The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-11-28
Speak Out Now, or Henceforth
Hold Your Peacel

This, in plain terms. is the duty
resting upon the people of North Caro-
| lima, or that portion of them whose
thoughts are not entirely bound up in
money-gettlng, and who desire the
rectiiication of the miserable draw
backs to the growth and advancement
of the commonwealth. Speak out,
NOW. we say, or henceforth cease
your complaints. Six weeks more
and the General Assembly will con-
vene. Two full weeks out of the eight
weeks allowed that body will be used
up in organizing, getting committees
at work, electing Public Printer, and
settling the Senatorial succession.
Only about 80 actual working days
will remain,-a brief period, indeed,
for questions upon which the future
of New North Carolina SO largely de
pend,
This being so, let Us ask how the
people can secure the most, and best,
legislation during the session? The
answer is obvious by organizing a
general. decided, out-spokon demand
for such measures as are believed to be
requisite. When Legislators waste
time discussing important measures, it
is not from laZiness or cowardice but
it is because public opinion is go un-
settled, or there is SO little expression
one way or another, that many good
men are perplexed to know what the
people really desire. Indeed it is
rarely that any two men Will agree
upon the best course to pursue in re>
gard to the most ordinary features of
legislative action. Besides there are
always some cranky members of tie
Legislature who illuminate in oDposi-
ton to almost every new measure not
originated by themselves and if the
voice of public opinion be weak or
to join with the cranky ones to set the
whole matter aside for another year.
people, if they wish better system of
things in the State, to speak out and
demand it. Every newspaper. every
gathering of the neighbors, should
take up certain points of proposed
legislation. and discuss them. Chief,
and to our mind, absolutely indispen-
sable, among these points are the fol
lowing -
1st. Improve the School Laws.
End. Improve the Road Law.
3rd. Improve the Stock Law; giving
especial protection to sheep.
4th. Require the payment of Poll
Tax (Which is the main>stay of the
School FUND.- as qualification for
voting.
9TH. Appoint Commit ssioner of I'M
migration who shall devote his whole
energy foc five years to advertising
Seekers, and inviting them to settle
herein.
9th. Provide for the Reduction of
the State Debt to a righteous basis,
and the payment thereof by such an
nual installments as our PROSTATE for
tunes will admit of without Gripping.
There are a number of other impor-
tant needs of the hour, but they will
| of necessity receive consideration at
| the hands of the Legislature. As for
example, some action respecting the
| hundreds Of lunatics now crowding
the county jsils, and maintained at a
cost of 500 per head from the State
Treasury, besides other expenses.
4propos the suggestions herein
made, we observe that at meeting Of
Republicans of Caswel county, the
following resolutions, among others,
were adopted -
Be 1t resO2ced, That our r. epre.enta-
1 tives are requested to have the elec-
ton law amended, if possible, III tine
following particulars
1st. To have section so amended
/ that no man that cannot read or write
be allowed to sit as judge at an cleo
/ ton.
| End. That the power to regulate the