Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-11-19

ment of the Senate, and report Z VS.
The Senate then adjourned till Tuesday morning
IL o'clock. 49,. a =: -
HOUSE OF COMMONS. Il
: At 70 o'clock the House was called to order by
Mr.. 6. Howard Assistant Clerk to the last Legisa-
ture. The Counties being called alphabetically, one
hundred and two members answered Several Of
the members not having yet received their certii-
Gates OF election, were. motion of Mr.. T. Settle,
jr., of Rockingham, allowed to be sworn in-their
election being verified by members in possession of
certificates.
The oaths of Office were administered by G. B.
Root, Esq, Justice of the Peace for Wake county
The members present being sworn in, on motion
of Mr. Settle the House proceeded to the election of
Speaker.
Mr.. Settle nominated j. g. Shepherd, Esq, of
Cumberland.
Mr.. D. D. Fsrebee of Camden nominated Gen.
j. M. Leach, Of Davidson.
The House voted as follows: For j. G. Shepherd,
II for j. NJ Leach, 80. Mr.. Shepherd voted for
Mr.. Settle; Mr.. Leach voted for Mr.. Stubs.
The Clerk announced Mr.. Shepherd as elected;
and he was conducted to the Chair by Messrs Set
tie and Ferebee; whence he returned his acknowl-
edgments for the honor conferred. as follows:
Gentlemen Of the House of Commons:
accept with grateful sensioility the high and
honorable position which has been bestowed upon
by your voes Places of dignity like this, seats
of authority bring with them responsibility as well
as honor. Whether this responsibility belong to me
your presiding officer, whether shall share it
with you members of this House, l owe, and
you owe to the people of North Carolina duty
which trust we arc ready with honest hearts and
upright purposes to undertake and to discharge. IL
is not to this Chair that the public eye will turn
the sole place of power and energy in our midst
The sphere Of your Speaker is circumscribed-his
duties plainly marked-yours is the broad and
ample field of legislation Yours are the counsels
yours the developments, yours the consummatons
that will pass into history. The duties of the Chair
are undertaken not without an appreciation of the
labor and the care that incident and peculiar to
it; yet in the hope that your kindness and cooper
alton may not be wanting either to suggest to aid
Would you have your rules enforced would you
have order and decorum preserved; would you up
hold your dignity would you make your delibera-
tons benecent in result and your acts powerful for
or may be clad with authority; though he may ap-
prove himself to be impartial, firm and watchful ;
though he may exhibit commcndable energy in
ranging and prosecuting the public business yet he
must feel that he governs with little effect if he fail
to have your concurrence. The meeting OF the Gen
eTal Assembly,, bringing together as iC uOeS, some
who are familiar, many who are strangers to each
other, yet readily minging in brotherhood, in sym
pathy, and i'll the discharge of duty, keeps before
our eyes the common interest of all, and should
heighten and enlven the affections which are due
our common mother. We members here of SIS
ter Countess not the delegates of rival families not
the champions or adherents of mere sections or of
factions. While the first and highest duty of each
should be to his own constituency, exclusiveness
and isolation should be utterly discarded.
The scene before is full of suggestion
The past with its incidents its vicssitudes its good
and evil fortune is gone, yet it lives in its remem-
brances and its experience The future lies beyond
tidngs from the unseen land. The present is ours.
We live in the midst of it; yet this will have but
little value if bounded by the circle of ITSELF We
have aims, aspirations, desires that go upward and
onward The prospective is part of our thoughts,
of our intellectual being the present is period,
of minds domain. Shall We suppress and stife this
spirit in ourselves, striving against nature and
constitution? Shall we say as we look around that
all of North Carolina is her past? Shall her career
be checked, her glory dimmed ere the hour of her
MONDAY is come? Shall men grow pale and start
led if you speak of progress? Shall legislators
shrink from their convictions, because insidious
demagogues may fatter and mislead? Are We con-
tent to fold our arms and say that all is done which
can be done? Examine the departments of your
government and answer is reform demanded? Is
your system of Courts such as you would have it
be? Though justice be weighed in golden scales,
(when it is weighed) is the laws delay burden
more oppressive than any other burden An i'll Of
life indeed? Is the compensation of our Judges the
charm Of their office? Is their number equal to
the public wants? Shall these things be because
they have been? Much has been done, much may
yet be done. Let us then apply ourselves to the
duties before us; let us direct legislation that
lof< horo ~ C<oto l.
promoted let us bind still closer all our sisters in
their interests, their pride and their affections.
Mr.. Humphrey, of Onsow, nominated Edward
Cantwell of Wake, as Principal Clerk of the House
of Commons.
Mr.. H. B. Elliott, of Randolph, nominated Mr..
Bagly, of Pasquotank.
The vote was For Cantwell 70 for Bagly %.
DR.. W. j. Blow, of Pitt nominated G. Howard,
of Wilson, for Assistant Clerk
Mr. j. W. Crump nominated Mr. W. H. Harrison,
of Wake
For Howard Is, for Harrison %.
Mr.. jenkins, of Warren, nominated w. Webster,
of Chatham, as Principal Door.Kecper.
Mr.. Scott, of Guilford, nominated j. H. Hill, OF
Randolph.
For Webster 70, for Hill 81.
Mr.. Cansler, of Lincoln, nominated W. w. Wright,
of Cleayeland, as Assistant Door Keeper.
Mr.. Leach, of Davidson. nominated w. R. Lovill,
of Surry.
For Wright ga, for Lovl 35.
Mr.. j. F. Hill, of Stokes, moved that message be
sent to The Senate, announcing that the House was
duly organized and ready to proceed with the des-
patch Of public business.
On motion Of Mr.. w. Hill, of Halifax, commit
tee was appointed to prepare rules for the govern
ment of the House.