- Title
- Documents printed by order of the General Assembly of North Carolina at its session of ...[1831-1835]
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-
- Date
- 1831 - 1835
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- Creator
- ["North Carolina."]
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- Place
- ["North Carolina, United States"]
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Documents printed by order of the General Assembly of North Carolina at its session of ...[1831-1835]
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MESSAGJS.
To the Honorable, the Central Assembly of the State of North Carolina:
(Jbstlemen,.
Among the distinguished blessings derived from the establishment of the
independence of our country, may justly be enumerated the free election
and constitutional meeting of the Representatives of tire people. Selected
from every section of the State, accurately acquainted with the occurrences
which have taken place in their respective districts, familiar with the con¬
dition of their constituents, and coming to the seat of government clothed
with ample powers to remedy the grievances under which the people labor,
they present one of the most cheering and interesting characters of our
peculiar form of government. Assembling under such circumstances,
when wc are. assured that crops of all kind nave been abundant, and that
the means of subsistence and comfort are thereby secured to every citizen
of the State, and when the ordinary share of health crowns our enjoy¬
ments, we have abundant reason to be thankful to the Almighty Ruler of
the Universe for these inestimable blessings, and to pray that they may be
continued to us, and perpetuated to our children..
The satisfaction which I should have felt on meeting with the Legislature-
at this time, is somewhat abated by the accident that caused the destruction
of the State House, which had been repaired in a. faithful and masterly
manner, and nearly completed, under the provisions of the act of the last
session. Bv this casualty the State has been deprived of the convenient
halls provided for the accommodation of the Legislative body, together-
with the adjoining offices and the public Library. The fine marble statue
of Washington, by Canova, has also been much mutilated, and a considera¬
ble portion of the ornaments and furniture of the building has been de¬
stroyed. The injury to the Statue is to be regretted, as it was the work
of an artist of great celebrity, now no more: But the memory of Washing¬
ton, the father of his country, will live in the hearts and recollections of
all who love liberty, in every part of the globe, and needs no artificial
monument to revive or to perpetuate the glory of his achievements.
With respect to the loss of the building itself, it is my opinion, fortified
by that of better judges, that, under all circumstances, it is not to be con¬
sidered as a public calamity. Such were the defects in the construction of
the old walls, erected in 1794, that it is very probable that a part of the
building would have fallen in a few years, and perhaps caused the death of
many of the assembled Representatives.
Immediately after the destruction of the State House, the congregation of
the Presbyterian Church in this city, with a public spirit which reflects
great credit upon their liberality, tendered the use of their meetinghouse
for the accommodation of the House of Commons, and their session room
for the Senate. Without determining positively in this case, but leaving
the members to decide hereafter for themselves, I have considered it my
duty, under existing circumstances, to make a temporary preparation, and
to tender the Government House to the Legislature, which, being the pro¬
perty of the State, may probably be so altered as to answer the purpose of
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