Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-12-16
THE LEGISLATURE.

Orr readers will find in columns to-day the
,rococdinos of the two Houses, from Tuesday to
Thursday, inclusive.
IN Tuesday. in the Senate, Mr.. Fisher introduced
. hill incorporating the Western North Carolina Rail
Road Company. The bill provides for the gradual
constructions by sections or divisions, OF railroad
west from Salisbury, on the two-thirds pTlncipie-
the route to be selected by the Board OF Directors
after the State shall have subscribed her proportion
Of the stock The bill was ordered to be printed.
It is most importent measure, ana VIII oouotlcss
receive full consideration.
On the same dav, in the Senate, N.Y. Graham spoke
ot considerable length in favor OF his bill concern
iny Convention. The speech was ingenious, but it
,,.. moro like an argument by lawyer on side,
,.,r tbc other side out of view, than effort by
.atesuan on a great Constitutional question lie
,;d he was not opposed to Free Suffrage, but then
ba desired with it, if it must be established, some
nrotcction against unjust eXactions upon the land
holders bv the non-land holders. Mr.. Graham omit
ted to state that every member OF the Legislature
m St under the existing Constitution, be land
holder: that the Free Suffrage MEASURE does net
affect this provision and that therefore, all the no.
; ndhodcrs ask is to be permitted, in common with
tr.eho dcrs to saw arhcA Of the LandhOlers Shatt be
tier $ nmtOrs-
Mr., Graham laborcd to show that his proposition
was net revolutionary but he utterly failed to DO So
lie referred to Mr. Dorr, of Rhode Island and said
his movement revolutionary because 1t lacked
the sanction of the existing government; but Mr.
Graham is wanting in still higher sanction, that
Of the Constitution of his State. lie admits that,
under the Constitution the Legislature cannot call
a Convention except by two-thirdS vote; bat he
insists the people NAV do it, assisted, Mr.. Biggs
remarked, by the Legislature. What glaring incon-
sStency.
In the Senate on Wednesday, there were ANNA
ted debates on the bill to emanci pate John Good,
and on the bill to establish the County Of Vernon.
Mr. Coleman spoke with much force and effect Ia
favor of the latter measure and Mr.. Thomas of
HAYWOOD who was brought to his feet, by an allu
sion bv Mr. Cherry to the County of Jackson, dealt
that Senator some hard blows, and vindcated III
glowing terms the patriotism of the people OF that
County
At twelve O'clock on Wednesday, Mr.. Biggs took
the floor in reply to Mr. Graham, and upon the Con-
vention and Free Suffrage questions. He discussed
these questions in a very able and mastery manner
thoroughly exposing the positions taken the day
b fore by Mr. Graham. The speech, though hast-
" prepared, his added much to Col Bisgs reputa-
ton As a dehater. We shall have the pleasure OF
LAYING it in full before readers. All we ask *,
that Mr. Graham's speech may 60 out with it to the
people so that they may the positions taken and
the arguments advanced on both sides. We shall
not fear their decision on the subject
On Tuesday and Wednesday, in the Commons,
interesting debates took place the bill to establish
the County of Allegheny. For particulars, we refer
to proceedings The BILL it will be observed, was
rejected on its second reading.