Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-12-26

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ner diem ,,.,z !; reeeired. by the membcfs of
the present eperal assembly, 70 be paid out
of tbe tras<9<<3- Il <|< same manner as the
said mem s. src n<3u p4id, and said conyen- =
ton sbsIikbv vote fix the pay Of all their ofti-
I GERS. and of any sxis1c8ates or Representatives
whom they may appoint to any convention
or State, and sba1l provide Tor all otner ex
penses incurred by said conyenuon, to De
paid out of any moneys in the treasury IN T
the manner they may direct
SEC. 10. That the said convention Shall
have power to elsct such officers as they may
F>Adeeun necessary ia their organization; ana to
do ana eau6srsa ali such acts and thfeeE sass
they .raay consi1lr nsszs II Co carry out the
true intent and meaning of this act and the
acts and purposes of said convention.
SEC. II. That this act shall be in force
from and Immediately after its ratification.
Mr.. Mebane from the same committee sub
mitted the following as minority report:
MINORITY REPORT.
The undersigned members of the Com
mitee on Federal Relltions unable to con-
cur in the views Of the majority, submit the
following report:
The Convention is proposed to be called,
in the opinion Of the minority at an earlier
period than the exigencies of the occasion
demands. 1t is declared in the bill that the
purpose of the Convention is to consider all
grievances impairing affecting the equality
and rights of the State of North Carolina As
! member of tine United States, and deter
! mine the mode measure and time of redress,
1 and delegates are TO be chosen on the 7th
and assemble in Raleigh on the 18th of Feb
! ruary next. As the bill and report of the
majority do mt indicate any specific griev-
&c
Federal Relations unable to determine
whether it is intended to make the impress
ion that the Federal Government has recent
! ly assumed any usual and menacing attitude
! towards North Carolina affecting her equal
! ity and rights as one of the United States
Exercising the right of conjecture the mi
nority of your Committee suppose that the
grievances complained Of are the personal
liberty laos enacted by some of the northern
States, hindering the proper execution of the
Fugitive Slave Law. If the minority of your
Committee be not mistaken in this coniec-
,ture, they would respectfully suggest that,
inasrnuch these grievances have existed
for long time unGer the present and former
administrations of the Federal Government,
which administrations have me. the appro-
baton of a large majority of the people Of
this State they cannot now constitute very
urgent reason for the present legislature to
call out the citizens upon such short notice,
at an unuSull and inclement season of the
year, to vote for delegates TO State Conven-
| ton, called, as it i, for the purpose of chan
ging the relations of the State to the Fede.
raj Govern The laws complained of
art notbeactSOfthe General Government brG
Of particular statessJal being uncons4ts.str
} ance complained Of and not disclosed, is the
election Of Lincoln TO the Presidency-an
election effected by minority vote, in con-
sequence Of divisions among his opponents
it is, in the opinion of the minority, an made
quate cause for calling Convention so has
tily, with extraordinary power, which may
place North C,rolina out of the Union be-
n fore the 4th Of March next, and before the
e country can be officially informed of the
n policy Of the incoming administration
!, Would it not be more prudent to abide the
. determination of the great efforts now being
a made at Washington city and elsewhere by
# patriotic men, to compromise all difficulties,
t, and obtain more secure guarantees against
S the unfriendly legislation of certain northern
is States Let the PEOPLE have time to delib-
d crate, that North Carolina may not be pre-
N .cipitated out of the Union, and her influence
/, as a peace maker between the North and
n South utterly destroyed. 1t is further OBJ
n jected to the bill, as reported, that it is not
b. i'm accordance with the provisions of the Con.
n Legislature The first section of the fourth
article of the State constitution provides that
es no convention Of the people Of the State shai
n be called by the General Assembly unless by
or the concurrence of two-thrds of all the mem
w bers of each House of the General Assembly
be and the latter part of said section provide.
f. for amendments by the General Assembly
he The act of 1856-'57 Of the Legislature, amen
an ding the Constitution, Immediately following
n the enacting clause, has the words, (two
thirds of the whole number Of each Hous
&C. concurring. and the minority of your Com
al mittee, entertaining no doubt but that a con
of currence Of two-thirds OF all the members
n each House is demanded TO call a Conyentio
on of the people, recommend that these word
of be inserted Immediately after the enactin
We clause of the first section of the reporte
be bill and in conclusion the minority Of you
oil Committee respectfully suggest that meas
in ures be taken to procure Convention of a
les the States Of the Union, with a view to {
,ed nal settlement of all subjects in controrers
between the Northern and Southern States
IN. and if such final settlement cannot be sati'
ties factorly IN lde, that a peaceable separatio
led Of the States and an equit..sa- 5istribution
ala the property Of the FeoS-U Goyernmer
oyy among all the States, maybe brought about
he and the minority further recommend tn
or the bill reported by the majority do not pas
Respectfully submitted,
ba GILES MEBASE,
NATHAN NEwBY
Nh. DAVID OUTLAW.