Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-11-27

DUTIES OF PUBLIC OFFICERS AND THEIR sALA-
RIEs.
Attention is respectfully invited to the
fact that the duties of Secretary of State,
Auditor, Treasurer, Superintendento of Pub
lie Works, Superintendent of Public In
struction, and the Attorney General, have
not yet been prescribed by law. 1t is i'm
portant that the duties of these officers be
a. once prescribed.
1t is also recommended that just and
reasonable salaries be allowed these and
all other public officers. A public officer
is expected to devote his whole time to his
duties, and he should be well paid for his
services. A government which pays ex
travagant salaries sets an injurious example
of extravaganza and waste to i.s citizens :
but one that doles out bare living to an
| officer WHO conscientiously J aud sedulously
devotes himself to its service, is not only
unjust to the officer and to itself, but t
! loses responsibility in the eyes of the
world, and will not long command that ef-
fciency and peculiar fitness in it's officials
| which is SO desirable in the administration
of public affairs.
PENITRNTIARY.
It will be seen by the report of the Com
missioners herewith transmitted, that they
vile, on Deep River, in Chatham county.
The situation is deemed an excellent one
in all respects. Arrangements are in pro-
gress to erect stockade on the site, and
convicts will be employed in grading the
foundations and qnarrying stone for the
building. have addressed letter to each
of the Sheriffs of the State. inquiring the
number of prisoners, the crimes for which
they are imprisoned, and the time for
which they have been sentenced, SO that,
after the necessary information is obtained,
such of them as should be put to hard labor
in the Penitentiary may be turned over to
the Superintendent.
INSANE ASYLUM.
The report of DR.. Eugene Grissom, Su-
perintendent of the Asylum, is herewith
transmitted. I am gratihed to state that a
decided improvement has been made in
the management of the Asylum, under DR..
Grissom, whose zeal and fidelity, with the
same qualities on the part of his Assistant
DR.. F. T. Fuller, and his subordinates
generally, are deserving of commendation.
The recommendations of the Superin-
tendent in relation to the institution are
commended to your attention. I do not
doubt that the General Assembly will
adopt every measure necessary to sustain
this indispensable and noble charity.
INSTITUTION FOR THE DEAF AND DUMB AND
THE BLIND.
Attention is invited to the report of
Willie j. Palmer, Esq, Principal of this
Institution, and to the report of w. M.
Coleman, Esq, President of the Board of
Directors.
This Institution is in fourishing con-
dition nnder the excellent management of
It's Principal. The suggestions in his report
in relation to further improvements and
the extension of the advantages of the In
stitution are worthy of consideration.
THE UNION 1NDIssoLUBLE AND PERPETUAL.
The suppression of the rebellion by the
Government of the United States the re-
construction of the Union on the basis of
suffrage for all in the recently insurgent
States, with the prospect that in due time
suffrage will be conferred 1pon all, in the
States and the election to the Presidency
dency of Schuyler Colfax, have rendered
the Union of the States indissoluble and
perpetual. We now have, indeed, free
Republic, in which every man in lnear y
every State, is fully the equal of every other
man in political and civil rights. We have
no distinctions founded on color or race,
save those which are social in their charac-
ter, but every one is free under the law to
make his own way in life, and to win a
good name for himself and his Children
The Union is over all, States as we'll as
people. There can be no appeal from its
authority. Its action in any event, and in
matters howsoever grave or vital, is ire
versible and final This will ensure sta
bility in the Government aud confidence
in it by the people, without which no na-
tion can be prosperous aud powerful. This
stability on the one hand and confidence
on the other, will render certain the pay
ment of the national debt, and the COM
pletion of every work of Improvement
which the Government may project or fos-
ter. The Union extends with a vast
breadth from the Atlantic to the Pacific
shores Of bothoceans, carrying with it the
germs of free principles which will speedily
spring into new States, to cluster In due
time as the old States are clustering
around one common centre. It would be
Impossible to set bounds either to the
progress or the duration of the Republic.
We know only that 1t is great, Eenef-
cont, constitutional government stronger
than it Was when it was founded that It's
benefits and blessings are innumerable to
those who live under it and that our
children and our children's children will
take just pride in the fortitude, courage
and wisdom Of their ancestors, and partake
in larger and fuller measure than we do of
the elevating and refining influences of re
ligion, liberty and iav, which must spring
from such Government This Govern
ment is in the hands of It's friends, and
will be administered by them. The gov
ernment of North Carolina is in the hands
of its friends, and of the friends OF National
government, and will be administered by
them. 1t should not be our aim to use it
for prescription or oppression to any, but
for the protection and benefit of all. It's
very safety, without reference to the i'm
portance OF maintaining and carrying out
in good faith the great principles on which
it is founded, absolutely requires that its
friends should continue to administer its
affairs. In no other way can harmony be
maintained in those relations between the
National and State governments, sundered
for time by rebellion, but now happily
restored.
Ihave the honor to be, gentlemen, very
respectfully, your obedient servant,
W. W. HOLDEN.
STATE NEWS.