m
1X0143
.9 22, ' 1C33
Jud orth Carolina Gazelle,
LAWRENCE & LEM.VV.
v-rl V';''';'- terms. '
,b..-, . -,. r--
wBI1rt he allowed to rmio In .near, loamr.
ihMOne vear-and persons resident without lit s
SStwi mr dir become subscriber
fcalf in avanee. suDsermcra m iirr mm
will siricuj rouirxu ii pay mc wnoio a-
0ount oT the year's subscription in sdvanee.
iaftcrted three (imei for one dollar. Mud tweo
if -five cents for each continuance.
Lirrsi to the Editors mutt b nost-pai
To the GmerulA$sembh of the State
. ; - of JVyrth Carnpnn:
- GajrTiBMEN s The-- most n strikinjr vj. v wauis vi gour onstit-
characterwtic of our republican sys- uent8 commensurate with, their re
tt of government,, is L periodical g0"r"g;hand worth7 the confidence
usemblage of the representatives of whichthey repose in your ability to
K. neon e. Clothed w th t he nnwr.
tnd charged with the interests of their
constituents. : Experience has shown
diat the best security for the preser-.
vation of our rights is to be found in a
deliberative body, selected by the
people from among themselves, and
returning at short, intervals to the bo-
ri - I .t.l. il. i 't.i
sflm w the commttoitT tOvBarticJMte
in tne oiessmgs ueriveu irom wise, or
theevtts"iowmg from indiscreet -le-gig!ation.
y It is apparent that no farm
of government can be devised, which
mon welfare will be promoted, and
tue''"publfclibertjrpre
. .. . ( . . . - i , .
hands of incompetent or faithless ,a-
importance oi tne - trust aasumea,
should be the zeal, fidelity and ddi
gencerwitbrwhich We eater upon the
rltrust-thatazentertaifl: a proper
rnieof the liighrespohslbilTtywhichl
rea'ti'.tipoa:theExecatrveDepRrMent;'
iniLchertsh the disposition to co-operate
with you in a hearty endeavour to
accomplish every object which may
bs necessary to secure' the ends for
which our Government was establish
ed, , It is to be recollected, , however,
that the Constitution for wise purpos
es, has confided to . you, the whole
power, of leg'ulation. T)ie Execatiye
can neither control nor check your
proceeutngs, ana . even me privilege
of advising you upon the subject of
your deliberations, ,eems.ito.Je,ac-
nved rather- from custom, sanctioned
by its apparent propriety, than from
uj exprcH cousuiuiiuiiai provision.
I approach the discussion, nevertJie
ess, of the important subjects which
demand your attention with a frank-
aess, inspired by the conviction, that
the high- prtTlge with- whichyoir are
invested, will but render, you .the
more anxious for its proper exercise
tad the more" disposed to listen with
ttte'nUoa ' to - suggestions "emanating
from a co-ordinate branch of the Go
rernment. "' '-. ' "
A recurrence to our past legislation
wiir'shew usv tliaFalthbugli" our "pre-
aecessors have transmitted to us un
impaired the great . charter of our
rights, and were anxiously disposed to
. .1 .i . ? ;i .
mvance uie improvemeni oi me aiaie,
by providing facilities for trade," in
creasing our agricultural productions;
diffusing the advantages of education,
tad adapting our laws to the improv
ed condition of society, little has
been done for the furtherance of either
of these wise purposes, in comparison
i.m, wiia.i,ns in our power to eiieci,
and "with that which the excited hopts
and 'expectations' of the communttv
demand. ' - ' ' '' ' ' v-.
l. It is certainly not claiming:, too
nich for North Carolina,' when we as-
;rt that no State in the' Union, has
fram the art test petherhistoryrj
Tuuucea a,. more eruen.1 aevouon W
i'lberty," rr '"'ready wotedierice'td the
Ptws, I regret that the conviction is
iiorced upon me, that her early- love
(Of freedom, and immense sacrifices
r us attainment ana preservation.
e not met with the comparative
onsideratlon:3ni
,thev were so iostlr entitled. This re-
Mt has been wing in . some degree
natural causes,' but rjuite as much
h the greater pertinacity, with which
claims of other member's of the
pnfederacy,. have been pressed upoa
Inattention of the General Govern
ment I shall not, at present, pur
,u this discussion, though I may take
lccasion to call your attention te the
object in the prbms's"f'hTsessibn7
Tbe settlement of our, revolutionary
Fims, of our claims for expenditures
goring the late war villi Great Brit
a, the policy pursued by our sister
etatea with respect to the" Cherokee
Indians, the tendency of which has
)"n to drive them from their borders,
?q fasten them upon our soil, will re.
aire a more minute examination than
consistent with' the character of this
Jper - Bet if we haveTeceived-com-Jruatlvely
few advantages of the na
fre to which I have alluded, I fear
?t ts no less trne,' that the State Go
f rnment has been too inattentive to
pi that concerns the character and
,nterett of the Ammo wealth.
I The apathy which has pervaded the
' tSf tion kalf a century, is most
trikhle iKihWa'S.v Vmf,r ttiat
v J y.Miwinu. mi . w mm mwv
mere Mnnui f iW t.nrfrat Aa.
fUiWy feavr trdituy axceedsd the
department of the Government,
tiled to the
" hare been
Internal
, ment cannot
where
pendU
..... .r .
" ui me puuuc
treasure, receive
more for this iemce than the amount
r 4t' ' i- i ' ,
f1"' nents. - Let me hot
wc icgatuc.aa iiibibiiuz mat Uie
(HsUture IS Sustained
(ai suggesting a doubt whether its le-
f i v I ' I
itimate tirnctions have been perform
ed I advert to the circumstance
totpaUojenaWejnrto
JvfmoTerclbTy, the. propneU of
enteng upon i system of legislation
t sucss-Fbuh iwira.
" The excitememeiit which seems to
pervade every section of the State,
uponnhe subject of Internal Improve
ments, has no doubt attracted your
attention and engaged your reflection.
The opinion seems to be general, that
the adoption of a more liberal svstem
hjssen.tia ettjrpifot
me oiaie; ami mat mis cannot ue ef
fected by individual exertion, unaided
by contributions from the Public Trea
sury. "The Report of the Board for
InternaVltnpforcmeati, will be trans-,
mitted to jou in a few days, and will
afford nit the information which that
body have been able to obtain, with
6v,v" v","i""'" ;
sure to state, that these -details . will
be calculated to correct much mi sap
I prehensionjlnjjf" rJ
?,ce ;wlwp0?: .attempts
neTetOTOTeaaetgimpTOTerTmeTnai
corporations is much more prosperous,
than many intelligent individuals had
supposed. That Siere were instances
of mismanagement, and that a portion
of the public funds has been expended
without producing any "sii'jstantial
gooJcaniibTBe tbhtroveiTe"d."'""'But
the actual public loss, wilt be found
to'be much lesstlian is gcnerallycon
TecWMrVff?itroHeT
......
that at the commencement of our ope
rations in 1818 and 1819, we were
entirely inexperienced, and found ftt
impoBsibte'to 6btairthraidof a"skii
ful engineer to direct our efforts, that
several works were commenced simul
taneously, and that the improvement
instead of beginning at the mouths,
was cOfomenced at the sources of the
rivers, the aggregate loss sustained is
the-subject-neither-of great- surpr7.e
nor serious discouragement. "The in
formation ' we have acqvired, if it
does not compensate ns" for the expen
diture riocurred' in obtaining, it, wil.
not prove without value. The intro
duction of the Rail' ltoad System, is
the commencement of a new era in
theannalrtjf physteaHmprovement.'
1 he cost of any given worlc can te as
certained with so much correctness,
before its construction is attempted,
that prudenTffierrwiH be able to com
pare its propable value, with the pro
posed expenditure, and arrive at a sat
isfactory conclusion, with respect to
the propriety ot .engaging in ine enier
prize, j' ., . ' : -
In addition to the information which
will be afforded by the report alluded
t6,"wrthrres'pect tb'lhe '"condition of
the pllTc-vdA8T:t'r'0'se
Board. wilt, in obedience to the Act
of Assembly creating the corporation,
be presented upon the most important
subjects connected with the Internal
Improvement of the State.' Whether
the-eottdttion rofur xouotry is sus-.
ceptibte:: of ihe improvements recom
niefidedwhethera'fund shaU ' be
created proportioned tb the magnitude
and imporunce or theenterpnxe to oe
accomplished? whether the public
ehU h exclusivetv employ-
led. oTTadeauatraid.. ext
which have received the anxious con
sideration of the Board, and will be
submitted for your determination.
My own opinion is, that the great
channels of inter-communiction, in
which the whole community is inter
ested, and which, for that reason, will
not probably attract, and are least
likely to be effected, by Individual en
terprize demand the exclusive at
tention Tind patrenage:cf the goyern
ment With respect to improve
ment of a local character, i win
the -safest, randperhaps-thttwisest
course for the Iegistature to pursue
mill k. in inrornorate companies in
every section of the State where they
may be necessary; and to subscribe
for a uniform twrtiott of stock jn each
on -the condition that bo part or the
public subscription shall be demanded
Stockholder shall
have paid, or secured the payment ot,
their subscriptions. - snuiviuui. ""
rarely be found anxious to engage in
athimerical scheme; and jo, more
satisfactory ttideoce of the practica
bility and. nsetotnesa of any work,
h rennired than the fact, tDBt
tkna'wko recommend U to public pat
ronage, are willing to tet the correct
n... f their Amnions bv trusting tneir
own cap.tal to too jam Mwa
VTo
'mTderfor.
t ... i" n. V ...... ."...-(1iu.uii vi u exclusive- ana uanv ol iSewuern. amount to
Improvement-That govern- tv nub c fond. If it i.,n k- :.' ....iw - II . V . .
oe wisely administered, ered advisabl. that tK wiM:, oi..n -t:..i e . .
those who direct the enendL ul
it- expend their own resources with more
uuuriauuns : uiiirn nrudnra n.i r..... l . . . . . - . : j -
uiumaieiy own any parftcalarworinf
this character, it mar be made a Con-1
. . - I '
u.uu nunc cnanor, mat the SttoteaV'Ct, it is understood,to induce a
mar at any time resume the franchise.' Dortinn. : of l s,t, i tn.L.i -.
upon the payment of stipulated sum ,
to the stockholders. !
1 lie Keport of the President and j
Vt- "tcr,rJ uoa . wnicnjoi course tatven place. In adiiilionja
will be submitted lo your considera-l tliis, it is now regarded as at least nro-
linn it IN Aarlvni ' ...C 1 1 ' -1. - ..s aI t.-l.l . I . .1 a. . . . . '
ml'-M-f-iri4w i.-A j- r..r...
onltSSt
w.. vi,,uaj win anew were-
oniy attempt we nave yet made to es-:
-oviiuiiia iur me convenienij
instruction of youtlv: with w
nes to the masters, paid by the pttblic, ;
as may enable thevm to instruct at lowj
prices." The aggregate amount of;
the fund is at present too small, to!
justify our entering upon any general
svstem
ot education. Indeed, were !
this fund much larsrer. it mav well be
doubted whether the period has yet
arrived, when it can be judiciously
expended,, for the promotion of the
wise and benevolent purposes contem
plated btJhit..fuundeMof-aur-govecn--i
ihentTheiPr
tiotv presents greatr- pi'lyipSr-insuper-able
difficulties. VU hen, as the result
of a wise and liberal system of legisla
t'pn,; l?V.1ui?.l?..,9'u,r coaf.t. ,.hajjl 1 jnjpurtont quest'ioii to be determined
recpive tlie improvement 'of which theytii, what slutl be ''We'char'act'eV'' w '
are susceptible ; when our great naturat
highways, the 'rivers connectedwilk,
con'iluion,- in
which Providence designs .they shall
be placed by our hands; when these
channels of communication shall be in
tersected by-Rsil RoadsTind Canals;
' -rv-i-:. .-r---- :
anu as tne natural consequence ot this
state of -things, agriculture shall fe
have laid the foundation of a school
system, as extensive as our limitSr and
as enduring as "Tiur prosperity; Aj
few individuals will not have been se
lected and cherished as-the peculiar
objects of public patronage; but the
generaixharacter; of Hfefconntiy wit I
be elevated, and thousands now too
poor to afford the blessings of educa-
I u i it.- !v- u..a
though the most important, but one of
many advantages incident to an im
proved condition of .life. Extended
commercial iaciliiies -will-stimulate to
agricultural exertion; increased pro
duction afford the means of education;
and the diffusion of knowledge operate
as the most 'certain preventive of
crL'w - A more liberal scheme would
be better Buited to the condition of
oldcr-attd-xicher-communitics,. and.I
trust tne day is not very distant when
it will be so to ours.
tntri the ph raseologyof the act es-
tabiishine the JUterary unf;doubts
arc entertained whether the intention of
the legislature was to transfer to that
corporation, the proceeds ot the vacant
Smnappropriated Swamp lands or the
lands themselves. Acune upon tne
latter impression, the Directors have
prepared a plan, by which it'is propos
ed to drain and bring into market, a
particular tract of country, and thus
test by experiment, the propriety of
enterme upon a general system of
improvement This plan will accom
pany the Report before alluded to,
and the importance of the subject, will
ensure for it a lavorable considera
tion."
- This Tregioiuof marshes is represen
ted bv the eng;ineer8 whd have explbr
ed if, as spreading over a surface of
two millions and a halt ot acres, three
fifths of which is the exclusive proper
ty of the State. Some of the most in
telligent, enterpriztng-andrTwelt "gor-
prnril members ot the (JonleueraCT.
havejtheir'tftrl republics ifibed-by
narrower limits. it constuuies a
twentieth of our own soil in-extent,
and perhaps an eighth in fertility. It
is not only without productive value
in iUjent condtt'ioBf but w probfe
bly more than all ther causes, the
source of disease, " rendering life "un
comfortable and insecure; iand thus
blighting the prosperity of the fairest
portion of the State. I believe that no
doubts- exist among those acquainted
with the subject, of the practicability
of reclaiming these pestilential wastes,
and rendering them abodes of plenty
and comparative healthfulness. The
effect of all pur previous legislation,
has been to lock them op from individ
ual appropriation, without making any.
effort to improve them. " ---
Incompliance ' with - the provisions
of the ac t passed if the Tast session of
the General Assembly; to establish
the Bank, of North Carolina, Books of
subscription were opened at the sever
al places, and at the periods designat
ed by the thirdjection of the Charter.
The result is known to you, and is
strong. ri?encej that individual tub-
SCnpUODS Ol uiva vbuuuv in vuumcu
to any banking institution iff this State,
the "direction, of whicb-cannot be coo
trolled by, the stockholders. Thus
this subjeet, which accupied i so reucH
time at the last Session, returns upon
vou witb renewed and increased claims
to your ailfmion. aoe-vvgniavwnoi
the enrrencTortBe-eoontTyFtsitaH
timeiTideUcattand-difficolt-iubjeCt
of legislation but It at prtstpictt-fti
s which hare
tioni whicrexist to the cliarter of the
lianlc of North Cami'ma. Iiyva 1il (Via
n ri-. vi umi
investments for their money in other
sections ottlie ittgaldiuiin-
utioa f the circulating medium, has
- w - :r.j - j - - . 7"'- , y
uauie, mat tue UanK ol tjie Uoiteu
will require the exercine oLall your
wisuom ami prudence, to'preserve the
co.nljined causes threaten to produce,
Whether the original establishment
of banking institutions in this State,
Was ttlQ result of wise loiritilnitiiin- i
.inatter rather of curious speculation.
than useful ennuirv. ' The currenevtif
the country, is now, and must continue
to be a papr currency) and the only
alternative presented, is the choice
between bills emitted by our own
citizens within our own limits, and
j-subject-to our 4awsf-r by tftexkizen
er:wRef ftittrsf eriwm ,feTffpTTfo w
our ilia uence anu coutroi. A bank si
are indispensable, all will prefer a
douiealic to a foreisra irstitutLon.. The
the" corpbfation? Shall "a bank be
jlnWwM,.!!!
and governed by public ollicers, with
a capital sufficiently large "lo supply a
circulating medium
mum - commensurate
of the coinmuuitv? or
nks be charteredt-in
with the wants
shall several ban
twmcn the state mav
which the State tna
subscribe such
iTrrnraentntirecrioijrpeTngtPw
connned
ders?
I shall submit my views upon this
subject wit.i great deference to the
opinions of those more conversant
with it Ihave had no experience
iffthe-wattagement 'iff mbnied corpo-'
rations, and except upon an occasion,
when -some - investigation -ot -the con'
rli5i - r i
Bank of .tne. Stale, became a .
public
duty, such enquiries have rarely at-
ich enquiries
my attention.
tracted
At that time,
I entertained -doubts-wtth --reg?.r'.l--t
both, and my subsequent reflections
have had no tendency to remove them.
I doubt the constitutional - right to es
tablish such an institution, because it
seems to me that its issues, though
termed bank notes, are substantially
bilk - oL.cn:dit;I .Iqrbearnririg
into tlie discussion of this proposTtTiTn
and will state very briefly some few of
the -objections - which suggest-tlierar
sekest.4he expedkBcy the nea
sure. Of the power ot the General
Government to establish a Bank of
this character, perhaps' no scruples
need be enterUimwl.Tlie abiUtyof
the nation to maintain such an in
stitution, is vastly greater than ours;
yet the experiment has never been
tried, and at the present period re
ceives encouragement from no class
of politicians. If successfully manag
ed as it might be for a time, I think
there is too much danger, that it
would nltimately connect itself with
the politics of the country, and have
tendency to corrupt the people and
their - representatives." Finally, if
contrary to all experience, Individ
uals -should be found,,, who having no
. a r .i ' . i
iuierct or tnetr own to snarpenvigt
lance, should yet bring to the manage
ment of such a corporation the requis
ite attention, skill and inteeritv.iit
may their berudenttoeTTqui revhe
ther a general state of indebtedness on
tferpitrl oftJie 'cftvectfed to ItielitdVerA.
ntcan be free trom the dancers here,
that have attended it elsewhere? ; If jt
be a blessing incident tjo a public debt,
that the creditor has a direct pecunia
ry interest in the maintenance of the
Government does not the converse of
the proposition- follow that when -the
Government is the creditor, the debtor
has a direct pecuniary interest indue
ing the destruction of the Government?
V hy are the public lands sold for Cash
rather than on a credit? 1 he expert
ence acquired atour Public' Treasury
upon this subject is entitled to consid
eration. The head of that department,
has not always found it an easy mat
ter to reduce-into possession the few
debts which have at various trines been
due to the State from her citizensV
Success has more rarely attended bis
efforts in such case, anl-whn suc
cessful, it has been alter longer in
tervals than ordinarily characterize
the transactions- of individuals.
Would it be otherwise if the debts re
ally due to the State were nominally
due to a Bank! .
The great error, I apprehend, which
prevails on this subject, is that we
are disposed to establish a Dank, rath
er as an expedient to relieve us from
taxation, than with a view to the great
object to - be attained by such en in
stitution, a sound circulating medium.
in the management or public as ol
private affairs, we - are sometimes
tempted tonegle'ctthat system of poli
cy which finds , its appropriate reward"
patient tadastr and, hope tost
cufe prosperity, by. soma scheme of
pecuiauon wnicn is me most alluring
when The least understood.We for
get that the, Tubtie Treasury must at
last be replenished from the pockets
reel, is, frequently the -most unequal
and oppressive species of contribution.
Bank stock is certainly a. legitimate
subject of rerenwy btitthr stockhold
er AouJdJayJfuc-ihe privilegeeeon
ferred upon Jiini, just so muoli as he
receives over a fair rate per cent, on
his, in vestiiien t, i n ithe ordinary course
o& dealing, and no mhre. A greater
vi khuchw, . ctuwr
axaction has' a tentlencv, either to
or give nse tp the vopposite evil, ex
cesstye issues. In the former case,
a scarcity of circulating "medluof?lf
proouceti;intne latter, the communi
ty Tor
rency
the use ot a depreciated cur-
pay an indirect tax, greatly
larger in amount than the actual
revenue flowing into the Treasury.
It is -impossible to ascertninvwith
precision the amount of losses sus
tained, since the establishment of the
existing Banks, by the depreciation of
their notes, I think, however, that an
attentive examination will- natUfy.
every-on?rtht .it most exceed th-
from alL these iflstitutiiMis.- -I
venture therefure to recommend
the establishment of Banks- at such)
places ; as. the ;busfde;si of tlie cotrntry
mayrequ
canltaT" ubl To eicieil ttif tiiinniion
to be coiiti-;of
ued to the iiidividuarstockholders.i
sub uivuieuus pever to exceeu sucn
rate per cent, as may be regarded, a pai.l upon real estate," depends quite V If
fair equivalent for the use andhazandas much upon tSe integrity of the cUUi.' " . !
of the investment, The average s-.zenas the value of Ins pfqnyrtyr the ' tii
mount ot public monies on deposit, to
i.,'...yt7rr". i .:. : 1 lira'. " :r 't .
yidends accordingly.
Among thejrariou3 subjcctswhiiUiwhickjhoald jCroai this source.: ' ; -
will come beforeryourthc Tevisiori of It seems tomrthst the; whole series ;-sf".
the whole body of Our public statute Jof legislation upon the subject of, re-r i -laws
may.be mentioned as deeply in-jvenue, requires revision -and amende. :
'tcrestingto the'Min'm'n'Oit "'rhe car-jment : "There is perhapi "no tat : whic!!f"i
twst statu ff tt force in thffate;; yns 'ir bs? d?ytsmrte,irTqT!if rn it vpn-"'; ?
enacted in the year lisik in the reign i tion,. than a poll tax, aod none iobr. 1 f "; il
of Henry the third.:r-hir revised Code-
t it .i - li'
orovinrial laws nasaiul bv. the General i
Assembly which sat nt Urttlelli v iv ; ihl whi1ehd"supplie atetdrawn from the" 'tT4'
1715, omitting the entire legislation of Hatter source. Ht'al "estate contri T 1
the mother eottfltry-wkh regard tott
State, during a period tjf four hundred ment, an amount nearly equal to the
ann ninety years, anu emorarsng more
than a hundred entire statutes or parts
of statutes. Of these many relate to
the criminal law of the countrvr seve
ral create capital felonies or punish !
capitally, offences thatwere previously
subjea toa
: : u..i: .t .u i ... - r:..
which few have read, or had it in their,
power to read. The legislation of
nearly five centuries is a sealed book i
to tlie great body of the community,
and in some degreeiveirio the pro
fession whose interest and duty ren
der the study of the law the business of
lite. Itisbur-s-short time since,-the
question whether a statute regulating
the trial of an individual for capital
felony wasvin force in thjs State, be
came the subject of solemn argument
before the Supreme Court, and called
forth directly opposite wiinions. from
the Judges. The truth is, that not
only the source but the very 'existence
;ofr3(attttClaw
by an elegant writer,- witlifegard' to
the common mv, " as uhdiscovera
ble as the sources of the Nile." In
such a state of things, the expounder
.uf!he.Jawr.
tive and legislative Departments of
t he-tiovemmeftt ease-to be- eo-ord
nate with the Judiciary, since the lat
ter has not ontr the right to construe
the whole body of legislation,- but the
privilege or declaring the existence
within this State of any portion of the
immense mass of British statutes, en
acted anterior, to the period at which
we begin to legislate for ourselves.
I intend no disrespect to the Judicia
ry the difficulty does not arise from'
a disposition on their parts to en
c roach "TpTiQreoWer'd'epa.rtmentsof
the Government but from an omis-sion-f
4h Legislatureta pcrform:its
own functions. The task of revising
and expense of publishing this Code,
would be of little moment In compari
son with its importance... The Laws
and journals of a single session are
much more voluminous than such a
work woold be if properly executed.
' ; AjtoolciouS "tegat Inform ShbuTd, '
however, extend to all the subsequent
enactments, by, which we are govern
ed." Competent jndges entertain the
opinion that the bulk of our statute
book intent be lessened. at -least, one
third, by a repeal of statutes which are
in effitct obsolete, end otyrs. the
ject of whkh has been stfainsd by snb-l
sequent ensctmenrs. lie whoie.oi
tlvoUgUtioafiBirj? toirrr, vrit
iv is ucucveu iiiai cuiiijueie cuhcb wi iac uiu ui ine jicupin Ul una cutu;, , ,-
Uvese "enactments rwe not to be found .are imposed by tlie County Coarts, and ""
ift-haifa bzenlibrarieS" i lh JStatef Afi aChty liiformalijn.extenv-nietEr:
A part of those in force and many not" burthen is sustained exclusively by. ..
in force, were published inTewbern,. the polls and by -riaK estatcV"Whyw Z
thirty years since, but the workjlid should this radical difference exist be-V-
not qualpubUc expectation and is now tw.een..t
out of print. The lives, the liberty taxation?. Under Uie former the capi- . ;
and property of our citizens, are thus tation levy is the same in jimount with1 f v
subject to the enactments of a govern- that paid by the three hundred dollars
ment, widely dissimilar from ours, 'value in lam!, under the latter a dif .
the exception of the Statutes of Lim
nation, the RecistrrActs. and a. Cvw
others, mis-lit with propriety be exnun-
fed from our Code as surp!ussge. '
lany, subsequent acts, and sme f
iaera connected with tUecrirn'mnl law, -should
share a similar fate. It is
capital felouy, for instance, to coun
terfeit the notes of the Bank of North.
America, which have ' ho circulation
withi n-this State. : Various laws en
cuinber the-pages of the Uevisal, pro
viding for the punishment of counter
feiting our revolutionary bill of credit,
the necessity of which ceased." years
since with thci existence of the bills.
hum wiih vie existence oi tie bills.
t
present he much more disposed- ta "
uace out then' similitude than a coun- a
terfeitwT-'Tr - --ir. -
Is it not stranee.' that our Revisal' '
should exhibit to the citlzptn-vari.-
icnicti'nents' to punish offences w' .
cannot i) cointnitted, and ci' al
from bis" view to numerable pr- " jes
attachetl to actions, which he does not '
know to be wroriir? It is submitted
to your wisdutn U determine whether
legal system so perplexed, intricate' v ;
an.l uncertain, Is suited to the genius
of our' instituliuns,' and the character '
The Putilic . Treasurer inBls tast-":
tauual. UeporU Icalled'ihe attention of : "
the. Lfgislatoro to tbe fact, that for V
several yearrpist,tHe:idWrsi
lat - thefreasuryrv had exceeded, thai
lands,' wivu Id probably hive the ':V
ffict of supplying the deficiency.- '
uyino iaw as u now siauas, tne tax
"greatest burthen is of course imposed
;.".r . ? K-i-Z4T???t
pri veiTof onettind of " th' re vers ffir;
so ihan an income -tax. Byur ye--i----i-
f i
venue is derived ' from. - thft furmM-.
pon tax, wnim a comparauveiy email
sum is, tevieti upon every. omer spesies-r-'
of property and none upon motiied '
capuai. . " ; .
If we examine another branch of
the system, the inetiuality is still
Thrre-fourths of tlier
- .; - :.t k ... ....t .i i. ei.i..
ferent rule exists in practice in almost
every county. The- result is that
nothing like system or Uniformity can
be said to prevail in the arrangement
of bur fiscal concerns, I. v
It is a fundamental principle of the
' Government that the people ought !- .
InottobBuxedthoutweM of, , r
themselves or their representatives - ;
in Generalssembly-freely given." ' v
A ; proper rfgnrd fur this, article -of --f :
thTicclaratihnj&f Rights, may promptjS
the;enquiry,whettier;th :tirtuat sur- j ;f
tendetly-th-Xgiaturt--to4he-4is-" r ' '
tices pf ;ftho County, Courts of ..three ir f:
fourths cf the powerrto lay taxes,:
1 iivfxact accgrdarice wit the-st:: ; .
ortlie provision I call ypur atferiuon s
to this subject with 1rss hesitation. ' ; .' J
kr...; . ..r?.i.: t.... im-:-
success in an v . attempt to improve the .
IcQAdiiionJtl
substantial change or the policy hither v
tou rsu edrrTh birrthi;nT)f tax idtr
should be equalized,- its range; most
be enlarged, and this aggregate amount
increased, if we expect to sustain' the v; ;
character and credit " of ; tlietate, 3 ;J
the promotion . of any , liberal1 enter-
prize. T--T--
; I beg leave to recommend to your
consideration the accompanying er-
rspnndenee of J? ms WyrfceEsqulrf
Superihteodenl of rhTicAVorki, witb
this Drp'artment, ''relative to the duties
end compensation of that olTicer.t lt
will be perceived that further legisls- . '
lion htoctttu y to secure the serv ketlil
of any individual competent to the cor- ,
rect discharge of tiiat important trust.
,. In compliance with the Resolution
psed at the last session of the Gene-
ral Aasrmbly, I have purchased, and
transmitted to the Executive Depart- ' ;
men of each State ad Territory 1rt :'
le TJniiin, a'eopy oT ilacRss's M p of '
this state, vi esonot permit toy sen to-....
allude to true subject, without venturing ;
to luggest, tht if a copy were procer- k
d st (be public expense, snd forward- r -,
ed to;Tsctr of the Clerks of oar Sups- f
rior Courts, to be placed p their respeei
tib-ttivo court houses, it might have a ten
jcn l, ditfun jport generally among ,.: :
owr citizens correct aoownumeus vbvj,
geograjky .ef our Elate, and dUclarsov
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