Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-02-15
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Revenue Bill-Land Scrip-The Stay Law
Its Passa ge-New Hanover Crimina Cour'
-Adjournment-Po1iti Matters at tbs
Capital-Johnny Reb, Sc, &c.
RALEIGH, Feb II, 1867.
Dear Journal During last week, be
yond the passage of the Stay Law, an advan
ced copy as finallypassed having been alrea
dy forwarded, little ofpublic interest has beer
done The House has passed the Tax Bill
but it has not yet come from the printers
to receive the consideration of the Senate.
So many important matters crowd the files
of that body, however, that the Revenue bill
will hardly be put upon its second reading
before Thursday. Two days should be
sufficient, however, for its consideration.
The bill donating the Land Scrip to the
University, which passed the Senate at the
last session, after most exciting debate
and close contest, passed the House on Fri
day, saved from defeat on two occasions by
the casting vote of Speaker McAden.
Whatever may be the merits or dement's
of the Stay Law, just adopted, to effect
the purpose designed, the haste and con,
fusion attending its passage through both
Houses, and the loose manner in which its
different sections have been thrown togeth-
er. must make it rather awkward and pos
sibly ungrammatical. The engrossed bill on
the subject, passed by the House last ses-
sion, came up On Tuesday last in the Sen
ate as the special order, and so many amend
ments and substitutes being offered, it was
referred to the joint select committee on
Judicial Reform, with instructions to re-
port on Thursday. This was done, but the
substitute which this committee reported
was not satisfactory, and SO much amend
ed that the bill was referred to a special
committee, who had leave to retire and re-
port as soon as practicable. This was done
during the morning session, and just as the
Senate was about to adjourn.
The bill was considered Friday morning.
Mr.. Speed offered a substitute, suspending
all the courts for 1867 and 1868, which was
most ably urged by himself and Mr.. Thorn
ton. 0Iessrs. Hall, Cunningham, Avery
and Cowles advocated the original BILL
Mr.. Speeds substitute received the support
of ten Senators, and the committees bill,
with a few amendments, passed almost
unanimously, Messrs. McCorkle and Will
son alone voting in the negative.
Immediately upon the meeting of the
two Houses on Saturday, the engrossed bill
was transmitted to the Commons, and the
t;o,, L. &c 4I,o ~, no c,ro 1otorroipo3 to foroe
it through without delay. Motions were
made to print, to postpone, but to nc
purpose Without delay, almost without con
sideration, the bill was forced through,
State by the ratification of the Speakers.
It is to be hoped that it may afford the
relief which it's friends expect and the PEG
pie need. The Legislature has spent much
time and thought upon this subject, and il
is to be regretted that the long delay and
the near approach of the Spring Terms OF
the Superior Courts made such haste neces
sary in the final action upon a question Of
so much importance.
The bills establishing criminal courts fol
New Hanover and Craven counties 1.-THE
bills are exactly similar) passed on Satur
day and will be ratified to-day. A copy Of
the .bill for New Hanover has been for.
warded.
It is now thought that the Legislature
will adjourn to-day two weeks. Many bills
of Importance are still on the files of the
two Houses, but so soon as the Revenue
bill has been acted upon there will be much
haste in getting away, even though much
business is neglected. Sufficient, however
has been added to our public and private
statutes for two years, for, since the war;
between the Convention and the Legisla
lures, the people of the State have not sui
fered from the want of abundant legisla
ton.
The political waters are again much ex
cited over the new plan of adjustment ane
the conservative tendency of a few Leaders
of the Republican party and the continued
defeat of Stevens radical measures.
The "Loyalists" hereabouts are getting
troubled and Gov. Holden, Hon. Mr.. Lo
gan and possibly others of the faithful
have gone post-haste to Washington to lOol
after the interests of the "Union," ant
tender their services as reconstruction
lists" These men seem to have as little in
fuence in Washington as they do at home
and their present trip will no doubt prov
as fruitless as their former one.
Col. Farrar Is Johnny Reb'') of Virgins
has been delighting the people here witt
his inimitable lectures, which have givel
him such celebrity at home. He file
the Hall of the House on Thursday an
Friday nightswith delighted audiences, an
will close to-night-his subject beinj
IS Johnny Reb's Wife" He goes as fa
South as Charleston, and will returl
through Wilmington.
| Education i'm North Carolina.
I'LL 3D.