The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-12-07
Legislature of North Carolina.

ferred bill authorizing county courts to abolish
or establish jury trials, and bill for the election
OF Clerks and Masters by the people, reported said
bills back to the Senate with a recommendation
that they do not pass.
Mr. Houston, from the same committee, who were
to enquire into the expediency Of so amending the
system OF vote by ballot as to substitute the viva
Voce method, reported the same back to the Senate
and asked to be discharged from the further con-
slderatlon OF the question. Concurred in.
In the HOUSE, Mr. Caldwell, of Gulford, intro
duced bill to charter the State Improvement and
Relief Bank of North Carolina
Mr. Masten, to provide for the election of Clerks
and Masters in Equity by the people,
The joint Resolution approving of the naval
commission, appointed to examine the Deep River
Coalfelds, and requesting our Senators and Repre-
scntatlves to press the upon the attention of
the government, passed its second reading.
Monday, Nov. 20, 1858.
In the SENATE, Mr. Worth offered resou-
ton proposing that message be sent to the House
to raise joint select committee of ive-two on
the pant of the Senate and three on the part of the
House-to examine into and report upon the f.
nancial condition and general management of the
North-Carolina Railroad company. Adopted
Mr. Mcdonald, resolution instructing the COM
mittee on finance to enquire into the expediency
OF taxing pedlars of spirituous liquors, and to re-
port by bill or otherwise Adopted.
Mr. Steele moved reconsideration of the vote
just taken the resolution of Mr. WORTH He did
with a view to making that resolution more COM
prehensive. Concurred in.
Mr. Poole thought the contemplated labor too
much for one communicable proposed division
of the labor.
Mr. Edney thought all the roads in which the
State had an interest should be included, and
moved to amend the amendment to that effect
proposing a committee of three in the same proper
ton fer each road.
Mr. Steele no necessity for Mr. Edney's
amendment. He did not know that there was any
foundation for the rumors afoat-there were no
complaints, for instance with regard to the Will
mington road. He proposed his amendment be-
cause the three roads were one In interest SO far
as the State concerned.
Mr. Edney believed the financial interests of the
State were in deplorable condition. If they were
found to be well conducted, harm could come
of the enquiry. But it was the duty of the Legis-
lature to look to all interests of the State
The resolution as modified by Mr. Edney's
amendment, was adopted.
The bill to pay justices of the peace for taking
tax lists taken up its second reading
The committee to whom this bill was referred, re-
ported amendment follows strike out ''S}
per day and insert IA sum not exceeding So"
Mr. Carmichael offered to amend by inserting
''such compensation as the county court, MAORI
ty of the justices present concurring, in their dis
erection may think proper" Then the pay might
be in proportion to the work.
After considerable debate, lii which Messrs
Houston, Ashe, Leach, Bledsoe, Ramsay Miller
and Dobson, participated and during WHICH mo-
ton, by MIR Miller, to postpone indefinitely failed
(three only voting in the afirmatve,) the bill
passed its second reading, with Mr. Carmichael's
amendment.
The bill to repeal the 37th sec. 81 chap. Rev
Code, prohibiting the building of canals, roads, &C..
without authority of the Legislature, was now put
upon its second reading.
Mr. Davidson of Mecklcnburg, who introduced
the bill, had hoped the committee to whom that
bill had been referred would have reported in
favor of the repeal of the section as it's object was
to stimulate and encourage private enterprise
He called for the ayes and noes.
Mr. Ashe considered that the bill required the
most serious consideration. There was great ne
cessity for restraining this desire to tap the great
road in which the State and individuals were so
deeply interested We had been too long trbuta-
ry to South Carolina and Virginia. There were
three points at which the road might be tapped at
slight expense. We had already built up Charles
ton and other parts of South Carolina and are now
sneered at for it. He moved to lay the bill on the
table.
Mr. Brown knew this to be an important ques-
ton He hoped the bill would lay to give
gentlemen time to consider But he must say
that he dissentcd very materially from the views
of Mr. Ashe. There a great civil right involv
ed, which no man could disregard. He would not
enter into the question for the present.
Mr. Edney was for settling the question at once.
He was surprised at the notions of Mr. Davidson.
The law intended to protect the State interest-to
prohibit stock jobbers from destroying our great
State works.
Mr. Davidson had consulted the gentlemen
nected with the revisal, and none of them could
tell how the section came into the chapter
He was in favor of free trade in railroads, and he
considered it the duty Of every man to vote to strike
out the section.
Mr. Houston said the question involved was
whether the people of the State had right to
build railroads wherever they pleased 1t was I'M
portant to his constituents. He had always been
in favor of proper scheme of public works.
There was danger in hasty legislation. He was for
protecting the interests of the people and the State
of North Carolina. He desired to have time for
consideration and therefore moved to make the bill
the special order Wednesday next, at IL o'clock.
Mr. Brown followed with few remarkable was
not in favor of the high protective tariff system
there was no protection in it to the State or people
He demanded equal and exact justice to all--for
they Law at the foundation of all the interests of
North Carolina.
Mr. Edncy said that in state of nature man had
right to do just he pleased; but in state
of civil government he had duties well rights
IL foorod tho tlau,an from, CaSWeU ( Mr. Brown