Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-02-14

Anxious to see the Act generally known the Stay
Law" which is now before the House of Commons of
this State and ALEC to give readers an opportunity of
seeing it for themselves We teegraphed yesterday to
friend in Raleigh ID us copy if possible by return
mail He writes US that the Act has not been printed
and it was impossible to get copy made for US before
the mail closed yesterday afternoon. We learn from
private source that the law nearly certain to pass the
House of Commons, but with notifications among
Others one requiring security to be given by parties
availiug themselves of the stay.
A bill to charter a road from the Company's Shops
to Milton, in Caswe county, with the right to connect
with the Richmond and Danville Railroad, passed its
third reading in the Senate yesterday This is the
" Danvie Connection which has been so much talked
about
This or similar bill, has already passed the House
and will no doubt become law, so we may as well make
up our minds to it at once. We thought at one time
that this action might have been STAYED of for few
years longer but doubted that would or
later be forced through. 1t is an Illustration of the
value of compromises. few years ago the socalled
North Carolina Railroad was brought forward and ac-
ceped compromise the friends of the Charlotte and
Danvlie project agreeing to accept it substitute
What has been its result? Why it has stood about
half dozen years. and the result has been that the tate
money has built the largest part Of the Charlotte and
Danvie Railroad.
Again. what are the compromises Of the Constitution
Of 1885 worth now when it appears to be the political
interest of parties to agtae for their repeal? The
clause relating to the taxation Of negro slaves al
lowed to stand undsurbed until the representatives of
the large savehoding and axpayng counties bad been
persuaded into agreeing to incur heavy debt for the
Development Of the and the enhancement of
the value Of real estate 10 other sections. When this
DONE then the turn-hen, after the debt has been
contracted comes the demand for change Of the basis
under which, when contracted, 1t agreed that it
should be paid.
When We find things like this at home among the
staid and law-abiding people of North Carolina what
have to expect of compromises made with the people
of sections having little interest in with
Us, end whose for many years has been that OF
hostility whose language has been that OF abusei No
compromise in public matters survives long after it be-
comes the interest ct party to violate it, unless the
other party has the absolute physical political power
to prevent such violation All the Crittenden compro-
misses On earth, founded mere Words would end in
the same almost before the ink with which they were
written had dried.
The history OF the world shows that compromises sell
dom survive the mutual power Of the pareA to enforce
them, and then only just 80 long neither party may
be tempted by any views of real supposed interest
violate them. 1t s not pleasant to lave to to
this conclusion; but it is which the student Of
history must come Man is frail and imperfect, no
doubt and must take things as we find them taking
nothing upon trust that reduce to certaiEty,-
least of all in public matters,-and looking always to
power and interest certain to override pledges,
promises or guarantees on paper.
Before closing this rather scattering article wish
to add word or two on the Gd valorem question. We
went into the discussion of the whole matter pretty fully
last summer, and with all the little ability we could
bring to bear upon it. We have little now to add and
nothing to change We still think it would be impol-
tic to place permanently any heavier burdens upon any
kind of produc i've labor than it bears the ten
dency would inevitably be to drive it to other States,
where the burdens not absolutely less the soil and
climate render them comparatively trifing when
the greater productive power of labor is taken into
the account. We also think and contend that
it would be wrong to change the provisions of the
constitution of 1885 with reference to the payment of
debts contracted under such provisions since this would
be IN effect changing the character Of the security for
such debts, besides shifting the responsibility Of portions
of the payment Of such debts from one set OF shoulders
to another, contrary to tie constitutional understanding
and arrangement existing at the ti14a Of their being
contracted.
So much for these matters Lately, in speaking LOT
the proposed State Convention and its powers suppo
sing then that it would be less restricted than it u.s. we
suggested that ts action might change the relations OF
the State to the existing conederacy and the world
such changed relations requiring changes in the
ganic law OF the State to prepare her for her posi-
tion We suggested that any debt expenditure
in the nature Of debt or otherwise arising out Of
the action Of the Convention In changing our Fed9ra
Relations, would stand on different basis from the
debts already contracted, and being incurred as much
for the protection of slave property and perhaps more
than for any other class of property slave
would willingly forward to contribute their full
share, than their full share of the burden of tax
alton rendered necessary by such debt expenditure
whether in the form Of I'D UaLore tax or otherwise
as might seem best Reasoning from this We recon-
mended that the Convention should thus far and no tar
Their modify the organic aw-that is with reference to The
expenditures hereafter to be made debts hereafter
be contracted in the nature of expenditures, OF
debts and consequent taxes and others This ha
been represented as abandonment of position
last Summer. We have only to remark, as already
stated, that we have abandoned position that
assumed last Summer, and would vote against the bill
now before the Legislature just the former
y, and on principle What others may do is for them
selves to decide. We speak for ourselves. The very
hypothesis upon which our suggestions were made doe
not exist-the Convention could not adopt them if i
would, aud We only refer to them for explanation
not as having any actual present value.
MEETINGS IN THE CoUNTY.-We publish to-day re