Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-11-15
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL.
The Next Legislature

pose to take glance at the questions winch VIII
most probably come before it. and the course which
it is likely to pursue free expression of opinion
by the press is always desirable and in this case we
shall endeavor to state our views concisely
and as explicitly possible.
Among the measures of State policy which will no
doubt be brought forward occupy the attention of
the Legislature will be the repeal of the Gerryman-
der law of 1886 the distribution of the official pa
tronage of the State; Equal Suffrage Internal I'm
provements by the State the election of Judges by
the people together with other matters of less
general Importance. State Legislatures have strict
y speaking very little to do with national politics,
except in cases where the rights interests of the
States are directly called in question of this cha
racter is the slavery agitation which disturbs,
and for years las disturbed, the peace and harmony
of the country and bids fair to dissolve the Union
itself Doubtless this question will occupy small
amount of the attention of the Legislature, and its
action will be looked to not only in this State, but in
the other States, both North and South
In regard to the first of these questions l. e. the
repeal of the Gerrymander law of 1916, we must a.
VOW ourselves most plainly and unequivocally IN ia
cor of it, We think that the Democratic party,
which will have ma ority in both branches, owes
this to justice to ITSELF to consistency, and to the
country. The enactment of the law manifest
deviation from established usage, without precedent
justification, done for political purposes and to
serve party ends. 1t uncalled for by the people,
and an outrage upon propriey, and as such has ever
since been denounced by the Democratic party, and
now that that party is in the ascendancy, and has
the power of repeating this obnoxious law it is bound
to repeal it, for neglect to do would under the
circumstances amount to approval and endorse
ment of it, and an acknowledgement that we of the
Democratic party have been denouncing a law which
We dare not repeal Besides, even upon the grounds
upon which the Feds. attempted to justify themselves
in 46-7, it is duty to repeal this law for if as
was then argued. that party which had the ascen-
dency in the popular vote entitled to majority
of the members of Congress. that majority per-
tains of right the Democratic party, who swept the
State at the election in August last But than
all this the repeal of the Gerrymander law will be
introducing nothing new into the statute book it
will only be placing matters they in the reg
ular Of things which ought not to have been
deviated from, done four years since Deci-
dedly we think that the Gerrymander must be re-
Pealed.
AS regards the official patronage of the State, we
have no hesitancy in saying that we go for clean
Sreep. So far as we are concerned, motto is to
cry aloud and spare not" and this not from any de-
sire for Office for ourselves any of friends
from any feeling of bigotry ill-will towards
fellow-citizens of opposite political opinions, but
simply from desire for justice and fair play. No
man of common sense can go about with his eyes o.
pen and not be conscious of the CALLING prescription
which follows a Democrat in every step he takes,
and so far as the influence of office, the control of
al md 10 Od
him member of Pariah caste, debarred from all
participation in the advantages enjoyed by his Wing
fellow-citizens So general thing is this that we
might almost regard it universal, and the acct
dental presence of Democrat in the employment
of the State, or in the direction employment
of any corporation is SO rare as to be remarkable
and the exception only adds stronger confirmation
to the rule. We do not wish to be invidious, else
we might partcularize the moneyed and other cor
porations in Wilmington, and give list of the d.
rectors and officers in all of then with their poll
tics, which would perhaps surprise of ou
country readers. 1t is enough to say that with TIVE
or three exceptions, receiving not one-sixth O
the total amount of salaries paid there is Demo
crat to be found in them. In corporations
there is one or two Democratic directors, in other
mono at all And be it remembered that in all thes
Bank, the State is a considerable stakeholder. W
do not state this from any feeling desire to cas-
reproach upon any of institutions the gentle
men connected with them, but we attack syster
which is virtual insult to every man belonging
the now dominant party in the State. We inten
shortly to obtain list of the names, politics, and
possible, the family connexion subsisting betwee
the officers of the different Banking and other corpt
rAtions of the State, in nearly all of which the Stat
is less interested. 1t will be startling docl
nent. 1t is, in measure, to equalize things,
do away, if only partially, with this inequality
to teach both Wings and Democrats that the Dem
cratic people, aye, and the Wing people, too, for
some element, and carry some influence, in the
rection of affairs, that recommend to and ure
upon the Governor and Legislature the exercise of
the powers conferred upon Them without fear, favo
or affection IN any 1T is no use to preach n
partyism in this matter. 1t is not three weeks sim
Southern Rights meeting was held in the Mason
Hail. at which Wings did speak very patriotcal
upon this subject and yet the next announceme
was that Mr.. LYNCH had been hunted out from Il
petty Office of Travelling Postmaster, and this sir
ply upon account of his political opinions, and at II
dictation of certain political cliques in and abo
Wilmington. pretty commentary, forsooth! tt
contest between the North and the South has not
ing to do with this. All our remarks would be equal
applicable fthe Union to be dissolved ton
The same cliques would monopolize, try to mono
olize, everything, and it is the bounden duty of the
gisature in the exercise of its authority, to do not
10,