Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1852-12-31
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL. !
w1LmINeToN, NC. FRIDAY. DEC. al, 1854


After an unusually long session of nearly three
months, the Legislature Of North Carolina adjourn
ed at nine o'clock on Monday night last, having
passed thirty-eght Public Acts ffty-eight Private
Acts, andiwenty-one Resolutions. The Captions of
these several Acts and Resolutions are before u.s.
and will be found in our paper to-day. The most i'm
portant Acts or at least such portions of them as
may possess any interest TO the State at large or to
this section of it, will appear in columns at an
early day. Ffe3u5 - NJ ~s0T
Has the action OF the Legislature reflected the
wishes of the people or has its been such
to secure their confidence. and respect. Would that
we could answer these questions in the affirmative
or that we could join in public plaudt of swell
DONE" But we cannot-we know that no such plau-
dit goes forth We know that in many things the
action of the Legislature has moi reflected the wish
of the peopie-nor its course secured their conf.
dence and respect. And we know, too that tbs
Democratic party has been betrayed, divided thwar-
ted by seIfseckns aspirans, and reckless dsorgan-
izers in lis own ranks, whom it would be gross
scandal and INF ustiee to the party longer 10 call
Democrats. If the Democratic party be again be-
trayed by the men, it will have only itself to
blame. +t T
In matters ofthis kind, and upon occasions like
and Enthusiastically in all cases. When We have
seen ourparty strength endangered, our energies
parazed and our hard won victories rendered fruit
less by The action of few ruleor-ruin politicians,
duty ourselves to principles, and to our posi-
tion have alike imperatyely called upon US to cry
aloud and spare MOTTO throw influence, how
feeble into the scale of Democratic organiza-
ton and Democratic faith We have never yet fail
ot tn hn SJSfo mad IN Init had fha
verse been the case, We had none other to pursue
we have none other
Two years ago, Gov. Reid carried the State by
twenly-seven hundred In August last he carried
it by twice that majority and yet in the former
secured very decided Democratic majority in
the Legislature while, in August last we barely Sc
cured nominal majority of two. Why was this I?
Simply and solely from the prevalence of spirit of
disorsanization. Simply and solely from division
of strength by ambitious aspirants who more
willing risk the great interests of the party, than
to yield their own views of personal advancement
We would canddly ask, what is the of having
strength, if it is to be thus thrown away? What
importance attach to the professions of those
who testify, by their course, that they value their
little schemes far above the of the prin-
cpes they profess to advocate, the objects they
pretend TO have in view.
When the Legislature met, it was felt by all that
until United States Senator should be elected lit
tie efficient progress would be made with other bu-
siness Then, if ever. it necessary for the De-
mocratic party to act in concert. With parties so
closely balanced it folly to expect success with
out perfect union of the party as one man. With
hut two majority. there was not vote to spare. An
immense majority Of the party, in caucus, cen,ered
upon Hon. James c. Dobbin, Democrat beyond sus-
picion, and a gentleman beyond reproach, whose
election would have been hailed with pleasure by
his own party and received with respect and conf
dence even by his opponents. As the party candid
ate he should have received the vote of every Dem
ocrat in both Houses. But he did not. Mr.. Saun
ders scared UP few TO vote or Inn, hs he him
self threw away his vote for Mr.. Craig MIR. Jas
B. Shepard got vote or two for himseLf-the Whg'
scattering upon these gentlemen for the purpose o.
disorganzing the regular Democratic party. Why
did MIR. Gotten, Mr.. Watson, Mr. Byrd, Mr.. Love
and the other Democratic friends of Messrs. Saun
ders and Shepard refuse to vote for the regula
choice Of the party? and why did MFR. Saunders re
fuse to do so? Simply for the purpose of defeating
the election of Mr.: Cobbin-of thwarting the wishe
of of the party in the hope of re
ceving the support ofthe Wing party of eventual
forcing the 76 Democrats, who steadily and consis
emily voted for the nominee, to surrender to the fv
six disorganlzers who were acting against hi
and playing into the hands of his party opponent
At last away towards the close after the disorgan
zaton had been fully effected and Mr.. Saunde
found that he coul dnot get the Wings to elect him,
came forward and backed out from position whiC
no good Democrat could have occupied for sing
moment. About the last act of the drama was b
election to the Office of Judge by Wing votes. Yer
" he has his reward from the party to which h
services in the late session have been rendered ]
that party he should be left to look in future for
motion. s l.-t
At one time Mr. Dobbn would have been elect
lad Mr. Watson voted for him, but he threw away h
vote upon MIR. Shepard, whose confidential friend
is, and to whom he would not have so pertinaciOu
ly adhered had such course been contrary 10 M
Shepard,s wishes. sa Ell g ....s a.a., -.--fs
The result has been that Senator has been ele
ted-that the Legislature scene of squabblil
almost from beginning to end--that much of the /
dispensable business of the session hurried th
at the very close-that many important matters ha
been totally neglected. That mertorious Democr;
ic incumbents have been sacrificed, as in the case
Mr. Eaton, Attorney General, who turned @
by a Democratic Legislature to make room for
Ransom, one Of the bitterest electors on the Sc
ticket r'5 -s' s- FL"
1t is not for US to say who shall: who shall n
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