Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1859-01-20

no
ought s ~ which he would not now detai the SEN
g. u" onumerate After abiding to the character
ate men who would be sent to it. he urged the ne
Of u* Of convention which he regarded as COM
n$ e ssnr now 1a O'clock the Speaker announced
-. the hill to incorporate the Bank Of Commerce
tha. tho special order. On motion that bill was
SSStponed and made the special order for Tomorrow
# u o'clock. ,
W. Steele objected to the amendment as not pre-
LINZ the manner in which the convention was
S' Ls called, and as failing to show whether all
,o men were to hold seats in it or not there be-
W. nothing to prevent any one If he felt favorably
r:=s.OSed towards the amendment or intended to
",,e for it, (which however, he did not he could
W., w. sunmrt it in its present shape. But if he un-
t"ai his duty to his constituents and the State
s ',rss hound to vote against the amendment and
Tx TX hill too He was pleased to see Mr. Gorrell
u" ',u,e ont so thorough Young American, after
. .S;nlnr him so fully imbued with Old Fogyism.
1 III, meant no disrespect He, (Mr' ST. was not
II, Limo to make speech, at this time on this ques-
n hut if he should speak, it woul be as states
WAN ought to speak He would not stir up sectional
s~iusS, nor would he support or oppose anything
hs,use it might please his constituents but he
oold do so as North arolinian and work for the
entire State
Wr Gorrc!l had proposed the amendment in good
stb and he thought every Senator could vote for
II If merely provided for the calling of the con-
rcn;on; let it be adopted and he promised that fdn
sr-,nscments would be mac this session for all the
n,sbncrv necessary. In conclusion, Mr. G. took a
s;nr At Mr.: Steele on his change of party
Vr Steele replied. He thought the alusion 70
b;n, mitc gratuitols But if Mr. Gorrell, or any
ilv else desired to meet him on that question, in
or ont of the Senate. he was prepared We
t,r,acue said Mr.. s., with the cloud no bigger
han tn. hand Let it come he continued, l. for one,
-, rl " to meet the storm, be the consequences to
myself what they may. ,...
Mr. f inev would vote for Mr. Gorrelrs amend
mo4;t is he considered it met the whole case. The
-ievanceS complained of could never be remedicd
til convention was called He considered the
peonle the only legitimate power to effect the desired
r,s,rm< lie objected to Mr.. Blcdsoes scheme as
rot being the true democratic course. 1t was the
psolcS province they had to fight the battles and
they should be allowed to amend their own funda-
mental law. He maintained that any plan propos-
inr to take power from the people not in accord
anewth true democratic principles. The question,
he said was whether white men or negroes were to
constitute the basis of government Mr. E. pro-
c,eieI at some length to speak of the basis of
prescntation &c, and continued. The whites were
taxed to support the government while the slaves,
toa great extent were allowed to go untaxed Citi-
zenSp. he said, consisted in perfect freedom under
the government He enlarged upon some of the
arguments of Mr.. Gorrcll and in conclusion, urged
free and open convention. Tic up the hands of a
free people! he exclaimed in reference to a restric-
ton amendments to the constitution; sooner than
live under the provisions of such an instrument he
would prefer to live in state of nature clear of all
eonventionalisms.
Mr.. Leach entered his solemn protest against the
whole proceedings No alteration had been asked
for Ivy the people. When the people required the
10 ho o1k ho of n
conventional mode. When the proper time came
hewoud go for abolishing all property qualifications
for office. .'-.-. .r. .."
Mr. Turner would go for Mr. Gorrells amend
ment; if that failed, he would then vote for Mr.
Bled>oes bill For this course he would take an
other occasion to give his reasons. His own views
were against legislative amendments. though he haG
introduced bill with that view, but he knew it was
not possible to pass such BILL though that was M
reason why he should not support it. In reference
to changes in the constitution he said other States
had made them, but North Carolina had gone on
without. He argued to show that the constitution
of former years however good, did not necessarily
suit the present generation. There was complain
from the Jews. He would as soon see Jew in of
flee as Catholic and good Catholic 6 soon as
Protestant. But the Jews could not be legislatet
ont Of their grievances. He preferred the amend
ment providing fer a convention, to pass. By that
means what Mr. Bletsoe desired could be moro
speedily obtained He and Mr.. Bledsoe had startet
out for that REFORM but when were they to get It
The untaxed property would remain so this year
next, and the year after that. He hoped Mr.. Bed
soc would go with him. Mr.. Gorrcll could rely Of
his assistance. He contended there was some dan
ger in the States being dishonorcd individuals il
New York had come forward to save her credit al
ready. When Mr.. Gorrells amendment failed a
it would he then would vote for Mr. BledsOes bill
He preferred bad constitution, having the al
fectlons Of the people, to a good one withOu
their affections. While he would 60 for a con
Tenon, he would not 60 so far as some. FL
would not say they should not tax negroes h
would tax them MI raloreaa, and hciwould tax tn
the white man too as now. No respectable whit
man would object to be taxed per capita. He woul
vote for the amendment because he preferred it.
Mr.. Bc,lsoe said it was due to himself that h
shoald explain his vote. He congratulated himse
and the people in having secured the aid Of Nj
Golrell, in the proposed measure. That Senator
however, proposed to amend the constitution b,
means Of convention; but it was well known tina
the party with which he, Chr. Bledsoe) had tn
honor Of acting preferred the other mode. How
ever he and Mr.. Gorrel agreed on the main objec
and he hoped to meet the Senator at that point, n
matter by what road it was reached Mr. B. sal
ne felt called upon to vote against the amendment
because he preferred different mode. He agree
With Mr. GorreA in his views of the matter, as n
sanS Its expedition. He was convinced the prescr
legislature would not call convention, though tha
Was no reason why this matter should not be pres:
ed Nor would it he material to him, SO far as tn
people were concerned, which mode was adopted
Tor the object would be accomplished by them eithe
way.
Referring to the bill, he said it proposed merel
remove restrictions; it was no innovation on tn
original constitution; it was to strike down restr
IONS on the provisions of that instrument Lik
III: Turner, he was one of those Senators VIII
were not afraid of trusting the people with their ow
AFFAIRS He thanked that Senator for his cooper
uon; this seas darling object with him, (Mr:
the legislature should continue to persist in II
opposition to this measure, he would take his stan
~ Messrs. Gorrell and Turner, and insist on col
ttenoon. He hoped Mr.. Gorrell would not insist Q
Ms amendment; but if he should, he (Mr. b } woul
vote against it preferrng the legislative method
- Inc question was then taken on the amendmeI
u u Mr. Gorrell and resulted in its rejection
u, as follows:
FOR the nmeo1,oDnf -Mocsrc Davis DOuthit