Davidson was struck off from Rowan in 1822, and if the population
of the two counties be added together, shows an increase in what
was Rowan in 1820 of 8,208. Macon in like manner composed a part
of Haywood until 1828. If the population of that county be added
to that of Haywood, it will show an increase of 5,910.

*Decrease.

487

1831

1. GOV. STOKES' MESSAGE ON EDUCATION.

2. ASSEMBLY COMMITTEES ON EDUCATION.

3. MCFARLAND'S RESOLUTION ON SCHOOLS AND LITERARY

FUND.

4. TAXATION FOR FREE SCHOOL IN JOHNSTON COUNTY.

5. LITERARY FUND RECEIPTS.

6. SLAVERY AND EDUCATION.

7. A CRUEL PUNISHMENT ABOLISHED.

8.

HISTORY OF THE FIRST TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION.

9. PLAN OF SCHOOLS BY "PEOPLES' FRIEND."

12. LOTTERY FOR PUBLICATION OF A N. C. HISTORY REFUSED.

University refused

fund.

Reclamation of the swamp lands.

1. GOV. STOKES' MESSAGE ON EDUCATION.

The Literary Fund will claim and receive your favorloan from literary able attention. The Report of the Public Treasurer will afford you precise information with regard to the amount of cash in his hands, and the situation of that portion of the fund which is not available. It is probably known to all of you that the Trustees of the University did not accept the loan offered them by the last Legislature from this source, so that the whole remains subject to future legislative disposition. The most important item of property transferred by the Legislature to the corporation to whose management the Literary Fund has been committed, are the swamp lands belonging to the State. These lands are believed by many intelligent individuals to be of immense value, and their improvement to be an object second only in importance to the opening and improvement of Roanoke Inlet. It is unnecesasry, I am certain, to dwell upon the advantages which would result from the former. They are apparent to all. To convert a dreary waste of water and marshes into a habitable and fertile region, to insure the means of sustenance and comfort for an immensely increased population, and to give health to a section of the country which needs no other blessing, are the certain rewards of a successful attempt at improvement. To your wisdom it is submitted, whether such advantages, which, if attained, do not end with themselves, but tend to the enlargement of a fund which may justly be regarded as the orphan's legacy, will not justify, and does not demand a full and early experiment to test the practicability of the measure.

Legislature will be too busy to consider subject of schools.

Believing that this assembly will have much to do in providing for the security of the people; in providing for its own future accommodation; and for the establishment of a new bank, or so directing the application of banking capital, as to secure a sound circulating currency; and in