The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-12-30
~ Home !,

The members of our General Assemble
with few exceptions are spending the two
weeks OF recess at home and among their
constituency. While we heartily wish them
the enjoyment of pleasant, festive holiday
season we also believe it will serve for an
opportunity for frank and full interchange
OF views with the people they represent on
the important questions that are now pend
ing before our Legislature While we are
far from demanding that representative
should sacrifice his manhood in Difference to
the wishes of his constituency or from as
serting that his superior intelligence and ac-
quaintance with facts may ordoes not qualify
him to act in advance of or contrary to their
views and perform in SO doing the high
est duty of wise and public spirited legis-
lator, yet we claim that frequent and init
mate intercourse with the citizens of the
State, of all positions and allparties would
be of inestimable service to the public SER
wants of the people. The people are init
mately and vitality interested in all the
weighty questions whose consideration have
been deferred until after the recess, and it is
to be hoped that an interchange of
views with the powers at home will Sc
cure enlightened and safe Legislation that
will not only meet the approval of the
people but make the State prosperous
Quite number of the issues now before
the General Assembly were never discussed
before the people during the late campaign.
Unfortunately only partizan and personal is
sues were made, and now there is no under
standing between the people and those that
represent them, on the matters of public
State interest. The people are vastly con-
cerned in the question whether the States
interest in the public works should be sold
or leased. Whether the public mind has
given any thought to this question is not
known to those who must dispose of it for
them. The popular will should be known
and have great weight given to it, for in
some degree the credit of the State is in
| volved it.
| How shall revenue, in addition to the
poll tax, be raised sufficient for the purposes
of our public school system as indicated in
! the Constitution This too, is a matter of
vital Interest to all true North Carolinians
and on it the public sentiment should be
heard through its representatives. Aschool
system, to be effective and successful, must
have the Endorsement and affections of the
people of the State. 1t is only when they
are willing to make sacrifices and to bear
burdens to insure its success, that there is
any reasonable hope Of its intended results
being fully realized, Will not this grave
question receive the earnest consideration
from both people and representatives that
it demands
| There too is the great question of inter
nal improvements Will the people have
Railroads. If so are they willing to foot
| the bill for their construction? Are they
ready to shoulder the taxes that must lie
laid to pay the interest on the loans that
will have to be made. Most of these appro-
priations are now changing fire" in the pop
ular branch of the General Assembly. Will
the people-the taxpayers advise those
who represent them ''to put them through?'
Now is the hour for unrestricted confidence
between the public and their Legislators.
Many other questions beside these may now
well be talked over calmly and earnestly
between the people and their servants during
| the brief holiday recess. 77rv stay law IN
wolves millions and the welfare of thousands
of families. Shall it be touched or not
What do the people adviser Of the reve-
enue bill we do not speak. Taxes must be
laid to meet the expenses of the State-to
pay the interest coming due on the public
| debt. The character and credit of North
Carolina must now be preserved at all
hazards. This question has gone beyond the
time for discussion. Some may wish they
had acted differently. Some may wish theil
views had not failed, yet noao there is nc
retreat. We hope the people and our rep.
resentatives understand each other in this
matter and fully concur in the view that the
honor of the State must be held inviolable
| now.