Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-08-15
Our Legislature.

"a SOou OLueT5 our Irlenu VI
Charlotte Democrat seem to think that the only bust
ness before the Legislature will be the election of two
Senators. From this view of the case we wholly dis
sent The Legislature if it goes right to work in a
proper spirit can do much for the good of the State
and for the honor of the State at home and abroad :
by abroad, we mean beyond her own limits
Granted that, the Democrat says, the election of
Senators might have been postponed for the sake of
economy how long, ask conld it have been postpon
3D. without deprvng North Carolina of her due repre-
sentaion in one of the Legislative bodies of the Con-
federacy? Not certainly until the meeting of the next
General Assembly, 10 1862 So, for that purpose
the Legislature would have to meet before its regular
session of 1862.
Further, by failure to meet this year, the district
ing Of the State would have to be neglected and
bers could not be chosen to the Confederate House of
Representatives in accordance with law. That would
be bad economy, we think.
And it will be remem 0ered that the Convention
passed an ordinance for the transfer of the naval and
military establishments of The State to the Confederacy
to 90 into effect before the twentieth of August at which
time all volunteer companies and regiments were to be
mustered out dsbanded dismissed from the service
of tba State the Legislature to meet on the fifteenth
being empowered, however, to take such action in
reference to this matter as might to be required
Any such action cannot be postponed not for the
sake of economy. The margin of time allowed is very
small under any circumstances If anything is to be
done in this matter it must be done at once and
think something should be done. The time is rapidly
approaching when climate will no longer nterpose its
terors for our protection. The States districts Of
country in the Southern Atlantic the Gulf, that
would be safe must be prepared, while sustaining the
Confederate Government, also to cooperate with it
The attention of the government at Richmond must
necessarily be taken up mainly with the great strategic
lines and be unable to provide for those minor points,
which, although not materially affecting the results of the
war; might yet be the scenes Of untold misery outrage
and loss To guard such points, especially against sud-
den attack there must be efficient local force kept
organized though not necessarily in the field and the
State must as far as her means will admit, cooperate
with her citizens in this good work This, South Caro-
lima, Georgia. Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana have
been attending to- and still attending to. We need
not say that the middle latter half Of August is
too early to commence arrangements which ought to be
perfected by the first frost in October.
The Legislature in May last authorized the issue by
the treasury Of amount in small bills, of which
have vet been issued while in the meantime the State
is flooded by similar issues from other States. The
Legislature also made provision for the payment Of
troops There are companies that have been in the
servce of the State for months, and in the
service of The Conederacy in Virginia and have yet to
see the first cent OF pay The authorities at Raleigh
refer them to the COnderacy The officers Of the Con
feGeracy say that they have nothing to do with fulfilling
the seperate contracts of North Carolina. Meanwhile
how fare the troops? We know of companies who
served under the call of the Governor affirmed by the
action of the Legislature for months at the forts and
elsewhere and who are now in Virginia either Vol
uuteer or State Troops who exactly in this posi-
ton These worthy citizens must longer be banded
about on. the circumocuton principle The people de-
nund that this thing should be seen to- and bungng
evasion will do. If Mr.. Treasurer Courts cannot sig
treasury notes. let the Legislature provide Assistant
or Assistants as the Confederate Congress has done
by law for its signing officer. If the paymaster
cannot audit and attend to the claims of these suf
fering men, then let him too be enabled to have it
DONE In fact, let the impeachment or impedments
be removed, wherever existing. In this matter the
position of the officers is frequently more en-
barr@sng than that of the men, The latter do get ra
tions at least The former do not their pay being in
lieu of all allowances that getting pay they have
had to work for nothing and find themselves We are
speaking now Of what we do know, and we think thai
our contemporary of the Democrat, and indeed all oul
other contemporaries will admit that this is impor
tant than arranging and deciding upon the claims O
professional Office seekers and managing politicians.
But we question if we have gone through with hal
the urgent matters demanding the early attention ofth
Legislature We honestly believe that there is as its
disposition to act oppregsvey among the creditor POI
ton of the people Of this State as among those of any
Al. IL
mary measures the rule and not the exception Ever
admitting this however it must be conceded that law
are made to restrain not those who need no restraint
to restrain those who do need to be restrained We have
talked with many gentlemen of observation practically
acquainted with the wants and wishes of the people
the different sections of this State and they say that
less something is done, there will be widespread loss
suffering, dissatisfaction and dsaffection Such Sta,
Law that of the session of May last is not looked o
or desired even by Debtors nor ought any stay law t
be passed that would deprive the creditor of the existing
security for his claim require him to lie out of hi
money without interest All that the honest debtor re
qures or asks for can be done without violating an
obligation. AT least we think so and we know tina
opinion is shared by good practical lawyers will
whom we have talked.
For ourselves in Wilmington, we have twice begge
for some legislation adequate to meet the emergency
the OCCASION and to guard ourselves and interest
against the constant going and coming of suspected pei
sons Or indeed Of any persons to and from the enemy
country for such passage in itself, while open war
raging and by the laws of nations all trade and inter
course between begerents is interdcted, is of itse
suspicious. The Convention did nothing with this mat
ter. They ignored it as they had done the Stay Law
which they said would not hold water while thev ad
l.
framed SO as to stand. The Convention also PASSED
over hecause afraid TO touch the question of s+onn;r