Newspapers / The Oxford Mercury, and … / Dec. 6, 1844, edition 1 / Page 1
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M BY. JOHN CAMERON. MESSAGE OF HIS EXCELLENCY JOHN M. IMOKEHEAD. To tb Unral AmciiM or WorihUrilma, at cainmeiiCfOM'iU f th en of 1841. , : . Gentlemen of the Senate I j and ef the House of Commons 4 our biennial return ! the scat of S i .1 ov jerneiit for the ' purposes of iUtion,r he reprcsentatifes of a free snd happy pea pie, U always an occaiion of interest to the patriot, and one of gralitutlt t U'ivp, whote kind providence directed ur fathers in. the paths f polities! wisdom, and cast ourjlots to this fsTouted and happy land. Ma jl we nat hw pe for a continuance of the ! same fa ors, by mlLingin ihe same paths, and de ully asking (o Ilisn that guidance and pu rity of purple which, will lead to whole aone aiul wise legislation. Many subjects of importance will en;e your attention, but whether you deem a proper time to act upan all cf them, this ts a auattcr for your deliberate consideration I PUBLIC FINANCES I The condition of the Public Treasurv should especially enaj;e your j attention The appropriations made at the session be-c fore the last, to discharge (he. debt duel for building the Capitol, so far exhausted the public fund, that it was insufficient t meet the current expense of the government; and the public Treasurer was (directed to oirowof the Literary and Internal Im provement Uoardsi what money 'might be needed 1o meet thbsa expenses v , tj Reference to his report to tho last Lris lature and to his monthly settlements with the Comptroller, will showi the! amount of . ine literary iun useu py nim,i auu ine a snount thsl was keptnni hand for his use; as it wss deemed better that Jhc Slate should use these funds, than go 'row. , I elsewhere to bor I Mi the ' Tr.e current expenses of the State and lone session of the last Legislature,! left lha public, Treasury, at its rue, nearly or quite exhausted, except as to the funds belonging to the Boards. v j .' i i !! : The last Legislature,1 awaro of the condi tion of the Treasury, and, being called Upon to make provision to meet he, payment of SO.OOOof the bonds .01 the Wilmington and Ralaigh Riil Ro?d falliag due in Jin v 43t and endorsed by the 'Slate, directed the Literary Board to redeem these Baiuls; a a (, finding it necessary likewise to mite prctlaton to meet the interest falling due' on f the bonds of the Raleigh and (Gaston Rail i Itoad Com pa uy, endorsed by the State, jantl to raise funds to meet the current expenses of the State until the taxes of j 1S43 should be paid into the Treasury,! authorised (he public Treasurer to borrow tl)e sum of $50, 000 from one of the Boards or of tl e. Banks of the State; and, being likewise desirous to do tamelhlng for the relief of the people HI It directed the Literary Board; to loan but its funds. . At che time these : requirements of the Board were mae'e, it had less than $50t 00 in the Treasury , about f 100,000 i bonds upon individuals, and the balance of, its fondsin stpcUsind permanent aecuntiesil. The Literary board, desirous to meet that high confidence manifested byj the Legists tura in their financial skill, pressed codec tiont, and with the cash in band redeemed tbt $50,000 of Rati Road bond?; and by lha assistance of the funds of. the. Board of 'In 'terual Improvement, and those the Literary Board had been able to pay into the Treasu ry, the public Treasurer has been enabled to meat all demands at the Treasury, without borrowipg elsewhere, notwithstanding S50, 000 of the bonds of the Wilmington, and Kaleigh Rail Road, which fell due in Janua ry, 1844, endorsed by' the State, .had to be paid. by the Treasurer. ' j j .!) ;; TUe Literary Board did not. believe tliat it was intended by the Legislature that its nocks and other securities should be sold to taise a fund to be loaned tp the people, and however much the Board regretted the dts appointment to many, were deatined to er perienee (for application for loan were very numerous) it was unable to avoid if and ren dcr the Mate, ta wnten me Doaru, owea us first duty, that aid which it needed I It is evident, upon the slightest reflection, how embarrassing it is to the Baards charg ed with the managtmeot of the Literary and Internal. Improvement funds, to bo requjjjv . cd to holJ these funds subject to tho require ments of the Public -Treasury, and -to be preven'cd from investing them in ' anaVe' I by a large amouat of intetest Is lot. ? i I f' r I therefore reeommend. that ample and permanent provision be made to supply the Public Treasury, and that whatever intereai. ought juktly to bo due to tho two ( Boird, . opun their funds kept In the irreasury; fur I II 1 : I I : I I " ' .. ; . . . the public service, be paid over lo the Luxation. But, -whatever course is pursued, am OXFORD- irary Board, 16 ro into the distribution fund for the use of Common Schooli." ! I KAIL ROADS. i As the .embarrasjueuts of the Treasurv aric in part from the connection uf the State with our Rail Roads, it becomes a r matter of absorbing interest to devie the mean whereby their usefulness to the public may bo continued, and the Slate at the same lime sustain no detriment on account of her lia bilities for these roads. ; ! f i The difficulties under which, these roads labor, arise from their indebted nest for their construction . The VVilmingion and j Rat tigh Rail Road, including the sta route to Charleston, coat some two millions of dol lars, while the stock paid in amount eel 1 about thineen hundred and fifty thousand dollars only, leaving the balance of the cost of construction a debt against the corpora, tion, the interest of which ahoibs a large portion of its receipts. So of the Raleigh and Gaston Rail Rojd. li cost about! one nilliou five hundred thousand dollars, while iis stock paid in was only about six hundred and ntty thousand dolLrs, leaving the bal ance of its cast of construction a debt sinst the corporation the iuterest of which abkoibs all its receipts, after defraying the cuirent expenses. -M-; : - t'-j:-' ri j. fi V.f ; To aid these corporations,the State,under acts cf the Legislature-,, passed for- the pur pose, endorsed for the latter S00.000 dol laii of its bond, none of which are yet due; and for the former; 0300,000 of . its bond, half of which have fallen due and heeii paid or redeemed J$5o 000 by tin corporation it nelf ; $50,000 have been redeeit.cl by the Literary Boaid, as directed by tlie Legisla ture; $50,000 have been paid hy the Publir Treasurer; and $50,000 continues to f 1 dot each succeeding January, until atl fall due; to 'meet which, the; Legislatute must make provision in the event the coiponlion to pay. -; . . " . fails To secure the Suie against. any-; loss up on these endorsements, deeds of morigae have been executed, as required by the! acts, upon all the property and effects of hpsn toads. It is rtrsiiect fully sub ilted lo vour wisdom to adopt such course, in relation to these roads, as will secure the public iurerett. I lt V.frJ In ika Wilmin.ln.. . .1 ti Uail Hoiid, it should he remembered that the State is ovvner of 600.000 of its cipitLl stock, and, theiefore, w hatevti cc urseSmay be pursued, as to the State's liability iupon its endorsement, due regard should be had to this stock; that it may be p: otccted as far; as possible, without involving the State in further difficulties And further, the Slate being the principal stockholder in the cor poration, her honor requites that its deb s should bx paid, without any reference what cvei ta her mere legal liabilities. She holds a latge portion of the stock she ..holds the road, scambbats and "all its effects of Value, under mortgage to indemnify her and 'cred itors must rety mainly on the liberality of the, State to permit them to get therr money from the corporation.1 I .' " ; . , ;; : ! It is believed, from the success atteudine the opera! iotis of'this road, notwithstanding us neavy tossesoy nre anu ai sea, mat it . :). . - J' : . -. indulged for a few yeais, it will be able to meet all Its liabilities, and extricate itself from debt, and appreciate the value, of its tacit. ;!-;V1tr ;:.y - ..Kl.--.;- This indulgence, it is. believed, may be easily giyen without any further risk to the Slate. ' V.;4- , ' ''' ! : '. Already the Literary Board holds of the bonds of ih'u corporation, endorsed by the Slate as before stated, v$50,000 ;j the State Treasurer holds 950,000 mere, paid j far by him out of the funds of ihe same Board ly ing in theTreasury ; and the Litera ry Board, by collecting iri its debts, will be enabled to take up the other touds, or, nt least,1 the larger part of ihem, as fast, as they fall due. And -1 doubt not the corporation would promptly pay the interest to procure indul genceon the principal, whereby it will be enabled to meet other liabtitiea which press, and sometimes embarrass, its operations. The Liiierary Fund should be in safe and certain investments What safer or more certain investments could this fund! have. than in' these beads? Safe, because the Stale it recently and has a snaitgage ppon property costing over two million of I dol lars, to secure their payment; certain be cause they yield semi annually ihree per cen. interest; which does not fluctuate like the dividedds of B.mk Stock. J ' "Should this course be adopted, the Board, will be ' aided and relieved; the Literary Fiind' will have a safe' and certain invest cnenti and tha SlateJ will, be, no further in volved. ; ':y: 7:t4.-WT H:' !"'; Whether" you will adopt this or ' some wiser eotira e, is submitted to your consider-. . J . Ct, FRIDAY ftlORNING,- DIICEMBER?6i M 3 i ii F I pie provision should be I made to sutain the credit of the State, in every .; possible -con n regard to the Raleigh and Gaston Rail Road, this work too was constructed, as be-i! lore stated, mostly upon credit the baL ance due for ts construction, aftet exhaust ing the whole yof the stock. aubfVribed,- aV mounting to a sum larger tbaa the whole This corporation having, failed in Janu "jj 1843, to pay ithe1 jiatresl duf ;n its bouds endorsed by; thie SiatJ,P the Public Treasurer prompt I V paid jt and preser veil ihe jTaith of the State, i and has continjied !o do so ever since, j 'Fhe amount thus f paid will appear from hfa rejidrt 1 A; Bill in; Equity has betn ifiled accsrdtnx to the reaulrementi oi the Wi! 9iMhftr., the endorsements, to spquestor the profits oT the Road to idemnjfy lle Stater-aria rel ceiver has been appointed. Ii is believed that the receipi of this Ra4 for. years to cOme wtll be insufficient to kee it in repair and pay the interest upon ! its .debt; (conse quently its debt must continue to increasd It is, therefore, respectfullr submitted tvtaei thcr would not bo betlrr for the iiuekhol .f .i.- c . . . i i A- ucis, nic oiatr, and int. poblie, thsif tlir road and its eflects; should be id i spoiled of u n d e r t h e m o r t &a e f s i h a t w h e t h er i 1 f i 1 1 s into the hands of thje StatejorjiiMo the hands of a new set of stockholders incorpbrafcil for the purpose it jm ty be disembarrassed; tor little j doubt isj eWtrjrtained that with ttven its present prospects, ii Will l only1 ;i tr x.. - i'J c::i .mi i l ' -;hi keep itself in repair!, but will yield besides! coHMueraBie inronie. '-l-'C- -1; . 11 ' i -if -ii- ' , protect her ajains! her liabilities- it Jis due !o uie inuiviuuais wiio voluntarily enter ed into bends to the amount .of 8500,000, .iMrfWty ,he sff ? anal,?4 ler.endtir' men'; and jit is dud to the slockruilders fo malcje the proptrly'i ipUsible,ijarifc,me l!i?.ii the amount of the debts due from the corpora iq:i; so that cntiic los !; .'';.. ;j; til lUck may not be a u And, in connection with thi su hjVct, I will rcspe.tfnlly re tr you io Mie niessaire submitted by myself to the last Legislalur, .elaiive, to t-decling k communication by rail roan tact v ceit this road and the seveial rail coifK which terminate at jWeldoo, and to con i ruki ng a t ur n jji Ite I Slrom R deigh west -ward.;: jj These i tw improvements would really enliance the uiiHlyj and ValUcVortrie Ratei'h and Gistou RVil Road, .and ! doubt not, would cause it o orins a much igher Since. 'ii t Since the aiurnmen of lie las! fegisla turei a portion ol ih0 Portsmouth and Roan oke Rail Road, wi hin ihe limits of thii tate, was torn up. and rendered 4Mpass,ahie, uy an inuiv'uuai claiming it as a purchaser, at a sale made under an execution against thei cerpoiation, whereby ! the! travel and transportation en 1 the road were for a time obstructed. The legality of the; course pur sued by the purchaser has uu(iergone"'judici- ai mvesiigaiion, , ano the 1 mitter .is now pending before the Supreme Court. ; j It is not my design to express or intimate an opinion as lo the propriety or legaliiy of tne course pursued by the purchaser. . i I he interest which stockholders haVe in a corporation created 'for the public use and convenience, should be subject to their debts; and; I he propetty held by surh-cornuration shouiu; be liable to tts debt!; but this inter est and property should be reached by ihe creniiprj in siicjti way as noi io put tne, public to inconvenience, destroy the franchise, and aeieai jne ovjeci naa in view oy the is uture in its creation. If there bend law to enable creuitors to; reach; the interests of stockholder and ! the' property of corpora lions, without detriment to the public, sue a law should be, passed as will enable cred tors to, secure, their debts, and, at the same time, securo to 'the public the! benefit anil convenience intended by creating the cor poration. 1 INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS. I ; Upon the subject of Internal Improve ments, 1 respectfully invite your.'jattention to the suggestions madejh ;mv-mes3e to the last Leisla'ure And. in aiUititn to, those suggestions, 1 will add that few rivers. in the south are more susceptible of improve ment lor na vigable purposes, and. at a amal expense, than the rivers in the lower pari o oir: Slate. - y if !t is true tliat for a 'portion of ibeTear theyf are deficient in depth of jvilerl for na v Italian ; but that may , be easily, remedied by the construction of daot and loeks at jhos parts of the rivers where the water; is of in sufficient -4lepth,t as there lis always water cuougu io Keep ine aams aue(l nejre be i.' I I 1 . . ' . 1 . : J r i Mch Mrp, :.h.ul,l be .i pte.l asU ili I,? I,t?i AcroW trie Hs.ius .l iihose point, oti .p ; -V " nry . T T. v Ti p m proximanoii,: anoiti navtgabte canal:.might periy h I lus course is due to the State to Ki A;ik l lUiw i... .Vi "Jt but little d-spent in it hcse, rivers after It-aviiig the gekl Wis, UMiallj found near tjiie coimencment of trie alluvial;!' ragton; but fe damswouldbe !requisite to make xftittn perrr.anentl1"navicrable. j 8 ! f !'.' tfke the Cape Fear, for instanre 1 1 am iot informed as to the descent of its channel 'ovF4yettevi1le;j but jbeginnins: at that poi it t on t h i r j eKw hie hj0an, at;all kstageat he . a j er oe rea c bed lly at eaioiboa ts fro m yi!A,!,Rto,l-:,M 1 thifik it very probable tjiata half doeia dams with lacks of j ten fMeach, would render the riverJai all times navigable lor teamboats o Fayetteville. , j V' i t h a- pt rmalieiil steamftoat navigation from our excejlent pert! Of Wilmin-ton, to fayettievillej pnd a good Turnpike from ttience to some nVviable!point on the noble j aumn, wno can estimate the vast advan- iges to the 8&ji? .ij Vlj- : JU !'-',' Take the Juse-alrealy has a .'steamboat ace.iided it, its pre-edt unimproved con foo.las.fa as rnflh field, wilhin!twenty eifcht mileaofjRaleigh.l .';'-' i .j' . .H;; '.: '' Ij It issiid,jby those better acquainted with the river lhanmyselftci fate at a.l times oav-ig-ble from .Nrwhern to r within a abort distance of ;. ..VaV ne'sbribu gh i some : fifty miles distant from Raleieh. Allowing a loot or, tvvo descent. in every mile necessarv ib give any streab a' currreot", can doubt be entertained iht eiht or ten dams with lock oi icn leei iiit eapn, wouiu. five permanent Aleamboat navigation to the immediate VI mtiij vi nieigu: - .. . j Aain the bourse of Hpjaces Is extremely circu ms river in seme tous; ! after m wind ifig ahaut for miles it retunis to i within a t ions, thus afjeQceVa voiding. the expense of anvida-Ti shorteniiia the iiaritratiitn. and overcoming whatever ascent there! ttiishi be in uio naiurai cnannei. i Tient steamboat navigation from Newberii to ;ny point on theNeuse !to vj.ich it wight ue carried janl jthei facility I of navigation won Id be g re a t Ij i n ere aed by 4 eatlen i n g t he current and making it equal to slack 1 water navigaVion. ; i JiJas jofj iburtheii could! be easily lowed by steamboats, er prooelled bv J.i - H- " ' i i f i f I : .'! i i . :! . , ' T - I , J ciher"pOver.::j j-Vf- loimediatfly; fo id for.nec with this lm jroyement bf teNeus, is another subject i s ot importance; altogether worthy of con sideration.;:t , h: I. :-, t " .. -t 1-;-; Our Harbour of Beaufort is believed lobe cual, if not superior; lo lany other on tour zuasi, south of the Chesapeake., ! in my last message 1 drew Ihe attention of j the Legislature to t he proprie: y of press nig upe n the attention of Congress the ( ne cesshy of making a shin channel fioni Pam Iiico bound to this Harbour; as well as ! the necessity and utility of opening a ship chan- npi ai or near ag's neaii, bet Wt-en the Al bematde Sound'and the Atlantic Ocean. ! now invite yoor attention, likewise, to those suhjf cis with a ' recommendation that you press their considers ion upon! the' at- teniion oi ine ueoerat uovernment. Btit to : the . connection! bet vee"ri the havi gation Mf the NeUseand Beaufort HarboUr whatever connection there may be between Ueaulort Harbour and Pamlico .Sound,' the Ireight I boats on the Meuse canuot avai themselves f its benefit ! 'I 1 i Such craft asfwill navigate the river can no: live in stormy weather in the wide Wa ters ot the euse ! below; Newbern, and of the Pawlico Sound The river boa is, there fore, will liave lo'put llieir cargoes abroad of Urgeir craTt at Newbern to be 1 taken to Beaufwfl. Thi? transshipment 'it is i desira bleto avoid, and it is more than probable it can be avoided jl " ': . 3 '" J I '. ' h AiiThe section of country bet ween Newbern and Beau fori a distance! of some fpnV; oi miy tntic't is comparatively a plain, bat lit lie elevated above the Neuae at Newbern, or the Ocean at Beaufort; with a aoil'admir ably ad ipted to the. purpose of conslructing tanals. A canal my be cut from Beiuforl 'to aome point oh the Trent and Neuse "at or near Newbern, so as lo avoid any wide wi ters that might make the navigation danger ou s, and the river boa t s be. 1 cked ; into thi canal, and thus del iverji heir ca ir oea ( ro in the uper country direct on 'ship board in1 one of the best Harbour oi Ihe Unitn ;r. ;J 1 1 J The praciicabjtity dihis improvement is n nqups t io n a bl e, i f there ;be streams bet ween 1 hese l v pc ii nl a b f iJa Ci ct e ii it hi i a gn i i u d e a n d tleration lo serve for feeders to thecanal. Upon this, point 1 am not' informed; but' if there be not sunn streams, there Is amuU waier f- auRifient elevation !:.ia vlakva EiIij and , Lnng 3 lake to answer the 1 purpose which" by me addltianal expense, hti h ue oruugi'i lo ino canai m supply - it. I ' 'I IU VI C j ; ICI UIIIIS i - i i . s -! ' . -.; s - i . i - i 'i . - . 1 .; 13- VOL. IY.flNO. II. With eoodlnavitralinn frml lll...r . he vicinMT Raleigh, and . RnoJ Turn juke or R.Uo,d wrstw.rd frojtU, poinf, , r'VvI,fll,f-e lL V1 iPohanre to this btat VV heifer ihtsimprorrmeWl be pr.c Meable, ?nd filial w.ll be its eot,. can bn easily .,eertael. The acienre !wf fn eenn o rer an occult ae.ehcV, and iu ppltrai ,oii nol0ngr a myit Wr. Tt " already rediicfd. in our counirv. io . r-;.p..w...fCirfice oi every y,r appti. I.U :. U 2 -:j ! i j. j Surveys and estimates carfbe rnad k'od responsible pursons can be fmunj 'r...i undi nako an enterprise and i;,..,.! I . ao t execution far. stipulited sum; To under" take now a rk of Internal Improve dark. We only have to iJr J metit tn tho i - ...... s . . - wiuib urn fore wo What wilt be Ihe re&u t. i J No doubt. -a entertained thai L system of improvements bv d.m. kj f ...i. . upon the Tai and Roanake ri. '."7,. greatly improve their navig.iior. ) ' i VVR end locks no nuterialcan & clieaper and stronger iau oor loilraf v,e, well weighed down wiih atone, and.; it durability; Mn ; iontiJ kept wr,, augment for.I practical purpo.J . The ?evs expressed in relation toSheso .mpr.vomenU are made r.hrr with ho elicit , pybUc enquiry; than with 'ibe exnee Uti.,1 lha you will i,ke , any action U,e matter ail Ihi. lime, fur.herjhan, jf , ,,y . 1 !ave bu 'i" to add lo the aug-estions I made to le last Legislature relative 2 improvemehts in he. middle anJ .restern pans of the Siate. -Theywaoi , roa feldy in getting to :od n,a, kets and their energy ad industry will ply ihem with all they need, j t ! J :. ; ; v -the, eiIection; !l f ''; ;iTrw?!notifiei( by the Sheriff of Da. vulson or thejfeath of the Hon, Chi. Brum mell, roeinber elect .f iht ..... .. .. H.ue-f Coju,oM ,d by 16 ( y 0WeIl.of Af.dMkot ihe i'II.i.-Lii W, -w., o ,uer e.eci iron, that counly ,0 iho House of Conimons; .and by Hie Sheriff of Greene, of ihe death ,of. L IIoW J,W 7V memur W from that county o the House of Commons; .nd by ihe Shcr. tfi of JoWon, of Ihe death of Ihe Hon. Ransom Saolersihe Senator elect of that1 count v.lo the present Legi,afureji . "'a oi eiocuon have been issued to fill thee vacanews. This ir.:L " 1 tality among lne members elect of the m.....y r,. m-r, m "wei too, .fier their e ecJ,on ailhe deathf a distinguished citiz...n, l.te candidate for the office tCOuv. ernor ofour3ta!ef and the death of tever.l other candidates either during or immediMe- ly after their canvass, srem to appeal to you with great force .upon the propriety of al. . tering the lime, of holding the Sections. - It is proper that candidates for J public fa vor should havxs an opportunity of visiiinr and; seeing - those whoso confidence the v seek: and ihatlhe voter, ahould have ihe opportunify olljudRig of their qualification- IJul 9Ptiiunitiea should br afforded lh V? ,io?! e year when the heat and drseaseaf summer do not endanger ,hc,r .,,.ves- . V ' w wi-e" true thai some of our cit.2ensjn.ihe lower country by the fear of disease, before ihe efcctian, and dare not return to vote at lhe.lime at which it itnoxv ne.u. ii is iljereiorei respectfully ,ecom- . mended that tle day of holding ihe elections. (r the luturejbe o,e lime in the montha oi June or Jury. i . n - TIIK JUDICIARY.! V , The Bench Inf. our Suoremft Pn,. I..- been denrived o( one f ih- h:Lu.- ments that yr adorned u. andlNonKr olina of one orjier nohlesiand mot c-nsh" ed sons, in thelleatii of Wyjiam Ga no one of the associate Justice, of th. rt lle.smpli.lrestlly good Jma4 .nd a ; 'Ift supplied : by 1 ih Goyernor;afld Council by the ap,HinU meHt ofthe,! Fredetick N- of HillL borough. one of ih- J,., . M Courts, to thVj: -Bench. Tf f.vid r. CaldweUorSalhury, w, . man- ner appointe4 io the Bench ot ti.npener ! Court. to fill tM vacancy occasioned by tX- i resignation o, 3 udge Nh 4 Their 'om issi.iisexpHei!h the termination of your ulbur XfP,e; to, nil both vacancies - : Jfj : ',- T-1 'M for three pHihe Judicial disiuci, are racanL It devolVea cnr ) u t fill theni.; ' ' ' f; . ; u hile provision is rhada in our eollegW .nd schoola fgrthe intruction of our youth- 1 - I 1- -;8 ii-..
The Oxford Mercury, and District Telegraph (Oxford, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Dec. 6, 1844, edition 1
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