North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1850-12-07

snittee this repori would come too late. He re-
heated that refusal to refer would be equivalent TO
discharge of the committee -
Mr.. Rayner said there was no species OF parliament
,ary management or legerdemain, by which members
could evade direct vote this question; there was
no way in which they could get on wltnout showing
their hands, Bills often strangled In tne com
mittee rooms and if the object OF the commiee was
m stran0le this BILL it was no discouresy to charge
it. He alluded TO party warfare N ~ ashg 'on O.y
and remarked that the passage Of ohl Ireqeehty
depended on the committee to which was leieileu'
He believed that committee had perfect rignt 10
strange bill if they thought best to do So 1t ne
had made any charge of disrespect Whlcn ne
he had not, he discaimed II. He could nor unuef-
stand how was disrespectfu to commltee lot tne
House To refuse to send to them any bill. This de-
hate he considered altogether premature. He lnqu-
red if there was not some system OF parliamentary
tactics at work make this question OF amending 'he
Constitution party question. "A airecI Vo'e on 'leee
bills could not be evaded 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 10
have an express vote on this SUBJECT All ne askeu
was that the committee would let him manage his
WIN business in his ow way-to let his banting aloneo
Mr.. Walton desired to define his position He
opposed the reference of this bill, because he beilev-
ed there was some wire working here to enable gen.
tlemen to dodge direct vote. He was IN favor OF
an unlimited Convention. He said that the suo]ect
of amending the Constitution had been mucn as
cussed during the canvass last summer In MS county.
He was in favor of the white basis of representation
while his colleague sustained the tederaf basis he
wanted to see direct vote on TINS question; and
wanted to see how Democratic members from wing
counties intended to If majority of the House
were in favor of this BILL he should be satisfied; but
if this bill to call unlimited Convention is voted
down, he should oppose any and every amendment
that might be offered.
Mr. Avery said he did not propose or intend at
this time to fight over again with his colleague Mr.
alton,) 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 to
vote upon all the propositions relating to the amend
ment of the Constitution, and was then prepared to
avow his 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, in his judgment to be made, but
also as to the mode and manner of making them. He
ght he better prepared to vote noW than the
gentleman from HEREFORD, (Mr. Rayner). The views
and opinions of that gentleman had not been dlsclo-
se1 by him to the House as respects single one OF
the various amendments to the Constitution which
had been suggested in the House, discussed before
the people. Upon motion of the gentleman from
Wake. (Gen. Sannders,) made few days ago, to
refer certain propositions to this same committee, the
gentleman from HEREFORD addressed the House at
some length, and invited a general expression of
opinion-commenting upon the proPrIety OF a mutu-
al interchange OF sentiment between the members OF
this House at that time upon the important changes
proposed be made in the organic law of the State;
but he finally took his seat as he has done now, leaV-
ing the House in profound ignorance as to his views
touching any of these important questions.
Mr.. A. further said, he would iRform his colleague
that he was prepared march up and vote upon all
the questions presented. He desired to meet the
question of Equal Suffrage as distinct and indepen-
dent proposition, and he hoped to see other gentle
who had been its advocates, meet that question
and vote upon it isolated and alone; and when that
issue thus presented he anxious to see whe-
Their they covered themselves under convention bills
or propositions to refer the matter to the people, He
was willing to face all the other propositions In
the same way. Mr.. A. said he should not vote for
the bill proposing convention, nor should he vote
for the bill which makes provision for submitting the
question of Equal Suffrage to the popular vote, for
the people had already decided that matter by an over
whelming voice. The people of North Carolina
would be startled by the that the pres
ent Legislature proposed to amend the Constitution
by convention at an expense OF forty thousand dol
lars, when nearly all the advocates of constitutional
reform in the State had told them during the late
canvass, that the amendments suggested could and
would be made in the. simple and economical mode
prescribed by the Constitution itself-of Legislative
enanctment. He believed the people were decidedly
in favor of the latter mode of making the amendments
they desired and they were not expecting any other
action by the Legislature.
Mr.. A. further said he had avowed in his canvass
before his constituents, alleged by his colleague,
Mr. alton, that he should sustain the federal basis
of representation, and although he was western |
man, and identified with that section of the State in
era feature in the Constitution, because it had its
origin in compromise between the east and west |
and besides all this, that it would be hazardous I
to agitate this question of the white and feder- !
al basis in North Carolina this particular juno
ture of our National affairs. He said that he repre-
scented heightened and liberal constituency. Their
liberality emnenty exhibited in their disregard
ing differences of opinion party politics of
the day, and comforting upon him the honor Of repre-
senting them in that Hall.
His constituents were disposed 10 adhere to the
of State Constitution to the Fed
eral basis, and maintain it in good faith, provided
their brethren acted justly toward them. There
was excitement among them on that subject; but
if the east should any preponderance they have
in the two Houses reason of this Federal feature
in representations in such way as to injure the
interests of the west, by unequal partial egslaon,
or by failing to make such appropriations would
place each portion of the State equality then,
his constituents might regard the compromises of
Constitution as no longer binding upon them, and
light insist change of the basis of representation,
any other change of the organic law that would
give the additional strength in either branch of
The Legislature. Mr. A. again argued, that all these
propositions relating to the mode and manner of
amending the Constitution should be referred to the
committee raised for the purpose OF considering those
questions and that when the committee made their
Report, all the different propositions and measures
relating to constitutional reform, could be fairly and
ully debated and discussed at the same time.
The motion to refer was then adopted-yeas 20,
nays As, as follows:
YEAs.-Messrs. Avery, Barnes, of Edgecombe,
Blow, Bond, Boykin, Brazier, Bridges. Brogden,
Clanton, Cockerham, Cotton Davidson, Dickinson,
Durham, Eaton, Eure, Flynt, Fonville, Harrison,
Jenkins, Johnston, Jones, Kallum, Kelly, Leach of
Johnston, Marshall Martin Mathis Mcdowell Nc