Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-03-29

brave and manly a people as were ever
ground into the dust by tyranny and opprcs-
sion.
(aOeernOr Caldwell and the Asylulns.
Governor Caldwell seems at last to have
discovered that there is a power in the
State TO which even the Chief Executive
must Weld Difference.
1t is 50 gratifying to know that he has
made The discovery that we are not dis
posed to grumblc because he was so SLOW
about it. 1t is true, the thing was so plain
that he who ran might read it, 1t is true,
also, that . us it were done it were we'll 1t
were quickly done But it delights us so
much to say single word other than OF
reprobation of our Governor, that we re-
frain from saying anything about his in
comparable slowness in discovering that he
was not an absolute monarch in North
Carolina.
The Governor has discovered that there
is such a thing as public opinion III North
Carolina, and accordingly we find him now
deigning to attempt to set himself right in
regard TO lis course towards the Asylums
and Pcnitcntiary. The attempt is, indeed,
a miserable failure, but it is, nevertheless,
gratifying TO know he feels at last that pub
lie opinion mast be respected.
lie has written letter TO certain gentle
men Of Franklin county, i'll response to an
appeal to him, made by them in public
meeting, 30 allow the Courts to determine
the contest III regard to the public Institu-
tons, and informed them that on the very
day on which the meeting was held, he had
addressed a note to the Chairman of the
Legislative Board of Directors of the Peni-
tertiary. making just such proposition"
Now it IS evident that this PROPOSE
ton " was made by the Governor in def
crence to public opinion rather than to any
original views Of its propriety. Were this
not true, the Governor would long ago have
taken steps to bring the question before
the Courts.
The new Boards were appointed On or
about the 10Th Of February, and as the
plan of operations was developed for put
ting them in possession, storm Of indig-
nation arose throughout the State, at the
possibility Of reducing the inmates Of the
AsSiuns and Penitentiary to starvatian.
| Tie press was heard from one end Of the
State to the other, in Indignant denuncia-
| ton Of such inhumanity, and the people,
horrOr-stricken ut the spectacle, We're be-
ginning to speak i'll tones no less unmista-
kable. Day after day passcd-the Cover
nor said nothing about testing the legality
of his appointments by law rather than by
starvation. He was informed that the con
victs in the Penitentiary were Oh short "a
| tons. Apublic meeting in Raleigh was called
! for, i'll order that the citizens might take
| such measures as might be necessary to
/ protect them from three hundred conyicts
madGencd by hunger. Finally, Oh the goth
March, after a delay Of one month, and on
! the very day on which, by singular coin
cidence, there was being held public meet
! ing of the citizens Oh Il i;, 1hboring county
! to memOriallzo him III the cause of a com
mon humanity, he proposes to the Chair
man Of the Legislative Board to appeal to
! the Courts
II our Governor was as slow to do wrong
I as he is slow TO do right, he would save
I himself and the State much trouble.
But in the course of another month lis
Exceilency may learn that the Attorney
/ General, aud not tic Chairman q the
| Board Of Directors Of the Penitentiary, is
the proper person 10 advise with i'll the
course Of another month he may learn Mat
a Governor ought to DO right anu obey the
laws, regardless of the consent Of the Peni-
Tertiary authorities; and in the course of
another month, (about the day after the
August election,) he will learn that the
I people vii! not pardon him for his lawless
and ilhInan conduct because he :. made
a propositions"
Adversely is Il good school, and public
opinion is a good teacher, and We will not
! despair absolutely of our new scholar, al
! though his lead and hide are both thick.
/ lie has made one discovery, i'll time he
may make others. lie may learn that
public opinion cannot ie satisfied with
mere " propositions .--
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