Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1852-10-20
SPEECH OF MIR. WHEELER.
morning! !
OF LINCOLN

Delivered tn the House Of Commons, oh Ocfober 1852
on the bill proposing an adjournment.
Mr.. Wheeler said the question was very impor-
tant, it could be resolved TO points, expedency
and constitutlonaly AS to the frs is it expedient
that this Assembly should adjourn on Monday next
to meet on the LIST Monday in December next! He
had listened with great patience to The arguments of
the member from Davidson (Gen. Leach,) who had
as Chairman introduced this bill, and had sought with
much anxiety for some good reason to adjourn. But
there had been no satisfactory reason or argument
why We not well prepared to 90 on and do the
the public business now We will be eight weeks
hence we should not put off till tomorrow, what
can be done to-day" is of the maxims of human
wisdom, and we have higher and better authority to
do whatsoever our hand hath found 10 do with all
our might" If we work on, and work hard now, we
may adjourn before the lst of January; if we hold
continuous sessions until that period, this session. i'm.
portant as It Is TO the present and future interests of
the State, will be but about two weeks longer than
the last session, for the Assembly of 1850 met the
18th of November, and ad burned the goth Janua-
ry-72 days. This Assembly met on 4lh October
and if il sits until the lst of January it will be SO
days, only IL days difference. When we consider
that the Assembly of 1850 had no extraordinary bus
iness such will have be considered by the pres
ent Assembly, the conclusion is that the time
will be fully occupied if not, when the business
Is finished we can then talk about adjournment The
lovely weather, which we now enjoy, is far preera-
BILE 10 the inclement and stormy months of January
and February. To the farmer this period is of minor
importance to the time of Christmas and New-year.
ing year.
This Legislature, at this present session, is bound
to lay off the whole State into Senatorial Districts
and apporton the members of the House of Com
mons. These require minute calculations and inves.
tigaon. Interests that diversified must be recon-
ced, and these questions will alone occupy much
time. Not only these, but the Congressional Dis
tricts to be arranged. Let those who were here
in 1912 recollect the time, labor aud investigation on
this question that occasion. 1t will require the
utmost care SO to arrange these important and delicate
questions as to please all, perhaps any but, yet it
must be done, and this important work should be done
in a spirit Of compromise fairness and Justice. We
have, also, to elect Senator in the United States
Congress, TO for six from the 18th of March
next. This important station will doubtless be the
object of many aspirants whose claims to be ex-
amined. Also, the Revenue Act has to be remodel
ed and increased to meet the responsibilities of
the State. The fair fame of North Carolina has nev-
er been furnished by the stigma of reputation and
these debts must be provided for, met and paid. A
distinguished gentleman, but yesterday, to whom this
question had been referred, stated that he had had for
three months this subject under investigation and
devoted all his attention to its delicate and important
details, and had not as yet matured bill to his sat-
isfacon.
Then the important question of Free Suffrage has
to be maured. discussed, passed rejected this
session of the General Assembly. If passed, by the
constitutional majority of two-thirds, then au act is
to be matured by which it is TO be submitted to the
people. The question Of Internal Improvements, the
opening Rivers and extending our Railroads will
be brought before this General Assembly. To ex-
anime these schemes, decide upon their utility or
otherwise, will require time and labor
Sheald adjourn on Monday next and 90 home,
what can we say to our constituents They will de-
mand OF account of our Stewardship. We might
tell them that the Senate had settled the contested
from the second Senatorial District and that we
had passed the provisional bill for the Electoral Dis.
rics, and that We had adjourned TO meet in Deem
Der. 1t is great hardship to send men home who
have come hundreds of miles, when they are here
ready and willing to do what they have been sent TO
do. If you give them their mileage, this will alone
cost the State more than five thousand dollars and
can be productive of no possible benefit. Mr. w.
said, that there was no member in that body more
anxious 90 home Than himself, or whose presence
demanded at home, yet, in no point of view
could he the expediency of 80 calling the craft
from labor to refreshments when the work was before
them, and they were ready and willing to 90 on.
But even if the question of expectancy grant
ed there were some constitutional questions springng
ont of such a course entitled 10 much weight. The
constitution requires the Senatorial Districts be
laid off by the General Assembly at its first session
after the year thousand eight hundred and fifty
one.'' And the apportionmeni of the House of Com
mons shall be made at TIE same period.
In regard to amendments TO the Constitution by
legislative enactment it is provided in the Constitu-
ton that ifs after such publication the alteration pro-
posed oy the preceding General Assembly shall be
agreed to, the first session thereafter by two-thirds
OF the whole representation in each House, then the
General Assembly shall prescribe mode to submit
the amendment to the people,"
Now the question arises what is session i? If it
is term of Court, and it is very similar, then
what is directed be done at term by law, can
not be done at any other term. The old Journals
will prove that Assembly like one Congress,
may have many sessions, although it may be but tire
one Assembly. In ITS, from the exigencies and
perils of the times, the Assembly met at various times
and different places. The General Assembly of that