Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-12-16
The 6faAdafo.
LEGISLATURE OF NORTH CAROLINA,

The Senate was called to order at 10 o'clock-no
prayers
MEMORIALS.
Mr.. Douthitt presented the petition of sundry cit
liens Of Davidson county, praying repeal Of an act
to establish public road through part of that and
the county of Davie Referred to the committee on
propositions and grievances. .=----...-r--
REPORTS COMMITTEES.
Mr.. Steele, from the committee on finance to whom
had been referred resolution nstructing them to
consider the expediency of extending the time for
sherifs to make their settlements OF county
taxes, reported bill empowering the Courts of
pleas and quarter sessions to extend the period to
the first court after the 31st day of December in
each year.
Mr. Boyd, from the same committee, reported
against the passage of the bill providing for the ap
poinfment of tax collectors for the several counties
RESOLUTIONS.
Mr.. Carmichael submitted resolution instructing
the committee on finance to enquire into the expe-
by the State and to report by bill otherwise. A
dopted.
Mr. Thomas offered a resolution instructng the
committee the judiciary to inquire into the expe
diency of authorizing the governor to apply for and
collect the monies due from the general government
to the Cherokee Indians. Adopted.
&s NEW BILLS
Mr.. Douthitt introduced BILL accompanied by
memorial, to incorporate the Bank of Lexington.
Referred to the committee on banks and currency.
Mr.. Leach, bill and memorial to establish new
county by the name of King. Referred to the COM
mittee on propositions and grievances.
BILLS ON THEIR THIRD READING.
The following bills were read third time and Or
dered to be engrOssed:
The bill to amend an act entitled an act to ncor-
porate the Keowee Turnpike Company
The bill to establish the 113th regiment of Militia
in the county of Wilson;
The bill to amend the charter of the Jonathans
creek and Tennessee Mountain Turnpike Company
The bill relating to Auctions and Auctioneers was
next taken up. Mr. Houston explained that the
bill provided for the appointment Of auctioneers by
the commissioners of Incorporated towns and in
counties where there are no such towns by the
county courts. 1t also remedies defect in the rev.
enue law which authorizes sherffs to collect a tax
of per cent the gross sales of auctioneers with
out regard to sums received in Such sales on goods
exempt from taxation.
Mr. Mills moved to exempt the county of Ruther-
the bill as amended passed its third reading and was
ordered to be engrossed.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
The bill to repeal the 18th, 18th, 18TH and 10th
sec. I'd chap Rev. Code providing for the geological
survey of the State, being the special order for IL
O'clock was now proceeded with on its second read
ing. As before reported, the committee to whom
the bill had been referred reported against its pas
sage.
Mr. Battle said that in introducing the bill he had
given the matter full consideration He had no
idea of doing undue injustice to Dr. Emmons; but
he desired to do Justice to his constituents He had
carefully examined the comptrollers reports for the
last two years. and he found expenditure for that
period of $4,000, which added to other expenses
nected with the survey made nearly 81 900; and
he would like to know, in the name of heaven, how
that could benefit the State If the survey was use
full he would be the last man to oppose it. But
where, asked Mr. B., does DR.. Emmons spend his
time? Mostly about Raleigh; then he takes fly
ing trip to part of the State, goes off to New
York, writes out long report and then prints it at
a great cost to the State. How was the existence
of such an Office filled by such an officer to do good
to the State? And if it could do good, this
was not the time. If we not going to spend
more money, what was the use of having Professor
Emmons The Legislature made all the Offices it
could and then it turned round and made the office
of geologist -(aughter)- as they did when they
made superintendent of common schools, which
had never done any good. Continued laughter)
Mr. Mcdonald thought this poor time for levity,
(alludng to the laughter created by Mr. Battle and
most unfortunate subject for ridicue. The subject
had affected the credit of the State abroad and had
enhanced the value of her bonds. He had no earth
ly donbt of this. Through the efforts of the State
geologist the people were made aware of the vast
wealth of the State and the people of distant States
Also made aware of it for the first time by the
published statements of DR.. Emmons and but for
the existence of the Office now sought to be abol-
mant for half a century to come. The Senator from
Nash (Mr. Battle,) had asked what Prof Emmons
had done. He (Mr. Mcdonald, would ask that Sen
ator what now being done in W ashington city
Did the Senator know that commission had been
sent out by the Secretary of the Navy to examine
into the coal and iron deposits of Deep River? And
did he not know that the labors of DR.. Emmons had
resulted in that? That fact alone-having opened
the eyes of the national government to the vastness
of our resources-was sufficient in ITSELF if there
nothing else, to answer the question, what had
he done.
Mr. Mcdonald touched upon the importance Of
the proposed national work. in the eyes of the pa
triot, with reference to the future of the South
And then he dwelt on the stimulus given to the in
vestment of capital by the reports of Dr. Emmons
which the Senator from Nash found fault with But
it appeared that though the bill intended the abo
ton of the Office the arguments of Mr.. Battle were
directed at DR.. Emmons. Why not, asked Mr. Nc
Donald strike at the man directly and not at the Of
fee? DIR. Emmons had not been in Nash though!
He, Mr.. Mcdonald did not know that; but if it were
true there were many other counties he had not
been in. The survey of the State was a work Of
time and could not be gone through in day. And
clanor had been raised about ten or eleven thou
sand dollars. What of that 1t had enabled land
owne:s on Deep river to sell property which could
not command three or four years ago, six or seven
thousand dollars, for sums varying from sixty to
seventy thousand, and in one even hundred
thousand dollars Mr.. Mcdonald continued at some
length and concluded by declaring it act of inus
tice to abolish the Office till every part of the State
had received the benefits of the survey.
Mr.. Steele apologised to the Senate for again
trespassng their patience but he felt constrained
in justice to himself and to his former position on
this subject, to say few words. He had been one
of the original supporters of the bill creating the
Office of State Geologist and had raised his voice
time after time against its abolition in order to give
the incumbent time to remedy the defects complain
~ q r wa mo- iQd hOvUo
that there was no disposition the part of Dr. En-
mons to carry out the original intention of the Office.
The matter was becoming worse and worse-the
greatest interest of the State was neglected-he