Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1854-12-20
TIE LEGISLATURE.

uo,dars will find in our columns to-day, the
",aairrs of the two Houses, from Tuesday to
Thursday, inclusive.
~. Tuesday, in the Senate, Mr., Fisher introduced
~, ;ncorporating the Western North Carolina Rail
n1.d CompanY The bili provides for the gradual
,rrct;un. by sections divisions, of a Railroad
, from Salisbury, On the two-thirds principle.
u,nto to be selected by the Board of Directors
~ ths State shall have subscribed her proportion
r.ho s.ock. The bill was ordered to be printed.
.;s most important measure, and will doubtless
....iye full consideration.
On tbe same day, in the Senate, Mr.. Graham spoke
considerable length in favor of his bill concern
Convention. The speech was ingenious, but it
mora like an argument by lawyer on one side,
ing the other side out of view, than effort by
s.o.ssoan On great Constitutional question. He
.,1 be was not opposed to Free Suffrage, but then
!, desired with it, if it must be established, some
nr,cction against unjust exactions upon the land
i,1srs by the nonand holders. Mr.. Graham omit
,l to state that every member of the Legislature
-,st under the existing Constitution, be a land
,,,drr. that tie Free Suffrage as:lre does not
affect tis provision; and that, therefore, all the
n1hojders ask is to he permitted in common with
frsbodcrs to say, uhica Of the 1andholders shall be
tEsir S>aat0rs
Vr. Graham laborcd to show that his proposition
vss not revolutionary but he utterly failed to Go
lie referred to Mr.. Dorr, of Rhode Island, and said
I,s movement wss revolutionary, because it lacked
,,o sanction Of the existing government; but Mr..
Graham is wanting in still higher sanction, that
oe the Constitution Of his State. He admits that,
under the Constitution the Legislature cannot call
Convention except by two-thris vote; but he
insists the people may do it, assisted, Mr.. Bggs
remarked, by TIE Legislature. What glaring incon-
sstencv.
In the Senate, On Wednesday, there were anima-
ted debates on the bill to emancipate John Good,
and on the bill to establish the County Of Vernon.
Mr. Coleman spoke with much force and effect in
favor Of the latter measure; and Mr.. Thomas of
HAYWOOD, who was brought to his feet, by an aliu-
sion by Mr.. Cherry to the County of Jackson, dealt
that Senator some hard blows, and vindicated in
glowing terms the patriotism Of the people of that
Comfy. -,
At twelve o'clock, on Wednesday, Mr. Biggs took
the floor in reply to Mr. Graham, and upon the Con-
renton and Free Suffrage questions. lie discussed
these questions in very able and mastery manner
thoroughly exposing the positions taken the day
before BY Mr.. Graham. The speech, though hasti
" prepared, has added much to Col. Bgg's reputa
ton as a debater We shall have the pleasure o
laying It in full before our readers. All ask is
that Mr.. Grahan,'s speech may go out with it to th
people, so that they may see the positions taken ant
the arguments advanced on both sides. We shal
not fear their decision Oil the subject.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, in the Commons
interesting debates took place the bill to establish
the County of Allegheny. For particulars, we rcfe
proceedings. The bill, it will be observed, wa
rejected on its second reading