Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-03-29
North Carolina legislature.

While we disapprove Of the partisanship which
controlled the late Legislature of the State in all
elections, and will at the proper time expose Ger
tain members, who misrepresented their consttu
ents iii this matter and while regret that this
bitter party feeling extended SO far as to deprive
the State of such able and conscientious judicial
officers as Manly, Osborne, Heath, French and
Howard, Invested of their offices because they
took an oath to support the Constitution of the
Confederate States, and their places filed gener-
ally by men who not only absorbed to this oatl,
themselves, but members of the Legislature,
compelled these Judges to do yet we are dis
posed to give to the General Assembly the credit
of having labored faithfully for the good of the
State, and did all in their power to place our
people on the road to recuperate from the general
prostration in which the result of the has left
them. .-s'. -. .''
Much of their legislation of the most I'M
portant character, and nnauy radical changes were
made in our laws, both from the necessity of ouI
new condition and also in order to keep pace with
the rapid strides made in other States and coun-
tries during four years of war, and we only
hope that i'll every instance, this legislation will
rebound to our future welfare.
=. We with pleasure, give room to the following
reflections of very valued exchan:ye-the Rich
mond Times, upon the labors of our Legislatures:
For good, hard, practical common sense com
mend us to the * Old North State forever. Tit
is true that when Rip Van Wrinkle emigrated from
New York after his celebrated nap In the kaats-
kill Mountains, he again fell asleep in North
Carolina, he certainly walked up during the late
civil war, and has been atoning for lost time
since .. .:-
Since the termination of the war, the Legisla-
4
most excellent Judgment. Their Legislature adj
iourned few days ago, and a. brief notice of the
principal laws passed by that body, will show how
much more fortunate than Virginia our neigh
Dor in the character of her legislators. 80 -...
The constitutional amendment abolishing slave
ry was adopted, but with the wise State rights
qualification, that it did not enlarge the powers of
Congress to legislate III behalf of the freedmen
within the limits of the State" ......
The risury law was amended, and now allows
persons loaning money to charge eight per cent.
interest, in case of regular contracts. ...r.
An act was also passed which undoubtedly con
templates the regaining by the State, of large
amounts of property which have fallen into the
clutches of greedy Treasury agents, those unscrr-
pulous harpies who seem to have no friends nor
defenders. ...
The Legislature of North Carolinawas permitted
to pass ''vagrant act' which makes no distinction
on account Of color It makes it the duty of any
justice of the peace, upon proof of any person who
is able to labor, and has apparent means of
subsistence, and neglects to apply himself to some
honest occupation for the support of himself and
family, if he has one, or be found spending his
time in dissipation, or gaming, or sauntellIlg
about without employment endeavoring 10 get
support by any undue or unlawful means, to issue
q warrant for the arrest of the offender, to be
brought before some justice of the peace, and if
found to be q yagrant, to recognize him with good
security for his appearance at the term of the
court next succeeding, and upon failure to give
bond, to be imprisoned until court; provided he
may at the court give bond and security for good
behavior and industrious department for one year,
and be discharged but if he fail to give bond and
pay cost, he shall be prosecuted, and upon con-
viction, the court may fine imprison him, or
both, or sentence him to the workhouse for such
time as the court may think fit.
The Legislature did not forget the poor Con-
vision for their support in of disability from
loss of limbs, and for the purchase of artificial
legs and arms. The preamble of the resolution
making the appropriation for this purpose as it
originally introduced, recited that whereas
our brave soldiers enlisted to fight in the defense
of the State, and that they we're patriots" &c.
resolution this subject was also passed. author
to levy taxes fol the support of disabled soldiers
in their respective counties COP bless the old |
:" North State for this noble, bold and timely |
charity!
The Tribune and other Radical papers having !
talked o vast deal of reasonable nonsense about
the calling in each of the Southern States, of a |
Convention to overthrow the existing State govern
passed an act for the special dedication of all
such traitors and rebels. "'f sd f.. 2.a-:
The act provides that any person guilty of Sc |
diGous language, spoken, written, or printed, or
endeayoring to incite insurrection, conspiracy, |
sedihon or rebellion, against the government Of ]