Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-03-22
From the Fayetteville Eagle.
Comparison between the Conservative
and Radical legislatures.
Raleigh, March Il, 1872.


and Radical legislatures.
MIR. EDITOR Already the Radicals
through their stump speakers and news
papers, have commenced abusing and de-
nouncing the late General Assembly for
having betrayed the confidence and trust
reposed i'll them by the people Of North
Carolina, for not fulfilling their promises of
reform and retrenchment, and for not rea-
lizing the expectations of the people for
more economical and honest administra-
ton of the public affairs of the State. And
because of certain criticisms upon this Le-
giSlature by some of the Conservative
press, it is urged upon and argued to the
people, that even their own party papers
have denounced the Legislature as being
as corrupt and eXtravagant as its infamous
predecessor. Therefore the object Of this
article is simply to draw fair, correct and
impartial comparison between the late
COnServ alive Legislature and the preced-
ing Radical Legislature, and ali the facts
stated and figures given are taken from the
public official documents, the correctness
and accuracy of which cannot be qIIes-
toned and then let the people Of North
Carolina themselves decide between the
two and answer which truly represented
them. So much has been said about the
length of the sessions Of the late Legisla-
number of days during which The two Ie-
gislatures were in session and see if the
Conservative one was not q decided i'm
prOvement i'll this respect. The Radical
Legislature first assembled on the first day
of July, 1868, and adjourned on the oath
day of August, having been in session fifty
five days. 1t again met on the 10th day of
November, and, with the exception Of a
recess from December Dist to January 4th,
was in session until the 18th day of April,
1869, being just one hundred and thirty
five days. The same body assembled once
more (and thank God for the last time y
on the 18th day of November, 1869, adj
jOurned for a recess from December goth
to January 10th, and adjourned sine die
on the 2Sth day of March, 1870, making a
session of one hundred and fourteen DAYS,
so that the total number of days which the
Radical Legislature was in session, and
for which the members drew the per diem,
was exactly three hundred and four (3O4)
or over ten months
Now compare with this the session Of
the Conservative Legislature. This body
convened on the 21st day of November,
1870, took recess from December oath
to January 10th, and adjourned on the
9th day OF April, having been in session
one hundred and fifteen days, of which
time fifty days We're occupied by the inn
parchment of Holden. 1t met again No
vember goth, adjourned for a recess from
December 22d to January I'd, and adj.
journed sine die On the 18th day of Feb
ruary, 1872, being in session seventy-five
days, so that the total number of days
which this Legislature was in session, and
including the fifty days ofthe impeachment
trial, was just one hundred and ninety, or
a little over six months. The time con-
sumed by the impeachment court should
not properly be included in the length of
the sessions because it was not in the usual
and ordinary proceedings os the Leg sla-
ture, but entirely extra, and surely Re-
publicans dare not complain of and de-
nounce the Legislature for impeachino
Holden when more than one-third Of the
Republican senators, Messrs. Barrett,
Hawkins, Lehman, Moore and McCotter,
themselves, voted for his conviction. But
even including the impeachment trial of
fifty days, the Conservative Legislature was
in session one hundred and ninety DAYS,
while the Radical Legislature was in session
three hundred and four, difference of
nearly four months. Ia consequence Of the
acknowledgements of our Old and experience
ed leglslstors by vindictive Radical Con-
gress, the members of the Legislature were
all young and inexperienced men, not ac-
customed to the duties of legislator. and.
OF course, the machinery or legislation did
not at first move very rapidly. Again, it
must be remembered that the executive
and Judiciary and legislative departments
of the State government were all in accord
and acting in unison during the term of
the Radical Legislature, and there was
nothing to delay or protract legislation, so
that it was plain sailing oyer a smooth sea;
but with the Conservative Legislature it
was very different, for the executive and
Judiciary both did all within their power,
resoTting even to unconstitutional meas
ures, to hinder, delay, embarrass and coun-
teract the legislation of this body, AID thus
greatly protracting the length of it's
sessions.
Now let us compare the cost and expen-
SEES OF the two Legislatures as stated by the
Auditors reports. Tho cost of the Radical
Legislature was as follows, viz: for the
special session of 1868, $78, 424 80; for the