North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1850-12-18


for the present Also, bill concerning the duiies Of
4 herffs. which was read the first time.
Mr. Powers presented Memorial from the officers
Eof the 3Oth Regiment Of Nc. Militia, praying
revision Of the Militia laws Of the state which was
referred to the committees on Military Affairs.
Mr.. Caldwell of Rowan, introduced Dill TO IN.
corporate the Salisbury and Taylorsville Plank Road
Company referred 10 the committee on tnterna I'M
proveiBents. Also, a memorial from certain farmers
of Rowan, praying the Legislature TO pass some law
no protect their crops from destruction by Crows,
which was laid the table, zga4
Mr.. Hayes of Cherokee, resolution to instruct
The committee claims to inquire into the claims oil
Mark Coleman and others, which was adopted.
Mr.. Foard offered resolution declaring that no
member shall speak longer than thirty minutes eH-
cept by special leave from the House, which, on mo-
ton of Mr.. Brogden, was laid on the table.
Mr.. Pigott Introduced bill TO exempt canoes and
nets from execution in certain cases. which was re-
tered to the committee Iudciary. Also, the re-
signaon of J. L. Boykin. justice of the Peace of
Sampson county, which was accepted.
On motion of Mr.. Rayner, the committee on the
Judiciary were instructed inquire into The expedi-
ency of altering the law with respect to the tax on
the erection of gates by private individuals across
public roads.
Mr.. Williams of Mecklenhurg, bill to repeal the
9Th section of the Revenue Act, of 1883, which
was referred to the committee on Finance. 4.
On motion of Mr.. Fleming. the House reconsider-a
ed the by which the bill Incorporating the Pied
mont Plank Road Company was referred to the com,
mitttee Cherokee lands, and on his notion the Dill
was referred 10 the committee on Internal Improve
Inents. The House also reconsidered the reference
of MIR. Feming's bill TO amend the act of 1889
laying off turnpike road from Salisbury to the
Georgia line and the bill referred to the COM
mittee on Internal Improvements.
MIR. Webb, bill to repeal portion of the act OF
1852, establishing the turnpike from Salisbury to
the Georgia line so that it shall be constructed
between Salisbury and Ashevile; which, after some
conversation between Messrs. alton, Fleming, and
Hayes, was referred tothe committee on Internal Inn
provements. .E~ea -
nivicin
No. 1871, S. of t.. Henderson county which was re-
ferred TO the committee on Private Bills.
Mr.. Fonvlle. bill to incorporate LA Fayette DI-
vision, No. %, S. OF T.. Onslow county, which was
referred to the same committee.
Mr.. Hayes moved to take up the bill for the relief
Of the purchasers of the Cherokee lands, and make
it the special order Of The day for Thursday next,
w hcl was agreed to.
Mr.. Fleming and Mr.. Hayes each made personal
explanation with reference to certain matters that had
occurred yesterday. r.Hayes asked to be excused
from further service the select committee on Cher
okee lands. Several gentlemen expressed them
selves having entire confidence in the gentleman
from Cherokee and thought, from his intimate ac-
quaintance with the situation of the purchasers OF
Cheroke lands that he was the most proper person
TO be on said committee. Mr.. Hayes then Withdrew
his application to be excused from further service on
said committee.
"A message was received from his Excellency, the
Governor, transmitting the Report of the President
and Directors of the Board of Internal Improvement,
which was sent to the Senate with proposition to
print. eli
CONVENTION QUESTION.
The hour of 10 having arrived the special order
of the day was taken up, being the bill reported from
the committee amendments to the Constitution, IN
favor of Equal Suffrage. Mr.. Fleming moved TO
postpone the special order until Wednesday next,
which was not agreed to-.
Mr.. Rayner moved the bill to amend the Consttu-
ton of the State, introduced by him time since.
as amendment to the bill reported by the COM
mittee.
Mr.. Foster moved the bill presented by him with
his minority report as an amendment to the amend
ment offered above.
Mr.. Foster said in Substance, that the subject of
amending the Constitution was one of deep interest.
and he thought it his duty now to give his reasons
for the plan he had. proposed. AS a member of the
committee charged with the consideration of this
subject he had been compelled to dissent from its
action. and present his views in minority report.
This not party question. but one entirely above
party. and he deprecated all party luminosity in its
discussion. This was Legislature in which party
feelings should be forgotten when all should unite
North Carolinans promote the interest and pro-
tect the honor of North 'Carolina None of the inn
portant questions before the Legislature could be
made party measures. -
Mr.. F. went to say that the co nmittee present.
ed rather singular front. The majority had rePor-
led against all the propositions referred to them but
nne-hat of equal suffrage yet the Chairman was
favor of the bill he proposed, and another memb
Der of the committee besides himself had submitted
a minority report. Three out of the five members
actually dissented from the report of the majority.
He went on to compliment the member from Craven,
I Mr.. Stevenson. for his gallant defence of the
North Carolina Rail Road they united in sentiment
in that and he sorry tina: he had not seen proper
TO sign this minority report with him.
He then proceeded to examine thequestlon IN point.
First, do the people desire change in the Consttu-
tion and if they do, what changes do they demand
Second in what way shall these changes be effected
He gave it his opinion that the people of
North Carolina do desire change of their Constu-
tion He based his opinion upon the movements of
gentlemen this floor. Various propositions to
amend the Constitution had been offered by different
gentlemen of the House of Commons, and it could
not be doubted that changes desired by thereon
sttuents. Yet some doubted, and he respected that
doubt. He defed any man come to correct con-
cuson from the results Of party elections He thought
usually adhered to their party even if they
did not entirely endorse the views of majority of
that party. Isolated individuals carried along
by the majority He had framed his bill, therefore,
so as respect the doubts of certain He pro-
posed to- submit it to the people whether they would
have Convention not
He next took up the modes in which amendments
to the Constitution may he made. Two modes were
by legislative enactment, the other
through Convention. The advocates of the first
say that it is the mode pointed out by the Constn-
lion itself, and that it is cheap mode He thought
it not exredient to adopt that plan this time,
and he denied that it the cheapest.
Mr.. Foster then alluded to certain statement made
in his minority report from committee that the
people of North Carolina had never lived under Il
Constitution of their own making. The first Con-
stituiion was established by Convention held in
1868, the delegates which chosen by electors
who possessed SO of land. In 1916, another
Convention held, majority of delegates to
which monarchsts. The peopeof North Ca