The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-02-28

THE PRESS TO THE COUNCILS.
At recent meeting of the Councils, it was
urged as an argument against the adoption
of the act of the Legislature, providing for the
appointment of a Judge of the Court of the
Corporation, that the Editors and Lawyers
of the city were in favor of the measure. To
this charge we plead guilty. Since the estab-
lishment of our paper, we have been always
guilty of giving our most earnest support to
every scheme or suggestion calculated to ad-
vance the interests of the city. We have
diligently worked, by day, and by night, to
promote the welfare of this community
Having our lot cast here, we have not been
slack in our efforts to induce the people
to take vigorous hold of every plan that
promised an increase of prosperity, and put
it into active operation. We have looked
upon ourselves and have been regarded, both
at home and abroad, as a Norfolk institution,
deeply in earnest in our advocacy of every
plan, scheme, proposition or measure that
tends to make her city of large business and
dimensions, and as determined in our opposi-
ton to everything that may retard her growth.
We claim no credit for our efforts in aid of
the common good, and desire no other reward
than the satisfaction we enjoy in the discharge
of our duties.
We had no information that the Lawyers
were in favor of the adoption of the act, until
it was announced in the meeting above mem
toned. We are not surprised that such
should be the case. We have ever found them
as class inteligently apprehensive of the
benefits to be derived from public measures
bold and independent in affording their sup
port, and capable of sustaining their action
by convincing and satisfactory reasons.
We have not the least objection to being
coupled with body of men possessing ST
much. learning, shrewdness, ability and integ-
rity as pertains to the profession Of the law,
in advocating the adoption Of any measure
that is designed for the public veal
In urging upon the Councils the adoption
of the act above mentioned we are convinced
that we are endeavoring to procure for the
city the organization of Court that will be
rapid in the despatch of business, prove a
source of great convenience to those engaged
in commercial and mercantile pursuits, q
great saving Of time to all persons who may
be compelled to attend Court sutorS, jurors
or witnesses, and much less expensive to the
city than the present system. No better il
lustration of the weakness Of the opposition
to the measure can be found than that gen.
tleman of intelligence, wealth, large business
connections and considerable experience in the
mode of conducting matters in the city, should
seek to create prejudice against it by assert
ing that its being supported by particular
class of men should raise suspicion or sug-
gest belief that it is not designed for the
public good, but intended for personal and
selfish ends. If such an argument is god,
we might with equal prppriety resort to the
argasasentum ad Aominem. We might with
equal propriety say that the opposition in the
Councils is founded in selfish considerations;
that those members who resist its adoption,
expect at some future time to be elected JUS
tees of the peace, and wish to preserve the
present organization in order that they may
get the per diem compensation that may be
allowed those officers by the Legislature But
we impute no such motives to those gentle
men who prefer the present system. We be-
ieve them to be honest, though mistaken, in
their views We think that they are prompt
ed to opposition by an unwise econony-that
in their anxiety to save few dollars to the
city treasury they lose sight of the great .ad-
yantages of this most needed and saluary
publ, measure.
No more judicious. expenditure of money
can be made than in promoting such meas
ures as are of compromising public good
Let us encourage every scheme that tends to
invite emigration, to establish manufactures,
to reopen the avenues of commerce, to fur
nish speedy remedies for all rights, quick re-
dress for all wrongs, and increased security
for persons and property, and thereby sntite
ourselves to the gratitude of the people Of
Norfolk, present as well as future. Let US
show that we have gained little wisdom
lroiu tHe SA pelleHCC "a Vic P'o'' ''i'' ''io "oJ
of misrule has gone by, and that in time to
come hearty, cheerful and beneficial support
will be extended by our public bodies to eye
ry measure that may commend itself as pro-
ductive of the general welfare of the city.
- I
Coy. VANoE,-We regret to learn from the
Raleigh Sentinel that Gov. Vance, at his lt.6me
at Statesville. has been stricken with paraly-
sis on one side We have not heard particn-