Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1852-10-30
HOUSE OF COMMONS.

w EDNESDAf, OcI ICu, 1907.
q Mr.. Dortch, of Wayne, from the committee or
Esthe Judiciary, reported the bill to- repeal the act
Eabolshing jury trials in the county courts of Co
lumbus county with an amendment striking oul
8the End and Sd sections, and recommended its
Spassage. The amendment adopted and on
Emotion of Mr.. George, of Columbus, the bill was
Rlaid on the table,
Also the bill extend the right of repeal in GER
Etain cases, and recommended It's passage Read
End time and passed.
81 MIR. Dobbin, of Cumberland, from the same COM
smittee reported the bill authorizing the probate
of deeds and bills of sale requiring registration be-
fore the clerks of the county courts, and recon-
$ mended its passage. Read End time and passed
4 Mr.. McDugald, of Bladen from the same com
mittee reported the bill to amend the act Of $40
achap. 80, entitled act to prevent free negroes
from carrying firearms, and recommended that it
Edo not pass. Mr.. Williams of Warren, said:
Mr.. SPEAKER: Having had the honor Of introduce
fling this bill, and being prompted so to do, by the
wishes of large portion of my constituency, feel
at due to them as we'll to my SELF respectfully TO
request that the House do not in report Of
she committee the judiciary in rejecting the bill.
And In making this request, Mr.. Speaker, am moi
prompted by any undue feelings of revenge, Undue
led so to act from disposition to prosecute Cypress
that unfortunate part of our population known the
free persons of color but sense of duty, well
proper regard for the interest of those represent and
the sincere belief that the passage of the law will
remedy crying evil in the State of North Carolina,
have Influenced to offer this BILL And desire to-
submit few remarks in defence of the bill be-.
fore the House Sir, the amendment which offer to
the act passed at the General Assembly of 1910 and
Al, simply takes from the County Courts the author
lty to grant license to free persons of color to
keep, carry firearms and am we'll aware that thi
addltona restriction upon free negroes will to some
seem oppressive and tyrranica for the reason that
some few of them INDUSTRIOUS and honestly labor
for livelihood but Sir those who thus are rare-
y to be found they are in our country like angels
andfa hnfIr on1 thoi.
vor could exist without having injurious and dam
gerous effect would be the last deprive them of
fits benefits but it is well established principle of
political jurisprudence that the interest of the fews
must yield to the interest othe many. and experience
and in many instances sad experience has taught mys
constituents that it is manesuy the interest of the
many that the amendment proposed by the bill nows
before the House should become the law of the land
In the County of Warren, which have the honor to9
represent, we'll in the adjoining County of HaI
|fax where well acquainted, the evil of the aw
las it exists is felt to alarming degree, and II
have little doubt that the evil exists in everv
part of the State where there is any portion Of thss
doomed population. AS the law now exists if vous
detect free negro carrying firearms, and demand hiss
authority for doing, his reply is, have cense
from the County Court, and whether he has or not
how many, ask, put themselves the trouble of ex
!aminIng the records of the Court ascertain? AndS
Sir. as the law now exists if one free negro is au-
It'll orzed to carry firearms, the consequence is tha,
every free negro in his neighborhood uses the same
and not unrequently when the fear of detection isl
lost, the slaves are also permitted to use them ande
Sir, what these firearms used for Is II for the
purpose of protecting their crops, for the purp
of killing lawful game 1t is not, but most frequent
ly 10 prowl about and over their neighbours piana-
tons, encouraging idleness, setting evil example
the slaves of the country and too often killing and
manning the stock of those who unfortunately live
near them. Mr. Speaker, regard free negroes as AZ
curse to any society, to any community to any oov9
eminent where the institution of slavery exists
experience teaches US that class they do moi live
by honest employment and must confess that am q
in favor of holding them in the strictest subiec,io
that the laws of humanity will allow, and placinU nm
on them every restriction that is necessary to eraidS
and protect the community from their evil examneor
vicious habits wish, Sir, the laws of our country
and live among they must respect our interest nd
keep within proper limits, and know no way more9