Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1850-12-11
NUMBER 84s.

was 9ufprlSeQ tDdt time ndQ NOSa Oeou 8ly0u W0 Cos
mittee to report upon it, This bill ssemed designed
to folestail the action Of the committee he did not
understand why the COMMITTEES should hay been
charged with this very subject by resolution
bill introduced without waiting for their action
Mr.. Rayner renewed his inquiry, whether the COM
mttee had not been charged with the whole snbjecE
MI. Mclean went on to remark that il was strange
that before this committee reports, bill should DO
introduced to foresta its action. He could not con-
ceive why it should be sos there must be some rec.
son not yet made known, why the fHends OF this bi
objected to its reference. The reason might be thA
the committee would not make report to suit then
He had not supposed that so much importancs was
attached to the report of the committee. He only
asked that this COMMITTEES should be treated with the
same respect other committees, and that all matters
connected with this subject should berefeFed to them.
He disposed to give every thing that was sent TO
them full consideration. and report such a. bill as
ne thought proper: ss4e sSs s .t3ssa ~ ~,
II Mr.. Fleming thought the committee assumed au-
thorty not delegated to them. The committee was
appointed to consider amendments. TO the Consntu-
tion this bill proposed no amendment, but merely
to submit the question to the people whether they
would have Convention or not. It was entire
ly a different question. The advocates Of the bill
ought not permit it to 60 to the COMMITTEE. Bills
were frequently srang!ed in COMMITTEES and ne antc-
ipated such action on this bill. - g.
Mr.. Blow said that the remarks Of the gentleman
from Guilford had convinced him that he was wrong
He said he knew that the committee were in favor
of the federal basis Of representation, and he should
therefore vote for the reference:
Mr.. Ruffin said the committee had been appointed
to consider the whole subject; he considered this bill
germane to the other proposition already referred to
them, and should be sent to them also. He was not
anxious that this bill should 60 to the commtee, but
he did think should be treated with the same cour-
tesy extended to other committees. The introducer
of the bill had expressed himself willing to refer il
select committees but was unwilling that it should
be sent to committee already charged with the sub
ject. There seemed to be distrast of the commit
tee and one gentleman had remarked that the object
of the reference was for the committee to snow the
bill under, and not to give it due and full considera-
ton. He thought, however, the committee were dis
posed to do justice to every matter that might be re-
terred to them. sa ..3 .,...g. ss. a. e. -.a,a.
Mr.. Jones, in addition to what he had said before,
remarked that he concurred entirely in the opinion
that the whole matter should be referred to this COM
mittee. In whatever light this refusal to refer might
be viewed, it amounted to nothing less than plain
disrespect to the committee, and amounted to dis
charge of the committee from any further considera-
ton of the subject Dsrespect was not intended for
it had been dsavowed, but still it nothing else.
If:this bill of Mr.. Fleming's was adopted by the
House, there would be no use of report from the
committee this report would come too late He re-
peated that refusal to refer would be equivalent to
discharge of the committee. "
Mr. Rayner said there was no species Of parliament
tary management or 1egerdemain, by which members
could evade direct vote this question; there was
no way in which they could get off without showing
their hands. Bills often strangled in the COM
mittee rooms. and if the object Of the committee was
strangle this bill. it discourtesy to charge
it. He alluded to party warfare in Washington City,
and remarked that the passage of bill frequently
depended the committee to which il was referred.
He believed that committee had aperfect right to
strange bin they thought it best to do So 1t he
had made any charge of dsrespect, which he thought
he had not, he disclamed it. He could not under
stand how it dsrespectful to committee fos the
House to refuse to send to them any bill. This de-
bate he considered altogether premature. He inqu-
red if there was not some system of parliamentary
tactics at work to make this question of amending the
Constitution party question: direct vote these
bills could be evaded, even if they should be sent
to the committee. The three bills now before the
House were not likely to have the same dispatch in
committee as in the House. He was determined to
have an express vote on this subject. All he asked
was that the committee would lei. him manage his
wn business in his waytoleth his bantling aloneo.
Mr.. Walton desired to define his position. He
opposed the reference of this bill because he beev-
ed there was wire working here 10 enable gen.
tlemen TO dodge direct vote. He was in favor of
an unlimited Convention. He said that the subject
of amending the Constitution had been much dis
cussed during the last summer in his county.
He and his colleague Mr. .-Avery] did not agree.
He in favor of the white basis OF representation,
while his colleague sustained the federal basis He
wanted to see direct vote on this question and
wanted to see how Democratic members from Whig
counties intended to vote. If majority Of the House
were in favor of this bil he shoudbe satisfied; bat
if this bill to call an unlimited Convention is voted
down, he should oppose any, andse'ery amendment
| .Mr. Avery said he did not propose or intend at
this time to fight again with his colleague (Mrs
Walton,) the battles Of their campaign during the
past summer, or occupy the time Of the House in
any personal controversy with him respecting their
positions in that canvass. He should be ready 70
vote upon all the propositions relating 70 the amend
ment Of the Constitution, and was then prepared to
opinions and declare his sentiments respect.
ing the various amendments proposed. His opinions
were fully formed not only TO the specific amend
ments which ought, inhis Judgment 70 be made, BOT
also as to the mode and manner Of making them aHe
thought be was better prepared to vote o.o than ths
gentleman from Hertford, (Mr. Rayner) IL The views
and opinions Of that gentleman had not been disclo-
sed by him to the House as respects single one OF
the varions amendments 10 the Constitution which
had been suggested in the House, discussed before
the people,; Upon amotion Of the sgentleman from
Wake, Gen. Saunders,) made a few days ago. TO
certain propositions to this same committee, the
gentleman from HertfoId addressed the House at
some length, and invited general expression OF
opinion nlnenting uponth prepriety Of mota.
al interchange of sentiment between the members Of
this House at that time upon the important changes
proposed to be naden tho organic law of the State
but he finally took his seat as.hs has done now sav-
ing the House in acknowledgements az to his VIEWS
touchingany of these important questions ssra
Mr. A.further said, he would inform his colleague
i thathe was prepared march mp and vote upon all
the questions presented. 4 He desired to meet. the
question of Equal Suffrage as disnct and ndepen-
dent proposition, and other gentle
men who had been its adaocaaes, meet that question
and yosslapon i isolstsa and alone; and when that
issue thos presented he was anxious to see whe-
ther tds covered ihemselve aunder conyensien bills
or propositions to refer 1he - 1he people. He
was At3ing TO face all osheF propositiops ~