Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-01-10
SENATE.
WEDSESDA

| The journal of yesterday was read.
MEMORIALS AND RESOLUTIONS.
| Mr. Street a memorial from meeting of the citi
! zens of Craven county on federal AFFAIRS favoring
! the call of a Convention and the arnlng OF the
| State. Lies on the table.
Mr. Street said that this was large and enthuSi-
astic meeting, held irrespective of party; that he
endorsed the sentiments set forth in the memorial
! Mr.. Waugh, memorial from the citizens of For
syth county, stating that they did not consider the
mere election of Lincoln to the Presidency sufficient
cause for dissolution urging the arming of the State
and the organization of the militia. Read and laid
on the table.
Mr.. Waugh said that he approved of most of the
sentiments contained in the memorial-sOme he did
not approve
Mr. Wipstead, a memorial from the citizens Of
Person county, declaring the election of Lincoln no
sufficient for dissolution, but taking the ground
that any aggression from the hands of the black Re
publican party should be resisted. Read and laid
on the table.
Mr.. Worth, a memorial and resolutions from
meeting of the citizens of Randolph, at Bush Hill in
that county, in favor of a national convention, but
opposing the call of convention of the State, and
declaring that no sufficient cause exists for dis
rupton of the government. Read and laid on the
table.
Mr.. Worth said that this memorial emanated from
meeting held irrespective of party.
At the request of Mr.. Erwin the resolutions were
again read
Mr. Avery, a memorial from a meeting of the
Union men of Caldwell county, declaring that the
rights Of the South should be demanded, and recoe-
niZng the right and duty of secession IN the event
Of refusal on the part Of the North to grant them.
Read and laid on the table.
Mr. Taylor, of NASH resolutions from meeting
of the citizens of his county, favoring secession
Read and laid on the table
Mr.. Taylor said that the meeting which passed
these resolutions was hold n month since, and that
they had Just reached him; that he was unacquaint-
ed with the chairman of the meeting, Col. d. W.
Williams. and that the Secretary had written him,
that owing to press Of business and other reasons
the transmission Of this document 10 him had been
delayed-(one month y
Mr.. Turner series of Union resolutions passed
by citizens Of Orange county, at a meeting in Hills
borough Mr.. Turner said that the scccSSionistS of
the present day were as far ahead of the times ms
the regulators Of Orange thought to be in the
revolution when sailors came up from Wilmington
to force them into submission. Mr.. Turner address
ed the Senate at some length.
Mr.. Hall to repel the inSinuaon that hi>
people not true to the country in the revolu-
tion-that the gentleman had particular aversion
to the lone star flag raised by the Breckenridge par
ty. lie would state that during his visit to his
Stitueats during the he had the flag of
North Carolina raised with fifteen other stars around
it, by Bell and Everett men, Bell AMI Everett
pole Mr.. H. thought that at this crisis all South
men should be united.
Mr. Burton wished 10 know of the Senator from
Orange whether a resolution introduced by Mr.
Norwood was not at one time during the meeting
declared adopted.
Mr. Turner said that Mr. Norwoods resolution
not adopted at any time during the meeting
and in reply to Mr.. Hall said that he meant no re-
Election the people of the Cape Fear region; that
the revolutionary history of the Cape Fear region
was dearer to him perhaps than the Senator from New
Eanover-at any rate he claimed an equal right to
l,f. tinrr Inf,
that mi ht be cast upon it.
The resolutions lie on the table.
Mr.. Ramsay, Il series Of resolutions from South
ern rights meeting in the county Of Rowan. deprc-
eating the delay Of the Legislature in passing bill
for the arming of the State and iavoring the call OF
a Convention. Lies on the table
Mr.. Brown moved that as the hour had arrived,
the special order viz the bill for the call of a Con-
yentOn be taken up.
Mr.. Ramsay asked that it be postponed for a short
time in order to give him opportunity to present
other resolutions from meetings of citizens OF
Rowan. Granted
Mr. Ramsay then presented a series of Union
resolutions passed ut two meetings of the citizens of
Rowan county. Laid on the table under the rule
The Senate then went into Committee Of the
Whole on the convention bill Mr.. Speght in the
chair
Mr.. Avery presented substitute for the bill
ported 10y the committee
At the suggestion Of Mr. Clark, the original bill
was read.
Mr.. Avery said that the bill reported by the com
mlttce required restricted convention, and that
his bill proposed to make it an open convention,
and required two-thirdS vote OF the Assembly to
call it; said that he hal omitted the oath because
he did not think the General Assembly had power
to restrict the convention.
The substitute was read
Mr.. Turner gave notice that he would, on to-
morrow, or at some future time move to amend the
bill by giving the convention power to so amend
the constitution of the State as to tax slaves that
had not hitherto been taxed as property under the
constitution.
Mr. Brown said that when the bill was reported.
it was thought that majority Of the Legislature
could call convention, but that now he of the
opinion that convention should he called without
the concurrence Of twOthrdS Of that body that he
could not give his assent to the proposition contain
ed in the substitute of the Senator from Caswell
omit the OATH that it had been the custom and the
Legislature had right to prescribe oath and to
limit the power of convention because it was the
creature of that body that there was marked diff
ference between a convention called by the Legs-
lature and one called by the people. Mr.. B. did
not believe in making the people the servants of any
sort of convention; the convention, if called,
should be the servant of the people-should reflect
their views and sentiments.
Mr.. B. said that he hoped this Union would be
preserved that he in favor of the Convention as
he had thought it an auxiliary towads perpetuating
1T he was IN favor OF making certain propositions
to the North and asking guarantees when these are
refused said Mr.. B., the South will move in solid
phaanX, and that Congress has no right to settle
this queston-that the cry of hope, no hope for
the Union was constantly coming to us from Con-
gress He believed that the agitation now extant in
the country, brought about, mainly by the eff
forts of political aspirants.
Mr.. Avery thought Mr.. B. had proposed to die
tate to the people He sorry to lose the vote of
the gentleman on this question thought that the
bill would pass in some such shape as proposed in
his amendment Saw no hope for the Union but in
secession of every Southern State and reconstruc-
ton of the government He opposed delay on this
subject; said that before the Convention was held
perhaps every Southern State with the exception of
MARYLAND would be ont of the Ininn md that North