Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1850-12-11

vote on 1t from this House. He thought the COM
mittee were little tinctured with old hunkerism-
and feared they wonld not propose the amendments
he wished to see carried out. .-i r.
Mr.. Stevenson remarked that the friends of this
bill were afraid for the committee on amendments to
the Constitution to get hold it, yet they professed to
be willing TO allow it to 60 to select committee.
They seemed quite anxious to send it to committee
which would be sure to make favorable report up
on it. Although this committee had been character
terzed as young and inexperienced, the gentleman
on the other side seemed afraid that their report,
which twas assumed would be an unfavorabe one,
would carry SO much weight with the House as to
cause the bill to be showed under. Their object
seemed to be get the bill referred select
mittee, and then secure the appointment of such
committee would make favorable report upon it..
Mr.. Hill, of Caswef, would vote for thereference.
The bill ought to be sent to that committee together
with everything relating to the subject. He under
stood those gentlemen who opposed the reference to
fear that the bill would be showed under by the action
of the committee He had no fears about it.; he be-
lieved the committee would consider it fairly and do
full Justice to it.
Mr.. Caldwell of Guilford, was opposed to its ref
erence, because he believed it his solemn duty to his
constituents and to the freemen of North Carolina to
do The committee, he believed, favored certain
interests which were not the interests of his constit
uents. He was opposed TO the reference for three
First, because majority of the committee
in favor of retaining the present basis; second
he feared the committee would make this party
question and third, that the committee would delay
their report to so late day the Legislature would
have time to act upon it. He should vote against
the reference not out of any dsrespect to the young
gentlemen the committee, but in the discharge Of
duty he owed to his constituents. The House
might well proceed at to consider this bill !;
y the mind Of every man was doubtless made up. He
was not in favor of sending bills to committee. Mr.
Caldwell went on to say that 1t was time for the
friends of the white basis TO move; he was not one
who would submit He was going on to speak of
the distribution of the school fund, when the Speak
interrupted him for abiding to subject Irrelevant
to the matter under consideration. -.. .-. r.. .y
MIR. Leach of Davidson, wished to state one rea-
why he should vote against the reference of this
bill, and The should vote out of disrespect
whatever to the committee. He did not view this
subject as party question, but rather as sectional
and did not fear any party manoeuvre to strangle
it. But he should vote against the reference because
the committee had already partly settled upon their
report, and he did not wish TO impede their action
with new matter. ~. ... -.
Mr.. Rayner should vote against the reference, not
out of any dsrespect to the committee, but because
he thought there necessity for the action of a
committee on it. Committees appointed to ar
range and digest business but this question the
public mind was already made up. He was bound
against the reference, for two years ago, the
subject was sent to committee, and there delayed
so long that no time was allowed for the action of
the two Houses. If he was member of the COM
mittee, he should thank the House for relieving him
of this business. The committee entertained vari-
Gus sentiments on this question, and Gid the
bers of the House, There was no possible way to
harmonize public sentiment. He preferred toman-
age his own business, and in the of his own
bill, did desire the action ola committee upon it.
He repeated again, he intended disrespect to that
committee. '--.. .tt .t@- ..- '-'..
Mr. Avery remarked that some of the reasons ad-
duced by the gentleman from Hertfori, (Mr. Rayner)
against reference, good reasons for it. II every
gentleman is to have his bill here, and promul
gate his own views, the business of the Legislature
would never terminate. The same rule applied to
this every other committee, and everything re-
ating the subject with the consideration of which
they were charged, should be to them. He gave
notice now that when this bill was disposed of, he
should call up, as he had intended to do, the bill of
the gentleman from HEREFORD, and also, the bill of
the gentleman from Haywood, in order to have them
referred to this committee. All OF these bills were
proper subjects for their consideration. When they
made their report the subject would come up again.
1t was unusual and unparliamentry course to have
committee, and then refuse send the business to
it properly falling under its consideration. It was
hoth proper and customary to dispose of business in
this way, and it calculated to expedite the trans
action Of business .z-< =. ''''
, Mr. Rayner said his experience was different from
that of the gentleman from Burke, Mr.. Avery.] He
thought it the proper way make all these bills the
special order for certain day. All OF them could be
taken up day and disposed Of He had intended
make such motion. He had no idea that the report
of the committee would have any influence with the
House, and did not believe they could throw any adj
ditonal light upon the subject under consideration.
He wished to test the feeling and views of the House;
he wanted to try the nerves of gentlemen on this
question, and to what they would do. The House
could best dispose of this matter it would be her
culean task for the committee consider every
position that any member of the House might choose
to refer to them, and the best way for the House
decide upon this question without the Intervention
of the committee. 80 &fs -. - 2
. Mr.. Cherry was opposed to any amendment to the
Constitution whatever; he went for the Constitution
just as it was; he opposed out and out to all
amendments. He was no free suffrage or free soil
man. He should vote against the reference he de.
sired direct vote of the House upon it. .e -
Mr.. Foster of Davidson, did not believe the com:
mittee should have anything to do withths bill. He
considered it courtesy due to the mover of bill to
allow it to take such direction as he wished. He
was i'm favor oflaying the motion commit the table
Mr.. Brogden was deeply surprised at the language
of>the gentleman from GaiHord Mr.. CALDWELL
There was use of having committees if everythins g
relating to the various subjects which they were
charged to consider was not referred to them This
committee had half dozen different propositions al.
ready before them. and it was proper that they should
also have this. He concurred in opinion with the
gentleman from Hertford, MIR. Rayner.] that the
committee was not a sectional one as viewed by the
gentleman from GnilfordS[ Mr.. Caldwell. The con
mttee was composed Of three swestern and two eas.
tern men. All matters relating to amendingthe Con
s,itution should be referred to this committee, and M
trusted the House would sustain the motion TO commit
Mr.. Caldwell Of Guilford, intended no d;srespec
to that committee, to censure the chair tor the
appointment. But he that the commttee wa:
so constituted that its action would not accofdswitt
the views Of his constituents, or Of the ffeemenso
North Carolina. Itwas true majority Of thai com
mittec were western men, but they were favor Q
retaining the federal basis Of and shere
fore he was opposed TO referring 70 them abiIi u
which, he knew they were hostile. 2 He repeated tina