Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-01-12
NEW BILLS. &c.

MT. BOunt introduced resolution IN fay0r OF
William Whitehead Referred to the committee on
claims. m 5 g *
Mr. Davidson, bill to authorize E. c. Grier, she
riff Of Mccklenburg, to collect arrearages Of taxes
Propositions and grievances
Mr.. Miller, bill to authorise the county court of
Caldwell to sell certain lots in the town of Lenoir
Referred .-l- :,
Mr.. Leach, bill to give the election Of Trustees
of the University to the Board of Trustees of that
institution. Education and the literary fund.
Mr.. Humphrey. a bill to secure bridges from DAM
age by vessels and fats Judiciary.
Mr.. Bledsoe bill to amend the charter of Nor
NAL College, by changing the name to Trinity Col
lege and for other purposes Corporations.
Mr. Leach, bill to increase the salary of the
Comptroller $500 to pay clerk. Judiciary.
Mr.. Walkup, bill to incorporate Pleasant Grove
Camp Ground Union county Corporations
ENGRossED BILLS FROM THE HOUSE.
A large number of engrossed bills received from
the House, which passed their first reading and were
appropriately referred, and which will be noted here
after
UNIVERSITY TRUSTEES.
A message from the House proposing to 90 forth
with into election for ten trustees for the Unver
sty s- ,.--
On motion of Mr.. Cunningham, the message was
laid on the table.
COUNTY OF ALLEGHANY.
The bill to lay off and establish, out of portion
of Ashe, county by the name of Allegheny,
being the special order, was now taken up the ques-
ton being Oh its second reading. The committee
reported iavorably on the bill.
MIR. Dobson urged its passage. The people of
Ashe were unanimously in favor of it. 1t proposed
central division of the county, which was so miles
long, and from the lower end Of which the distance
to the county seat was so to 55 miles. The coun-
try was rough and mountainous; and there lay be-
ty seat New river a turbulent and rapid stream,
blocked up with ice in winter, when two of the
county courts and one superior court were held
rendering it frequent that the people unable to
attend the courts. Mr.. Dobson then addressed him
self to the question to whether the passage of the
bill would affect the representation of any other
county in the State. He did not believe it would;
if he thought So he would at abandon the BILL
At the last apportionmcnt Ashe had a population of
$685. 2l 10 more than the necessary amount for one
representative. The federal population of Watauga,
/and Ashe was 1896. Ashe had increased her fedcr-
al population, from 1910 to 1850 450O-an increase
OF 6} per cent-while the average increase through
out the State had been but Is per cent. He nsis-
ted that according to this ratio of increase Ashe
ought now to have federal population of 1900.
In lSoO, the vote of AShc for Governor was 1850
in 1854, 1921 in 1855, 1442 and the last vote for
the Legislature was 1920. The vote for governor
in lS5O was used as test in the apportonment,
and gave a population of 81 for each voter. The
vote OF last summer according to this ratio, gave
Ashe population of Is, 1870, and that population
/ entities her to two members in the House of Com
mons. And arguing from this data, Mr.. d. said
that at the next apportionment she would harepep-
ulation enough to entitle her to three members
stead of two. He contended that the creation Of
new counties did not necessarily add to the repre-
sentation Surry had lost member by her diyi-
sion. Mr.. Dobson dwelt this and continued to
show the increase of population i'll Ashe by refer
ence to Mr.. Wiley's last report common schools,
which gave only five counties in the State as con-
tanning more children than Ashe fit by age to go to
school, And to account for this rapid increase he
alluded to the emigration from Virginia counties ad
jacent in which land sold at not less than $40 per
acre. to Ashe where as good lands were bought at
So; while the poll tax in the border county, Gray
SON. was Sf,6n, and in Ashe about 81: In conclu-
sion he appealed to the Senate to consult the happi
ness and prosperity of large number of their tel-
low-cizens, as they could not by the act do any
possible injury to the representation of any other
county. The committee had carefully examined
the facts and figures of the case and wele fully salts
| fled of the justice of the demand
Mr.. BrowE supported the bill. No case could be
clear better entitled to the consideration of
the Legislature. great principle of popular rights
underay these questions; and he considered that
the Legislative body not at liberty to disregard
| of grievances shown lie treated the question
of population. He believed the increase in Ashc
had been more than 63i per cent, and gave his
sons for it. Some people, he said, were incredu-
lous of this increase but he considered it easy Of
solution the prices of lands taxation, &C., in Dor
dering counties were relied on. He considered the
question of population made out beyond all doubt.
The Bill of Rights guaranteed redress of grievances
and it did more-it cnjoined duty to redress them.
In reference to the question of distance from the
scat of justice he considered it sacred duty to
bring justice to the doors of our citizens as far as
practicable. And was that doing so, he asked, to
compel them to climb mountains, encounter streams
and SHOWS, and ice?-it amounted to closing the
doors Of justice to large portion of the people Of
North Carolina. He continued at length to review
the facts and concluded with stirring appeal in ia
vor of the passage of the bill.
Mr.. Pool if satisfied that the county had popula
tion enough to entitlc her to two members in the
House. would not say word in opposition to the
bill. He proceeded to argue that she had not sutfi
cient population and to correct the figures of Mr.
Dobson There were II counties in the State largel
than Ashe and II nearly as large; and if the argu
ment to distance applied to that county it equally
Of reaching the seats Of justice and said there
counties in the east in which men had to trave
nearly 100 miles to court in open boats and canoes
who might be seen arriving there in winter, not on
ly drenched with water but covered with ice. Ye
these men asked for no division of their counties
they stood upon the compromises of the constitu
tion He disclaimed all sectional feelings in thi
matter, and looked at the question on its merits
There were 40 counties in the State with greater
population than Ashe and could it be supposed al
of them could be divided? In answer to Mr. Brown
he acknowledged the great right of petition; an,
while he considered it the duty Of the representa-
tive to examine and carefully consider matters com
planned of, he denied it was compulsory on the LIE
gislature to redress them unless they found it 70
the public good. &
4 Mr.. Brown replied to the misconstructions of Nh
Pool, and set him right in regard to his figures.
Mr. Leach opposed the bill. ~.
Il Mr. Dobson warmly replied to Mr.. Pool, and dis
cussed what he termed that Senator's nconsistencie
and the fallacies of his position.
Mr. Lane stated the reasons which actuated tn
UsboX, xroro cef;oHod of tho roo,;c;f