Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-12-10

| ZION or the winter VII! Dc CENOtctl W liz
questions Of interest to tho Southern Ijeo
ple-nothiDg, at least, wilt be done 10 re
lieve their pressing wants, or calculated
to advance their future prosperity.
| Municipal Matters.
In less than month the citizens of Viii
mington must elect a Mayor and four
Aldermen. The matter is of sufficient
moment, we think, to warrant the earnest
consideration of every voter. As this ne
cessarily ought not to be a political cleo
ton we hesitate to proffer our advice, ano
will not do SO, except to urge the gooC
men of both parties to do what they CAL
to secure the election Of proper per
sons. We cannot believe that the excite
ments and improper prejudices which have
placed, for tie most part, comparative
strangers and men too little interested in
the real prosperity of the city in Office
will be kept up. It at least ought not to
be, and an effort should be made to over
come them. We hope to see fair share
of men Unidentified with Wilmington, in
terested in its good and economical gov
eminent, selected to fill places in the
municipal board. Men who pay taxes
themselves are better prepared to tax
others. Men in established business
know best what burdens the business OF
the city ought and should bear.
What we want are capable and honest
men who will spend only such money as
the good order and proper government OF
the city demands. We cannot afford to
pay to keep up long retinue of party
mendicants The enormous municipal
taxes now paid hang heavily upon the in
dustry and prosperity of our people. While
we give the present Board credit for sew
eral timely improvements and expendl-
lures, there is too much money spent for
party purposes. There are too many Off
GERS, too many employees, too many hang
ers-on supported by the City Treasury.
A reformation in this regard is desira-
BILE. Every laborer, white and black,
every property owner, every business man,
is directly interested in curtailing these
unnecessary expenses. We therefore
most sincerely advise some action to be
taken to provide for the coming election.
If our efforts fail, we can at least be salts
fed that we have not neglected our duty.
We should do what is right in the premi-
ses without regard to the issue. We be-
lieve, however, that by consultation and
unity good aud reliable men can be chosen.
VI IL, t,o
The Legislature-Tern, of Office.
We direct attention to an article from
the Winston Sentinel, giving a oonve rsation
of Judge Tourgee in regard to the adop.
ton of the Constitutional provision in re-
ference to the tenure Office of the mem
bers of the present General Assembly. We
would hesitate to condemn any one upon
the unconfrmed testimony ofJudge Tour
gee, bat Senator Sweet and Mr.. Heaton,
who were parties to his nomination and
election as Judge, are estopped from re-
fecting upon his character. Under this
view of the case it becomes them to estab-
they must necessarily stand convicted OF
having been parties to a fraud upon the
people of the State.
Be the completely of Messrs. Sweet and
Heaton true or not, we at least have the
confession of leading Radical member
of the Constitutional Convention, the
Chairman of the Committee appointed to
draft the Legislative Department of the
Constitution, and On account of his emf
nent legal abilities displayed in that body,
and as a member of the Code Commission,
and for other acceptable services rendered to lis
party, rewarded with Judgeship, that the
article in regard to the tenure Of office of
the members of the present General AS
sembly was framed for the express pur-
pose of deflauding the people and legalis-
ing the intended usurpation by the Legis-
lature. Was q State ever before cursed
with such wicked and depraved rulers? Was
have bad men rendered ours ? The con-
versation of Judge Todrgee was upon the
cars, but he was nevertheless "a judicial Off
Ger Of the STATE, fully cognizant Of the
VA
to pass it over in silence.
While we have never believed that the
Constitution conferred the power upon
the members of the Legislature to contin-
ue in Office beyond August, 1870, We have
always been surprised at the awkward and
disingenuous language of that particular
clause upon which claim of q four years
term has hecn advanced. In the duplicity
acknowledged by Judge Tourgee we have
the solution, sufficient at least to account
for it, and therefore going far to corrobo-
rate his voluntary testimony. By all means
let US have his affidavit upon the subject
before some proper tribunal. The people
ought to know how far this Judge has
spoken truly. Senator Sweet and Mr..
Heaton, especially, should demand an in
vestigation. Let the truth-the whole
truth, come out.
Bridge Between England and France.
nj. BoUTET, the celebrated French En-
gineer, has proposed the following plan