Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-06-12

CclVeQ
Mr.. Graham said he had made the motion to post
pone in order to remove difficulty which existed
in his mind in regard to some of the provisions OF
the Constitution He believed good had resulted
from the dscussion-he would withdraw the motion,
and offer proUiso, that North-Carollna shall have
an equal participation with the other States in the
first Congress and in the election of the first Presl-
dent under the permanent Constitution
Mr. Badger opposed the proviso, because he SAID
a conditional ratification was no ratification at all
and cited the views of Mr. Madison in regard to the
case of New York.
Mr. Graham said he had as much confidence in the
parties to the new Constitution but as plain bust
ness matter it would be better to have everything
put down SO that there may be no misunderstood
ing He alluded to the Virginia ordinance OF ratl-
cation-that Florida had attached condition.
Mr. Ruffin said that Virginia had made an aoso-
lutte ratification but had passed separate deciara-
ton; and that the same true of Florida Thinks
the adoption of the proviso would lead to perptex-
ties. ..
Mr.. Kittrel said that he presumed that no gentle
man here would be willing to adopt the Constitution
if the rights alluded to in the proviso are not guar
antied to the Stae-some thought they were, others
had doubts-the proviso could do no harm and that
all could vote for it.
Mr.. Graham demanded the yeas and nays, and the
call was seconded
The yeas and nays were then ordered and result
ed-yeas SO, nays 70.
Mr. Speed offered an amendment to the effect that
North Carolina reserves unto herself the right to re-
sumo the powers herein delegated to the Confederate
States, government whenever, in the opinion of
Convention of the people such a measure becomes
necessary.
Mr.. Rayner said he supposed that all the original
secessionsts would vote for the amendment and
the original Union men against it.
Mr.. Speed said he had never believed the right of
secession was recognized in the Constitution but it is
said by authority that the ofthe Con-
federate States incorporates the principle in its Con-
stitution and if this is the doctrine and this State
goes into the new government with that understand
ing, it ought to be so stated in the ordinance.
Mr.. Ashe The abstract proposition is correct, but
don't embarrass this ordinance by migrating the
amendment upon it.
Mr.. Barnes asked if any member here denied the
right claimed in the amendment
Mr.. Craige believed the right Of secession was
recognized in the old Constitution. He explained
the difference in the two Constitutions on this subject
Mr.. Barnes said he was not arguing the abstract
principle of secession nor its recognition under the
old Constitution, but he wishes to know if any one
here denies the right under the Constitution of the
new government into which we are about to enter.
If under this Constitution State concludes to 60
out who is to be the judge of Its right to do sou
If North Carolina wishes to go out, who is to forbid
her? Then if we have this right, what objection
can there Oe III expressing Ill
ing the new government?
Mr.. Leake, of Richmond, was sorry that the ques-
ton of secession had been alluded TO. He had al
ways been in favor of the principle of secession as
abstract right and since the result of the Peace
Conference last winter, had been in favor of Its
practical application. He objected to the amend
ment-it is Pathological; the principle being clear
ly incorporated in the Constitution ITSELF there is
no use repeating it. by adding an amendment for
fha or he m a
separate proposition, and he would 60 for it
Mr. Warren offered an amendment but the chair
decided it out of order.
Mr. Satterthwaite rose to privileged question.
The amendment of the gentleman from Guilford,
(Mr. Dick, had been temporarily Withdrawn; the
amendment of the gentleman from Orange, (Mr.
Graham) had been rejected the gentleman from
Pasquotank, (Mr. Speed had offered an amendment
which was now pending, and to this the gentleman
from Beaufort (Mr. Warren had offered his amend
ment which being simply an amendment to an
amendment was in order
The chair stated that the ordinance under consid-
Grafton was itself an amendment to the original to
this, Mr.. Speed has offered an amendment and no
other amendment was in order until that was dis
posed of.
Mr.. Hicks said he believed in the right of seces-
sion, but he could not 60 for this amendment-it
would embarrass the ordinance; he believed it was
introduced for that purpose.
Mr.. Satterthwate called the gentleman to order.
The chair said that no delegate could impugn the
motives of others.
Mr. Hicks resumed, and said he had not intended
any personal offence; he thought what he had said
was truc therefore he expressed it and then made
further remarks with regard 20 the amendment.
Mr.. Osborne said that all such amendments pro-
posed to such solemn ordinance were unfortunate,
as giving rise to discussion which can do no good
Mr.. Speed said that so fa- as the accusation of
the gentleman from Haywood (Mr. Hicks was con-
cerned all he had to say was, he would have thought
that that gentleman had better heart. He had no
wish to lacerate old wounds; he did not think that
gentleman would have objected to the endorsement
of principle which many of them seemed to hold
as dear as the wives of their bosoms. But as gen.
t'emen seemed so sensitive on the subject, he would
withdraw the amendment.
Mr. Dick again offered his amendment referring
the ordinance to vote of the people, and on it de-
manded the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays being ordered were taken and
resulted, yeas 3S, nays Is, as follows:
Nays-Mr. President, Messrs. Arlington, Ashe,
Badger, Barnes, Bachelor, Battle of Edgecombe
Biggs, Brodnax, Brown, Bunting, Carson, Crage,
Cunningham, Darden, billiard, Durham, Foster of Ashe,
Fuller, Green Greenlee, Grimes, Hamlin, Hargrove,
Hearne Henkel, Hicks, Holmes, Houston of Duplin,
Houston Of Union, Howard, johnson of CASTOR,
johnson ofMecklenburg Jones of Rowan, Lander,
Leake of Arson, Leake of Richmond, Mcdowell of
Bladen, Mcdowell of Burke, Mcdowell of Madison,
McNeill Of Cumberland, Mcneil of Harnett,
Meares, Mebane Miller, Moody, Mosely, Myers, Os-
borne, Penland, Pettigrew, Phfer, Rayner, Reid,
Rhodes, Royster, Ruin, Satterthwaite, Shaw Ship,
Smith of Halifax, Switzerland, Stewart Strong,
Thomas of jackson, Thompson, Thornton, Tracy,
Turner, Venable, Ward, Washington, Whitford,
Williams Woodfn and Wooten-75.
Teas-Messrs. Allison, Armfeld, Battle of Wake,
Berry, Bond, Galloway, Cannon, Christian Council,
Davidson, Dick, Douthit, Filler, Ellison, Ferebee,
Gilmer, Gorrell, Graham, Headen, Holden, Jones of
Caldwell, Kittrell, Long, Mann, Manning, Merritt,
Mitchell, Sanders, Smith of Johnston Smith of Ma
con, Speed Sprouse, Spru of Berte Spruill of Tyr
rell, Thomas of Carteret Walton, Warren and Will
son-3S.
Mr.. Warren then offered his amendment, which,
in substance asserts the right of the State to secede
when the people decide that their interests require
it. The question was put and decided in the mega
tiye-veas Of navs "a