Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-12-01
"Fluttering among the Pigeons.

1t appears that there is quite a numbor
the members of our Legislature whose quail
fcations for eligibility to seats are serionslr
doubted. One is a Clerk and Master
Equity and also a member Of the Legislature.
and it is commended that this is in violation :.
the clause of the Constitution prohibiting ono
man holding two offices at the same time
Two or three are local preachers; and if Is
argued that they are disqualified by the Con
s~titution which inhibits Ministers of the Cos.
pei who are in the exercise of their pasto-,l
functions, from occupying seats in the Gen
eral Assembly. Another is said not TO bo
old enough; another that he has not lived n
the County he represents the time required
by law. And others, that they do not DOS
sess the requisite landed qualifications.
Resolutions have been passed to refer thos.
cases to the proper committee for investip,.
ton and while the matter was under dis
c@ussion, Mr.. Dixon. of Duplin, offered
resolution, that the Committee on PRIVILEGES
and elections be instructed to inquire wbetb.
er Messrs. Waddell, A. B. T. Gather, and W.
h. Speer, have not been guilty of treating
with meat and drink before or on the day Of
election, and report thereon.
Mr. Benbury said he was on the committee
and felt anxious to do his duty impartiallv.
He hoped the resolution would be made broad
enough to cover an inquiry to the movers
own case, and hoped the member would appear
before the committee and substantiate his
charge.
Mr.. Gather, Of Iredell, considered the re-
solution was intended to cast a slur and stio-
ma upon him, and was proceeding to denounce
the attempt, when he was promptly called to
order by the Speaker, and sat down.
Mr.. Waddell was willing to stand investira-
ton, but thought the expense would be great
er than the Treasury of the State could well
bear.
. 1t was amusing to see what a luttering this
resolution produced, and we think it was not
g a very good test of the innocence of those
o concerned, that it shcIld have been so sum
marily, and by so large a vote, laid on the
e table-Only 80 in the whole House voting in
favor Of ascertaining whether the Constitn-
\ ton bad not been violated in this respect as
well as others. Now we have no idea that
MessrS. Waddell, Gather and Speer are any
more guilty in this regard than mai.y others
OF their fellow members but why not inves-
tigate this alleged constitutional infringement
as well as others? IL they are innocent II Is
a very serious imputation, and it was due to
them that their innocence shouldb be establish
ed; if they are guilty, is this portion of the
constitution less sacred than others, that its
violation should be passed over unnoticed >
% But perhaps an investigation into these
cases, might lead to examination into others
and too many of them felt if justice were done
them, they would be placed in a like cate
CORY.
And really, the good people Of North Car
! DINA may well complain that this matter was
not looked into. 1t did not require evidence
that the imputations of non-qualifcation in
- the other instances were w~ell-founded, to in
duce the House to pass resolutions of inves.
Q tigation. The resolutions were submitted
simply directing the committee to enquire
if these disquali6cations did exist and the,
passed by q unanimous vote. The resolution
" OF Mr.. Dixon was of precisely a similar char
i' acter, and yet intimation was given him tina
10 he would be expected to appear before tn
"a committee and substantiate that which hi
resolution simply instructed it to inquire in
2 to; and yet SO voted to lay this resolution o.
81 the table, and only SO in favor of it. VIII
- this difference in ~ferreting out legal disonalif
- cations All! the answer may be found il
III theremark of MI. Waddell given above-"tb
III, expense would be greater than the treasur-
OF the State could well bear r' What did h
" mean Not certainly that it would cost s
US much to investigate these three isolated ca
SEES; but that so many could be arraiuned OF
Is like accusations, that a very large number {
'i@- the memberswould be involved, and the Hous
TO. perhaps left without a quorum.
We hope this resolution will be taken fror
lid the table, and submitted to the Suprem,
ich Court Judges for their decision, as we undel
est stand the other matters are to be. This trea.
mt ing by candidates and their friends is a pres
icy eVfl-indulged in to an extent degrading t
to voters, and corrupting the political, nor
tn al and social integrity Of our people and
ne it is illegal, let the Supreme Court have a
ich opportunity to pronounce it so. In the nam
the of all that is fair and just, we insist that
lar go to our highest judicial tribunalfor decision
ley along with the other matters to be referred
csc o