Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-02-16
The Legislature.


tails of the last days preceding, we gives list
OF the Acts Passed, Containing also assn'p
sis ofthe provisions oftte mostimportant ones
Many important Acts were passed; some
were defeated that Probably ought to have
been enacted, and some enacted that it may
be 'twere better had they been defeated. But
VIC must belitv. thai our lawmakers aimed
to do right, If perciance they sometimes
come wide # the mark,
But the f,ct cannot ne disguised. that the
fell spirit OF FATTY, prevailed to a Damaging
extent, embarrassed the patriotic purposes Of
its members, aud produced heart-burnin.s
and discord most painful to witness ia this
time of extreme peril and danger tn our
State and National institutions, interests ard
safety. One party was largely in the ascen
dantin both Houses, and it was natural at least
common in the history Of all parties in this
country, that the dominant one should enure
to itself and to its friends, the honors and
emoluments in its power 10 bestow. IL is
also natural, or common, that the outs should
complain of the ans, for ostracisins them
Fl pm these places:-this has always been so.
The turning out of old and faithful off GERS,
to make room for new and inexperienced
ones, has been the practice of all parties,
without serious damage 10 the public inter-
est. Generally it has been proved that the
new ones could learn to be as compe; en-. and
faithful as the old. But party made u great
bugaboo Of the matter, as though the peo-
pie cared who was in office, or of what par
ty, so they were "honest, faithful and capa-
ble."
The people, We say, cared not for these
things but they were shocked to see party
tactics and party intriguings introduced
sometimes to embarrass the majority, ant
then it in its turn, to hector and Cypress TIT
minority Thereby throwing barriers in tn
way to harmonious, wise and sagacious ac
:. ton. In a time like this, all should hav
, awarded to each other u desire to labor hon
- estly and faithfully for the honor an6 safet
6 of our good old State, and given him cred
| for motives of pure patriotism in promotin
t the interests and advancing the cause of til
0 Confederacy.
r But unfortunately, the reverse rule pre-
e vailed. One party chided the other wi,
giving aid and comfort to the enemy-wi,
. laboring to weaken ADD destroy the comm,
!, government: while the other tainted ar
.oko,4o r,;,l, ob-r., that xtax, -
) degrade her to a mere dependency Of the Co
d federate government. In a word, the Iowa
n ty and patriotism of each, was impugnt
st and questioned by the other. Hence the bi
Il ter examinations, determinations and inve,
tives so plsnteously INDUCED m-and hen
n the bitterness and hatred engendered ther,
ia by.
10 Had calm-r, more just and charitable fee
N ings prevailed, the work OF the Legislatu
nc would have been sooner and better done. a,
al It's members have returned to their constit
be- ents filled to the brim with high pa,rio,
is impulses and resolves, and the people slim
lated to a corresponding fervor, determin
i. to suffer and endure, struggle and sacrih
as a free and united whole, until our ind
perdence VAS accomplished and the COME
We crate States of Anserlca occupied that pro
* position in the Family OF Nations which i
& valor and resources entltle her to enjoy.
lot We trust, however, now that they .
he freed from the tralnmels of party drill
,re which they Were subjected while at the Ca
tai, that the members Of the Legislature ha
=, returned home determined to divest the
selves Of its ignoble and ~tactious tendenci
and will lend all their influence in MAXI
=, all Nsrth Carolinians harmonious, unit
and determined in the struggle we are n
king for freedom and independence.
US not hear of their tanning the fires of o
ty strife, OF causing one to look upon
" neighbor as untrue to his country, or of
Az. ing any thing else calculated to subserve a
rd' other purpose than that of melting a uni
nI and firm purpose to stand by the Cover
Ne ment, and give her all the aid and CONT
the We can, by our blood, our treasure and
. all, till the hated foe is driven from our S
~. and We are again a free, independent {
rn. prosperous people. He who thus labor
ich we'll worthy of the noble name of Patri
who does less, is q Traitor, and deserves,
10. "Doubly dying to go down
To the vile dust from whencehe sprung.
an Unwept, unhonored and unsung."
Ter, #