendv existim; or nulhwr.rd, iimoimt, in princi pal money, lo $3."i2 And there will be re quired to piv Ihe inter, s on this sum, with one instalment of principal before stated for the year 1851, the 'sum nf 1 19.UO0. And in like manner for the vear 1852. 207,0.111. In this eilculation of int resl, the Slate's liability on the Wilmington ami Raleigh Railroad bonds is not included ; for as-thit company' have heretofore paid promptly"! the interest on their tunids, tiieir improved conili lion is a safe guaranty th n t they will continue io do so. This calculation is predicated upon the assumption, that the Stite will be railed upon for the lirst .instalment of her stuck-stiliseiipiion lo tiie ''North Carolina Railroad" in the beginning ofthe ensuing vear, and for the other instalments' at intervals of six months, ns allowed by the char ter. And upon the further assumption, also, that the residue of the State's subscription for stock in the Favetteviilu and Western Plank Road Company, in the Cape Fe.ir and D.-ep River Navigation Company, and llie appropriations for Neuse and Tar Rivers will be called for at an early day. But we have seen that the surplus in the Treasury after the piymenl ofthe regular demands, will be $00,000 ; while the increased demand upon it for the vear 1851, will lie $1 19,000 ; and for the year 1852 82117.000 ; and of course, that the Slate will require for the y -ar 1851, over and above the whole amount that may be raised by the present revenue basis, the sum of 89,000 ; and for 1852, Ihe suinof $1 18,000. (Jr it may be stnifd thus : ' Amount required to pi v State's liabilities and interest for 1851, 8119,0011 Add ordinary expenses for 1851, 65 000 Deduct probable recslpts at tlie Treasury according to present revenue laws for 1851, 14,000 $135,0(10 n example ul mitt true principle oi mutual deter nee ofthe various parts - uf tlie Union, towards ne Im rets wishes and views of others, in which nr National Government originated, nal bv which It must be maintained, if maintained as all. Let then snppfrt, furihe sak' of Ihe ;Umon, the niou, and the whole adjustment ; and whils ve demand tins ol others, siiuw ttiat we up land, and mean to fulfill, that the ourselves. ". , ; Since your last adjournment, too. our country ias passed through another eventful scene, wit-essi-d no where else,' and justly awakening ie astonishment of the nations ofthe Old . world. OUR PRESIDENT HAS DIED! i Without tumult or public commotion, a success- takes his place: clothes himself with the panoply F.xecutive authority; assumes the control of ie Vrmy and the Navy, and the' still mightier ngiiieof political power, executive patronage, bile no voice, among twenty millions ol Ireeinen rethes even Ihe whisper of dissent!! Although lis successor had been designated amidst fierce . .(......ti. " . t . ... I UIHIl.il II l nn.,.. , ...., - t.v'..-j .. MT.; ' . c J" V"nrrol ". "npnso any Iiiii ts or , heu(, uf Bureau of Statis.ics. and is required to collect from all parts oi Ihe Stilo information, upon various subjects essential to wise and whole some legislation, : - ' I The Public Treasurer, instead being the keeper ofthe public money to. 'receive and tu pay il mil on vouchers first u milled and allowed, is left to assume the responsibility of determining the vali dity of all claim cm tin' Treasury which may be presented ; while the olfice of Compiroller of pub lic accounts, ins'cad of being what its name im ports, tlie oflice- where claims upon 'the Stale tire audited and allowed, and o. certified to the Trea surer, is simply a depository for the Treasurer's vouchers and fiira copy of Ids books. Il must he obvious to every one that a remodel ling and reform is necessary in these departments. Am! I Can make the suggestion with the greater freedom nnd wtlhnitt just impeachment nt mo'ive i lest riet ions lilKin a" Gfinvenl ion i called lie them. under this Article? ; Is the power ' to call h Con veiition by tlie General 'Assembly, confined to tlie single olfice of calling it, or, can the same Legislature limit and confine the tiowci's of the Convention in the ' Act lor calling it? As there are conflicting opinion upon this question out of Ihe assembly, it is probable lliey will exist in it. ; I do not think that this article n icessarily ex cludes the right of calling a liinitiid convention by tlie concurrence of two thirds ol the Generii As. sombly, provided the act lor calling the Goiiveiitioii contains a limitation upon it- powers with proper san 'tions and Me aie shall tie ratified hu Ihi I'en pfc, by avotelo hetik n ls-forihir del -gates sh.il! laK.hossr., un hr the gini lion uf a law . n scteil forthe purKW.-' Insuch i-as il seems to nie.lh.it Ihe limit pr scribed bv rtbe act won! I he impose,!, noiny men ii rat Aiaenitity, 'but bv Hie ,i:;.,i ;i.,v ,r.. u-ilh Mm li,ein.,l...iiis cc.n-tiiiition.il sovereign authority of the .Slate.- ; j ,;,,, in , iftlnces .,rthrt liiosl kind and Otherwise it cannot h,-doubted that a Conv n'ion llt,r,w.rvl.d ch.ir,c,w,.nd is now s toteM.iiute. called by the Gen-ril Assembly (two thirds con ij si , , . curring) Wou'd ! riVslieil with unlimited JiteMiun F1NANCF.AND .STATfc DLBTS over t ic Conslituiijii. Tiie G. aer.il Assembly I FnivsteJ as you i.r nilh thf Hivservat'on of Deficittn be provided for 1851, . 89,000 In like manner it may Ihi shown that the deficit tor 1852, will be 147,000 Those results will he changed, to snme extent, in favor of the Treasury balances, by the coming in ofthe deferred luxes imposed on sundry articles inthi'7lh section of the revenue act of the last session. 5 But no provision !n(s yet been mails for raising llie money forth payment of the residue ofthe Stale's stock subscription to the Deep River and Cape Fear Navigation Company, '.of SfiO .000. and ibis amount must be added lo the wants of tbv Treasury. To meet these demand, which cm now be neither avoided or postpones! without public dis honor, provision must be made by the General Assembly now in session. In addition to this requisition for interest, prompt steps slu.utd lie taken fur the estsbbs! ing of a sinking fund fur the gradual extinguishment of the principal of lim State's debt, to avoid tlie insupportable pressure iipmi llie people, if it h p i-lpoiie ! till llie principal -lull fall due. The mint urgent inquiry, however,' at present, i, how nretlic emi-auiiual instalments of interest to be met ? By creating new loans and burrowing money thus increasing the debt by coinpiiuuding principal i.d, interest evnrv six qiouthsf II tin; demand tl.m tile Treasury were fortuitous and not likely t" be repeati-d) s;ic.h a plan might tiy Mime, be allowable. Hut here is a sum wlii Ii in it br.ii d I'fr maiiy ign.ie U ivu the Fr-iine's of our Governinent enernfied it in our ( 'unstitiitioii it a so'.euiil iujnnclion upon the People's itepn sentatives that 'Scbmils should ue established fur the convenient instruction" of youth, wiih such salaries to the Masters as might enable tl.em to instruct at lowpric.es." L This provision in our fundamental, law, from various causes, tint clnelly from the want nt means, fein iined for nearly half a .century dormant' and unheeded. . - In the year 1825, a law was passed upon the subject for the first time; a fund wad created, a Board established to invest and manage it, and after a successful accumulation of proceeds, an act -was passed ill the year 1810, establishing a sys tem ol Common Schools snd directing an annual- distribution to be made among the people of the net annual -income of this. Fund. : I cafj your attention'-to. tlie fact that, by the law of 1825, this fund was set apart for the edu cation ofthe youth of the State and a Legislaitve pledge was therein given to the public, that the annual income "should he divided out among tlie counties in propurt ion tu the free while jmpulation of each." ; In the year 1840, when, the system was put in operation, this division was ordered to be made among Ihe Counties, no in proportion to their white but federal population. By this process, those counties in the Stile, containing a sparse white population and but tew whit,-, children tn educate, yet containing many slaves and free negroes, receive the larger portion of the public bounty: while those counties having a large white popula tion ii nd . many children to .educate, yet having few slaves and free negroes,, receive the smaller share.' '.'-.' -. This arrangement I hold 'n be wrong. This common" Fund hiving been provided snd design, d for the education, not of the -'rich, nor of tiie poor, exclusively, bill lor all the while children of the Slate alike, ought, in my judgment, to be divided equally amongst tbeiri whether .their resi dence ha opens i be, or not lo be, in a community holding si ives and free negroes. It should be borne in mind that the capital from from which this annual income proceeds was not raised by taxes on Federal -'population,'-but from other sources of public revenue. The argument, therefore, that this distribution should lie tn-de iiinong the people according to federal numbers, because it was derived froin them on that bis it. of taxation, is without foundation,. As to the argument that a portion nf the capital was received from the General Government in her di-tribiition among tlie States of the surplus reve nue, and that s':nuM North Carolina be called upon Id refund the money, it wotiii! be raised by taxing Federal population, it is a sufficient an swer, that at this late day. no man seriously enter tains the opinion th it. tlie State will ever be callfd on to refund that money. And, moreover, it must be borne ill mind, that that portion of this revenue which constitutes a u ft of our Literary runil, was invested in the stocks Of tlie Bitik of the Slate and of Cape Fear, and if a return of it ahull be come indisiensable.that it can I resdiiy effected by a transfer or sale of the stock, ami not by tlie imposition of taxes of any sort. . But I shall not detain you with ah argument of this question. '- The rule adopted by the distribution Act, of 1840, carries nn its face a violation of the spirit and object of the injunction -of (he Constitution : is a treach of the public faith given by llie Legisla ture of 1825,; is at variance with the rule in other Southern States ; divides the fund not according to the public necessity, but Ihe wealth of llie people and is in itself unequal and nnjit.it. I reco'nineud therefore a change, bylaw, of the basis of distribuiion ol the Common School Fund : That henceforth the same shall be divided among the Counties in proportion to their number ol' white cliil Ir'ii. an I n it in prop rt.on tn tlie federal computation nf white people und slaves and free negroes eoinbined. : , - Itul this sysiem is deficient, not only in lis or ganization, but in accountability, uniformity snd its general uiaiiii gement. For a p-riisi of ten years, about f 90.(10(1 have been placed aniiil illy in Ihe hnn Is of the Various school committees ol tlie State: turn larger than tho who e amount of the State's Revenue ai l in'o the Public Treasury during thai period. This 1 rge sum, forming nn aggregate ol net rly a mil lionof dollars, has within this brief p iind I e'n spent, and yet no adequate., provisk n has been made, much less enforced, for even informing the people or their representatives what has become of it, or liow it has be-n Bpent. The President and Directors of tlie Literary Fund, in obedience lo an act of the last session of the G neral Assembly, compiled snd published, aiiil causrd to be circulated throughout the Stale six thousand copies of a pamphlet containing an abstract ofthe School laws, together with an ap pendix o! precedents und appropriate forms cf re turns. .', -:"'.-'- -,..' Intliis.it will lie seen that the Chairman ofthe Boirdol SuiK'rinleiii'ents in eaib county is requir ed, within tilieen days of tlie first day of November in each ysar.to report in writing lo the President and Directors of llie Literary Fund a copy of his school upcomil ; audited and seitled by the com mittee of Finance or llie Clerk of , tlie county Court of his county, together with the . number nf children in bis-county, the number taught .in the schools llie preceding year, ami tlie length of time the schools have been kepi up. Vet this duly lias been performed by only seven superintendents tiiriufihout the uMf State and I am altogether unable to give yuii the iiilorniiition .required on tkes- iioints, or to make' satisfactory exhibit, of the disposition whicJi'haisbeen luadeof these Targe sdltis nf money. It should be iitaileantiidispt-t'-Tv ble pre-reqiiisile to the payment to any county of its quota, in future, that the chairman, of the I iia'd of superintendents should file with tlie Liter ary UurJ a tony oful! Ills agtuunls, imlited auJ j faith ill all the 'comities, llie fund won id be tonug- . . I iiiented ns to increase the number of schools h nj ! also lh length of time thev might be kept up. But i' is believed that there is no uniform rule up on this subject.. .Some of the countii-s, witli com mendable spirit, levy a fair tax, other levy a very small mi'.', while very many ol tlie counties levy no tax at all. ' . '. Hence it results that ill those cotiiiiifs depend, eut solely on tlie 'Literary ; Fund.: the sum they . receive, when -subdivided- among a large number of selioa.! districts, is so small fur each that many of the districts have no schools at all and derive no benefit from the provision. It is believed, that in many parts of the Stf.'l public attention lias not been sufficiently awaken ed to the great importance and blessings of the limited and partial instruct ion eve:;, tn the rising . gt iierntion,vhicli iiiny be obta ined in these sc'.oois; Our People do not take hold of the subject with : that energy aiid spirit essential to its success. A general listlessness prevails. Those that can af ford it, send their children elsewhere to school, while llie poorer classes keep theirs nt home tu work. Throughout ihe State you tee everywhere in the highways school- houses deserted, the doors Inketi from their hinges, and the graRs growing sn the yard. Why is this ? Besides thosealready al luded to.ouc prominent cause doubtless Is the diffi culty nf procuring proper Teacheis, qualified by edu cation nnd good morals, to direct tlie young. Our men perfer, for tlie most part, mere active employ ment. Let female Tea cheu then be patronized aid employed, They would be satisfied with snn Her enmpensatinn, while their soft nnd gentle iiiatmers, purer mora Is; greater fact in -.distrusting -young children and taniiiig llie wild and stubborn, fit' them lit a peculiar degree for this office. In some nf the counties, I am hippy' to be able tu snv that their schools lire well immnged slid am trrnmplishing. witii marked effect, the bene ficent results aimed at by the laws1, and it is to b hoped that such is the ease in othris. But there is no official information upon the subject,; nr.d what I design t-. say is, that the very wnnt oi'this ... information demonstrates tlie absolute necessity of some radical .amendment. This necessity suggests . lie expediency of creating a new officer in ihe Government, In take the genera! charge of this whole business. in accordance with the practice in other States, nnd with Ihe earnest and repeated reciitimiendatioii ol'iny predecessors. . .This officer might be designated the. Minister of Puhiic Instruction, or the General Superintendent of Common Schools, It should he his duly to ex amine all the public schools in the State, ascertain' the length of timeenrh district Fchnnl is kept up, t ie nnmla'r and qnalifica liens nf 'Teachers, the mode of Hist ruction ; to direct the arrangement of school houses, and p.oeuring proper seliool books, the settlement and arrangement of the financial department; and he should be required to make u retain to the Legislature iipntl nil these mutters, with sncli observations ns experience might sug gest, UHiri tiie general condition and efficiency of our system, and the most practicable means i f improving it. 1 be duties of such an nliicer wouid be laborious, an! llie salary should be such, a t would command the most eminent qualifications, and engage undivided nfention. His compensation might lie charged upon llie ;. Literary Fund, mid not. .drawn from the general . treasury , nnd it would lie ritunied to t hut fund in ten-fold v i lite, by un-vmiug healthlitlness and vigor, hi d efficiency to tlie syem. , The last General Assembly seems lo have been fully aware of the necessity ofsrme genera! su pervision ; lint while they declined in authorize the appointment of one general supervisor nt a n-a-sonnlde r.!ary, they authorized each County Court: tonppoiiit one. for each County., nl a suJary of 1250 each, with power given to the Courts to lay a tux lo pay it. In my judgment it is much h"t'.er to have one general superintendent, competent and responsi ble, at an rxienee of 82,000. paid out of the Litrriry Fiiiul, tliaijju have secntn-nine superin tendents dispersed through the State, without con cert in union of design and action, Hi an aggregate'., expense of 19.700 per annum .'drawn, too, from the pockets nf the people by taxation. Our common school svstem. thn regarded ei ther in the light of (l,p patriotic snd noble parpen- intended lube accomplished by it, er coiisidend with reference lo Ihe proper direction snd fsir disbursement of so large a sum of public money, r quins lhorouj.h n v sinn snd auieiidinent. . llavingbeena member nf the Literary Board from its first Organization, nnd having bestowed some attention upon this subject. I feel, in conclu sion, fully warranted in recommending, its (In most effetual men ns ol attaining tlie ends r"l'err.,i to, Ihe iippuiiilmeiit of a general supeiinUu.l. n' of common schools lor the Stale. The Presidint and Directors nf the Literary Fund will, indue lime, submit a report, showing in detail the state nnd cnndtijoii of tiiis Fund, and the proceedings of .the Hoard tm other . subject committed to their iiiitnngen ent. . .',. "'F,IIN.L .IMPROVEMENT.- The Inierna! Improvement of the condition of the Siale, has been so repeatedly and enrnestiv pressed upon the Legislature .within the . pt twelve years, by my predecessors in office, ibaf llothing new can be superadded. The people are now demanding some relief for the exigency of their wants, good maiket tow ns within our ovWi borders, and the means of .dieap transportation lo reach tlieni. .. . The day has passed by for writing rs.-svs mi the importance of Railroads, and I'lntik Roads, and uavigalile Rivers, Tli - practical results in utlier Stales a round as, r.ffer their accmulilaleii testimony nf ihe Increased weuhti anp ehterpriz " wtikcll fhef cancer upon tlie neopfet . a nd Vfilf ex pose. In just riihcineaiul cotitempi n Nialc that will coutinne tn shut lnr eyes upon the lig'nt of experi ence.nml fold her arms in apathy slid sloth, W lie. Iiel very existence demands patriotic, energetic and enlightened action.
Raleigh Times [1847-1852] (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Nov. 29, 1850, edition 1
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