Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-02-11
TIE WILMINGTON JOURNAL.
WILMINGTON, n. C., FRIDAY. FEB. II. 1850.
The Length of the Session.

WILMINGTON, N. c., FRIDAY FEB As Iooo'-
The Length the Session.
Our Legislature will probably adjourn about the 10th
instant after an unusually long session. Of the length
Of time occupied doing the public business do not
conopIain Common sense and common observation will
convince any one that the members have desire
tract the period of their absence from their homes and
business. 1t is position of profit, surely There is
hardly man in either house to whom heightened stay
at Raleigh is not an actual loss No motive of pecuni
ary or personal advantage be ascrbed to those who
oppose precptate adjournment AS very intelligent
gentleman member of the House of Commons remark
ed to us some time since, he was willing to stay just
long as there business to be done which ought to
be DONE and to give to the doing of it all the time which
might be necessary to do it we-that is to do it DELHI
eratey and Understandings and he trusted that SINH
lar feeling existed in the minds of all the members of the
Legislature. He was right.
The questions coming before the General Assembly
are of far critical and complicated character than
formerly. When the State had little nothing to do
with works of internal improvement-few or no rival
interests to reconcile decide between its duties
comparatively simple. When in 1848 the first general
movement was made, it comparatively easy to vote
money which could not Immediately be expended, and
which would not be required to be paid provided
for. But now, when payday has come or is coming
when taxation has been reached, when the cry for
trenchment on one hand and progress the other
up to assa those upon whom devoves the responsibility
of reconcing the one with the otherof finding that
middle course-that golden which leads to safety
now indeed is the period of difficulty the time for
ious and careful consideration for the present is the
turning point or, at least turning point which may
give direction and character to much of future pro-
gress as State There may be breakers ahead upon
which reckless progress would drive u.s. but there are
also breakers astern for those who situated are
would attempt to stand STILL which, in this age of the
world, means drifting rapidly backwards. Upon the
present Legislature devoves the responsibility of meet
ing the situation as it exists The Legislature is not
to be blamed but rather praised proceeding carefully
even slowly.
How much has been done, can afford no proper critic
ron by which to estimate the merits of legislature
for it may mean how much evil as we'll as how much
good? Quality not quantity, is the thing there may
be more merit certainly advantage in wisely res-
ing to do than in reckessly doing. We would ask the
Rolgjgh Register and other opposition organs, what they
think of the defeat of the Danvile Connecton-was not
the refusal Of the Legislature to charter the Danvile
Connection more to be commended, the Register it.
self being udge-than would have been its consent TO
granting that connection In the mass of all legisla
ton the little that is really well done outweghs in value
the great volume that appears to be enacted only to be
repeatedly the next subsequent session If this Legislature
can wisely steer the middle course deliberately and
thoughtly do and refuse to do all the time may take
for deberaton and thought will be well bestowed and
no one attribute mercenary motives to men staying
away from their families their professions or their business
avocatons, for compensation really inadequate to REIN
burse them for their actual expenses in attending the
session. much less for their losses in negectDg their bust
ness.
Nor will any cry about the amount of taxes be suth
Gent to indignation against the General Assem-
bly, If the people made to feel that their taxes
necessary and that they levied III d uniform anC
equitable they will never blame any get OF Legs
latOrs for doing their duty. One of the objects o.
prime necessity is to maintain the honor and credit
the Sate-thi5 is an object dear to the heart OF every
true citizen of the State. The Trainer Of the x-bil
before the General Assembly had IN view the providing
of sum fully adequate for this purpose, and for the
further purpose of creating sinking fund sufficient tt
uuidate the debt as the several bonds fall due This
we think, is also right and good policy The legsla
ture think it right and meet the responsibility which
fearless discharge of their duty involves viii any CAPT
tai be successfully made against them on this account?
With many of the details of the revenue bill we canno
concur. To its general tendency to raise an undue pro
portion of the revenue from the industry of the East
cannot assent But that has been good deal modified
and ought to be still more so. To all income taxes
there is the objection that it establishes an nqustio
into mans private affairs-into that portion of hi
business with which the public has concern, which
is essentially his own bus iness But nearly every Stat
does that now offensive and indicate it seems to us
ALI Wrong.
Members of the Legislature talk as though the prvat
stockholders in the Deep River Navigation Compan
were responsible for all the early msmanagement of tn
work That is not so. The State directors were jus
as censurabe as the individual drectorthe State ha