Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-11-22
The Legislature.

The General Assembly of this State con-
vened in this City on yesterday afternoon,
but we were compelled to go to press with
our paper before the organization of the two
Houses was completed. The democrats hav-
ing a decided majority in each branch, there
was no difficulty in selecting officers and get
ting every thing in readiness for the reeep-
ton Of the Governors message.
The present session will be one of the most
important in the Legislative history of North
Carolina. There is much to excite the inter-
est Of politicians and Office seekers, there be-
ing two U. S. Senators, at least one Judge of
the Superior Court, the State Officers, and a
number ofminor officers to elect. Office hunt
ing seems to be the mania of the day, and
we suppose there will be any number of can
didates for each of the posts to be filed.
The great question of Internal Improve
ments will occupy no small share Of the con-
sideration of our Legislators, and various
projects will be urged. We hope the inter.
ests and prosperity of the State at large, will
be duly consulted in whatever may be done
and particularly those sections not enjoying
any Railroad privileges, be provided with ia
%cilities for travel and transportation of arti-
cles of produce and consumption. To effect
this, the n. G. Railroad should be extended
to Beaufort, and continued westward to the
Tennessee line the Northern counties of
Person, Caswell, Rockingham, &C., ought to
have a road tapping the Coal regions of the
latter and uniting with the GAINESVILLE and
Raleigh and CASTOR Roads the great valley
of the Pee Dee on the South ought also to
7 have a~railway communication with our State
Towns, and perhaps there are other routes
0 that ought to be chartered at this Session
! The coming five years will be the time to
; construct these works cheaply the interests
: and the prosperity of the. State demand them,
and they should not be deferred.
o The Banking system of the State will be
e extensively discussed. Charters for many
new banks will be asked, also the renewal of
k old ones-the number of which will probably
cause a total change in the financial opera
e lions of the State. More Banking capital
= and facilities are doubtless needed, and in
the desire to extend them let the security
: and safety of the public generally be well
10 provided for.
= Our entire Code of Laws is to be revised,
III which, of course, will occupy a large portion
ne of the session; among which are our laws
Ia regulating the traffic in intoxicating drinks
~ No subject has received more consideration
10 from our citizens generally, for the past few
nd years than has this. 1t has been the theme
of general discussion, in public and in pri
w. !, vate, and among all classes Of our people, un
No til the almost universal verdict is made up
= that our present laws on this subject nee'
le- amendment-more protection from the evil
-, of the traffic should be afforded to society b.
law, and the State cease to be a partner il
the guilt, suffering, Ignorance and taxation
which flow from this prolific source. Var
Gus conflicting enactments have been sugge.
ted to correct the evil-but we trust ourlaW
makers will approach the subject with a du
IA sense of their responsibilities to the preser
en- and succeeding OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES of a
yht animosities or prejudices which its discus
ions III tue past may nave lnVolVed, ana az
Sbn in the premises as Christian, patriotic legi
not lators, with a view to the public good and tt
IN happiness and prosperity of the people
aus large. Trusting that enlightened and patti
ing QUO counselS WIN prevail Inc people ol u
no State will look with absorbing interest to IL
action of the Legislature on this subject.
wv; We shall endeaVor to keep our readers III
yet ly posted up, through the Spirit of the Ag
his with the action of the Legislature on all su
- iects, and as tits the cheapestmedium by whiC
the such information is to be derived, we hope
,ast receive a large number of new subscribe
,the forthwith.