The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-01-10

De on tnelr guard In appointing justices an
advantage will be taken of them, if they are
not firm and watchful.
Chill Government.
The municipal affairs of the State seem to have
\ assumed very strange and unfavorable, as well
as unaccountable, situation 1t seems very
strange, indeed, that our law -givers should have
been so blind as not to have anticipated and
avoided the calamitous condition in which we find
ourselves now situated
We are aware tibet some of our legislators were
OF opinion that the late convention had passed an
ordinance expressly to meet the case, providing
that all State, courtyard municipal officers, hold
ing and exercising authority by virtue of their ap
pointments from the provisional Governor, should
when that government ceased, hold over until
Others could be legally elected to take their places
But this turns out to be false, provided the Gov
ernor and his legal advisers correct, for they
say the jurisdiction Of these officers terminated
with the termination of the executive term of the
provisional Governor That somebody is greatly
ut fault admits of no argument We have had a
Convention and Legislature both in session du-
ring the existence of the Provisional term, sent
to the Capitol expressly to guard society against
this and other Irregularities and dangers and if
it shall, in reality, turn out that they were def
cient in legislative ability as to have fallen so far
short of performing their duty, as the Governors
position would seem to indicate, then they should
be held to strict accountability. But, on the
other hand, if the Governor has made mistake
in experimenting the true import Of Conventional
enactments, it will detract very largely from his
reputation for Executive ability.
1t is no small matter, according to our weak
perceptions, to so mismanage the public affairs
OF great and popul0us commonwealth like ours,
in time when honesty and manly department
form the exception on the part of large portion
of its inhabitants, as to leave the entire popula-
ton wholly withoutpOlce regulations for its pro-
lection and safety. Wesay there is gross and un-
pardonable fault somewhere and its location will
be definitely defined ere many more moons shall
have passed. Whether the Convention and Leg
isature failed or not to make provision for the
critical transition state that they knew must take
place in the interim between provisional and
constitutional governments, it looks very strange
that the Governor could not devise some plan that
would have insured security to the lives and pro-
perty of the inhabitants of cities and towns, and,
trifiing as the matter may look to some, we are
inclined to think that officer will find it rather
difficult to make satisfactory explanation of his
course.
Twenty-four hours ago, when we were writing
our article for yesterdays paper, this subject,
we did not know what course would be pursued.
There is no telling however, what day will bring
forth, and so now we have to announce that Col.
Wheeler, the gcntlemanly commandant of this
district has taken the matter in hand, at least
temporarily, and ordered the regular police force
to continue on duty until different arrangements
can be adopted This he was compelled to do, as
we understand, not having men of his own COM
mand to spare from other duties to perform this.
We have understood also that the commandment OF
the district of Wilmington has adopted the same
course.
Truly we are making history, but how humilia-
ting! How the cheeks of our children will tinge
with shame when they read that their ancestors
after begging at the feet ofthe United States gov
eminent for six months for the liberty to govern
themselves, failed at the very first tempt. That
through the benevolcnce of the great Federal
head, they were furnished with tuition in pre-
paratOry school Under provisional teacher fol
half year, during which time they were permit
ted to send their wise up to the Capitol, to
make all the necessary preparations, and 10 and
behold, when the pinch of the game came to be
played, they had not matured civil law enough tt
move the very simplest parts of the machinery o
civil government. So long US the Federal thuml
upon us, we could manage civil affairs witt
considerable yigor, but Just soon twas lifted
off, in the twinkling of an eye, we were shorn o
our strength, and our civ Il fabric crumbled to at
Oms like 4 rome of sand, and we were compelled
again to invoke the aid of Uncle Sans support
ing arm. Oh how feeble our laws our law ma
kers, how weak The Lord deliver US, or w
perish.
The Legislature, however, is to be convened il
extra session on the 18th inst, when, we hope
something will be done TO improve our co~Gition
Nearbern Times.
yera,ion or the Legislature to 1eet the EN- .r
gency referred to by the Times. The "wilt
hunt after office" prevailed to such an extern
in the latter body that more important mat
tiers were neglected.
But there wasn good reason why the Provi
sional officers should not have been continued
until the Legislature could assemble and APP
point Others. Gov. Worth was fully awar
of the condition of things, and was advised
/ to telegraph the President and request hin
to continue these officers; but he declined t.
| do so. Some of his best friends were anxi
Gus that this course should be pursued, bu
he preferred temporary anarchy to any de
dendence for aid on the government a
Washington. We do not characterize hi
action in this matter-we simply state facts
1t will not belong, however, before the Leg
islature will meet and appoint Justices of tn,
Peace, and make provision for sherifs, clerks
and town governments. Meanwhile ever,
good citizen will aid the Governor, th
Judges, and the military in preserving order
So far as the towns are concerned, we do no
see why they may not ationce proce d to cleo
their Mayors and Commissioners. The Leg
islature will doubtless confirm such action b,
the towns. An election vii! be held in Raj
eigh Oil Monday next, for Mayor and Com
missioners, but this is in accordance with tn,
charter of the City.
| "Governor Vance is known here well, and tn
! principles which he advocated during the tryin.
| tmes>of war, were warmly supported and pro
| perly appreciated, by our people THY will eve
| 20 sO-and we can assure the Governor, tina
| never ri, he enter community which NOR
warmly sympathized with him than this. VA
| Dispatch.
No doubt of it. Wilmington was one o
the hotbeds of the rebellion, and it has no
improved much since. If citizen of TIN
| State had said, twelve months ago, in thu
streets of Wilmington, that he wasfor Peac,
| and the Union, his life would not hav,
been worth penny whistle. And of thu
| four or five hundred votes cast at that place
no unconditional Union man could now OBJ
tain more than fifty. The test of politica
merit, of social kindness, and of success il
business in Wilmington, is, was the person
a .