Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-02-23
Gone and no Law Passed."

Age publishes an article IN It's last issue, DeWAllhg
the adjournment of the Legislature without having
passed any of the laws demanded by the friends OF
! Temperance. We regret too that some retormatory
! legislation has not been adopted. We believe that
some reformation is desirable and would operate ben
efcialy but while regret tbs, we are not in the
slightest degree surprised at it, do think the
" Spirit Of the Age" should be- We have time and
again warned the too excable friends of Temperance
of the mmne 1T danger that there of all action
being defeated and the substantial triumph of tenn
perance principles indefinitely postponed, if not final
! ly jeopardized by the adopted in attempting
to grasp much they endangered all and, SO far
the late Legislature is concerned. they lost all.
/ These things now potent to the meanest capaci
/ ty. Few doubt that the incorporate zeal Of
some, and the into erant spirit OF others, has done
serious and lasting injury to good When
warned our Temperance friends of this we were
denounced as unfriendly or sneered at stupid and
behind the age. The very caption we have quoted
from the Spirit of the Age tells the story. 1t
bears witness to the of the species OF tactics
adopted by the ultras in their attempt to bully the
Legislature. The thing had earthly weight with
the General Assembly simply because it had been
in the ground. We have said dozen times over
with North Carolina Legislature. We say so
again; and, from recent dem" nstratons, had
supposed that the active in the matter felt
this too; but it appears that must have been mis-
taken, since aor near all the memorials the sub
ject, presented to the Legislature, prayed for law
to prohibit entirely the traffic in Intoxicating Ii.
quors Now, for part, wouldn't if
there should never be single drop of liquor
bought, solo, made or brought into the State
But that is not the question -the practical ques-
ton is, whether any Legislature is prepared to
pass prohibitory law, and whether if passed, the
people would submit to It's enforcement. The course
of the Legislature which has just djourned answers
the first part Of this question pretty efeclualy.
Such being the plain state OF the it might be
worth while to enquire what can be done what
might have been done, if reasonable had
been adopted The most fragrant abuses arising under
the operations of the existing license laws would have
been corrected The laws themselves would have been
made more stringent, with such powers of neighbour
hood restraint as would have pretty eectualy guarded
against many evils justly complained of. All
this, and more we sincerely believe might have been
done. But in graspng after impractcabties all has
been lost
But if all legal prohibition (of doubtful advan-
tage at the best) has been lost, we are pleased to
believe that substantial temperance has not been lost
that inoxicaton is much less than formerly,
and that public opinion-the great regulator-bids
fair to arrange all these matters satisfactorily.
| The Herald Of Wednesday learns from Mr. McMll-
Ian, that power has been given to the commissioners
of town, when authorized by a vote of two-lhirds
Of the legal voters OF the town, to subscribe four
hundred thousand dollars TO any scheme of internal
improvement, and not more than that amount to any
one scheme, and to issue bonds for the purpose of
raising the money The power of appointing an i'll
specor of -four, forage and provisions is aiken from
the County Court, and vested in the Commissioners
The Commissioners of Navigation are authorized TO
appoint Shipping Master who alone shall ship sea-
men, etc. The Commissioners have extended powers.
authorizing them to open streets-to have new sur
vey of the own-to provide for the registry of votes
to prevent unlawful trading, etc.
OF the more important matters that in relation to
the opening of streets was the only discussed in
town meeting, and with regard to which the commits
soners were requested c make application for all ex-
, tension Of power.
Surely, we are progressing rapldly-a few years
since the community agitated from centre to cir
cumerence in regard to the subscription of s. 90 coo
e 10 the Manchester Railroad. Now we find sums con-
emplated that render that mere flea bite in com.
parison and with little previous mention of the
affair.
There is such thing going too rapidly. and The
most careful circumspecton will be required guarC
this community from the evil effects of such course
. With the immense State debt which will grow from
the acts of the last Legislature, involving OF course
increased taxation, it will not require very much o
the debt authorized here make the aggregate tax
), alton unbearabe. The two-thirds vote required il
e! not that of free-hoders.
- FREE So1I1sM RAMPANT-Judge Loring, of Boston
- before whom was tried the case of Anthony Burns
= the Fugitive Slave. has haen remnred hu the ouor