Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-06-08
The Sfapoato.
.NoRrH.cARoL1NA STATE CONVENTION.

TUESDAY, June 4 1861.
The President took his seat at II O'clock.
Prayer by Rev. j. w. Tucker.
The Journal of Monday was read and approved.
Mr. Badger introduced several amendments to the
rules of the Convention, mainly in relation to the
order of business which were read and laid over one
day under the rule
The President announced the following commit
tees:
On the resolution concerning annual sessions of
the General Assembly: Messrs. Osborne, Howard,
Battle of Wake, Thornton and Gilmer.
On the resolution for the amendment of 46th sec
of the Constitution, concerning the calling OF the
yeas and nays in-the General Assembly: Messrs.
Rayner, Merritt Berry, Register and Hicks
Mr.. Ellison moved to take from the table the res
olutica offered BY him some days since fixing the
daily sitting, at o'clock with recess from 13O to
$50 D. m and the motion prevailed.
Mr. Ellison then moved to strike out =" 9" and in
sert " TO-" and it was agreed to.
Mr. Jones Of Rowan, objected to all of the resolu-
ton except the part requiring to meet at 10 o'clock.
Mr.. Ellison said he considered the part objected to
the most important of all he thought the Conven-
ton ought to have afternoon sessions
Mr.. Gorrell moved an amendment that the recess
be from to o'clock, p. M, and the amendment
the was accepted
Mr. Jones of Rowan, moved to strike out all after
clause relating to the hour Of meeting.
Mr.. Badger objected to the provision for afternoon
opening the sessions so early as ten o'clock but he
would waive his objections on this, but he really
could not give his sanction to afternoon sessions
he had never seen any good accomplished by after
noon sessons-members were generally less quail
fed for business at these hours; and the sessions
would be orekely to result in mischief than other
wise.
Mr.. Osborne thought it impolitic to have after
noon sessons-the committees had important mat
tiers before them, and ought to have time to give
them the consideration their importance demanded
Mr.. Ellison, in answer to Mr.. Badger, said he
thought the Convention would be as competent 20
attend to business in the afternoon, even after their
dinner and wine as they were in the morning; and
in answer to Mr.. Osborne, he said that he thought
the committees would have plenty of time before 10
o'clock to deliberate upon matters before them, and
that the business of the Convention would receive
more dispatch by giving more time for its discus
sion in the Convention.
Mr.. Satterthwate said, that in ordinary times, he
would be willing to give indulgence, but these are
extraordinary times, when we may expect every
breeze to be laden with the intelligence Of the death
Of some near and dear friend on the battlefield
He said the Convention of 1885 met at o'clock, in
the morning, and shall we in these times, indulge
in ease, and partake of our rich dinners and fine
wines, while the country is threatened with danger
On every side?
Mr. Badger said he did not know of any body in
Raleigh who partook of rich viands and fine wines;
he, himself, never touched drop of wine-it was
poison to him-that he generally takes plain din
ner, and took only the plain, republican, North
Carolina beverage, known as corn:juice or whskey.
But he would confess to an inclination to take lit
tie rest after dinner.
Mr. Bachelor said he was in favor of the resolu-
ton. The committees could meet earlier, and thus
have plenty of time He thought there
force in the argument that members were unfit for
business in the afternoon; he did not get in that
condition, himself and didn't think many of the
other members did. [Laughterl
The question on Mr. Jones amendment was put,
and decided in the negative.
The resolution, as amended by Mr.. Gorrell, was
then adopted-yeas 70, nays 10.
RESOLUTIONS.
BY Mr.. Hicks, resolution for q committee to re-
port an amendment to the Constitution, providing
that no one under twenty-one years Of age, shall
hold q seat in the House of Commons in the Gener-
al Assembly of this State, and that no one under
twenty five years of age shall hold a seat in the
Senate. Adopted.
By Mr.. Speed, resolution requiring the commit
tee on Constitutional amendments to inquire into
the proprety of so amending the Constitution to
make the number of Senators thiIty-two, and the
number of members of the House of Commons to be
one hundred the election of Senators to be so ar
ranged to elect onethird every two years. in case
of biennial elections, or to elect onefourth every
year, in case of annual elections.
By Mr.. Stewart resolution that no member
shall speak longer TIM twenty minutes on any sub
ject, until the ordinance to adopt the Confederate
Constitution the plan for the defence of the State
and the election of delegates to the Southern Con-
gress have been disposed Of The resolution lies
over one day under the rule.
By Mr.. Ward, resolution to take recess from
and after Saturday next until the 22d of July, I'M
less sooner convened by the proclamation of the
President
H. Dos1 ava1 70 Ir ,A,k.k,,
day for Saturday, and the amendment was accepted
Mr.. Hicks moved to amend further, by appoint
ing the first day of October as the time for re-as-
semblIng.
Mr.. Rayner said, he hoped members would give
the subject serious consideration before voting it.
he wanted test vote, that the people might know
if We were willing to go away from here, without
doing what we were sent here to do.
Mr. Graham moved to amend the resolution, by
appointing committee to report a day for ad-
journment
Mr. Speed, to amend by instructing the same
committee to report on the expedency of meeting
at Beaufort when the Convention shall again come
together.
Mr.. Reid was in favor of fixing day for adjourn
ment He said his experience taught him that bust
ness was done more expeditiously in deliberative
bodies when there was day fixed for adjournment
he said that an early day ought to be fixed for ad-
journment; that we are not in a condition now to
attend to general amendments to the Constitution;
let the Convention take recess, and thus give the
committees time to make up their reports on the
matters referred to them.
b The resolution was further discussed, by Messrs
Spruill, of BERTHE, Pettigrew, and others.
Mr. Pettigrew moved to lay the whole matter on
the table; not adopted-yeas 81, nays So.
Mr. Rufin was in favor of referring the subject to
committee. He thought the Convention ought to
attend to the business before it. before adiourning
There are several matters Of importance yet to be
attended to; committee could give the necessary
information, by which the Convention might be
guided in this matter.
Mr. Ashe thought there was no necessity to re-
main here much longer. The people had sent us to
do three things-two of them were done; the 9TH
er might soon be accomplished To do anything
more, will give dissatisfaction to the people
Mr. Dick said that the people expected this Con-
yention to inquire into the condition of the coun-