Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1861-02-01
LEGISLATIVE PROCEEDINGS.
THURSDAY, Jan. Il, 1861.
II OF flo ncnal hour

Senate met at the usual hour.
Mr.. Lane, presented bill to permit
the removal of the remains of deceased
persons from the lands OF another, recon-
mending its passage.
A bill for opening road from States
vile to Wilkes boro, recommending its
passage.
Mr.. Dobson, bill to change the place
Of comparing the polls of the 44th Senate
rial distlict. Placed ON the file
The speaker announced the hour for
taking ap the special order, the report Of
the Committee of the Whole, aud that re-
port recommending substitute for the
5 bill reported by the committee on federal
! affairs.
The substitute having been read, Mr.
Mnrehead offered al amendment providing
that the polls shall be opened on the 3rd
Monday Of March for the people TO vote
whether they have a convention or not.
Mr. MoreIead said these were perilous
times and we should not act precipltately.
We can go out of this union at one time
as we'll as another. The people should be
consulted.
i Message from the House, transmitting
d engross bill for special term Of Oyer
and Terminer, for the signature Of The
Speaker.
j Mr.. Bledsoe had no objection to the
! amendment and indicated an amendment
which he should offer at proper time.
Mr.. Street said if he understood the
amendment, it would require that three
s. elections be held-one to decide upon
5 calling Convontion-one to elect dele
gates and one for ratifying the ordinances
4 OF said Convention. He did not see the
use of retarding business in this way. He
thought the same ends might be met by
voting at tlsa same time for members of
the Convention, and whether We shall have
"a Convention.
Mr. Eure said he intended to offer an
amendment to the substitute now pending
striking out after the enacting cause
which would meet the views of the Sena-
tor from Craven; it was copy with
sslight alteration of the bill introduced in
the House by Mr.. Clark of Craven
Read for information.
Mr., Avery said he could not vote for
the amendment, for, according to his read
ing of the Constitution, a convention could
be called only by two-third vote of both
Honses of the General Assembly. The
Legislature may consult the people, but it
has no power under the Constitution to
pass an act, the validity of which law
must depend upon the ratification. The
people want a Convention, and he saw no
peed of such provision as suggested in
The amendment of the Senator from Gates.
his Legislature should not delay. The
Convention of Virginia and Tennessee will
eoon meet, and the Convention of North
carolina should be III session at the same
lime, so that consultation might be had
between these States.
Mr.. Barringer said if be could do no
better he would vote for the amendment
fered by the Senator from Gnilford. He
Fgred that the calling of a Convention
las as solemn an act as the Legislature
puld do; and, therefore, if the act they
hould pass was intended merely to be a
recommendation to the people it would
mount to no more than the action OF any
ther 10 men who had no right to legis-
ete- He concurred IN the opinion OF the
enator from Burke: the people are bound
abide the acts of law made in pursu-
pee of the Constitution. If we call a
onvention that call must be abs solute and
y conditional. The Legislature cannot