Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-08-31


November, 1861. ~.
The bill being put on its second reading, Mr.
Henry said: -e...ze- -.-.Hss.s-s,---
Nix. SPEAKER:-I did not expect at so early
period after reaching my seat in this body, to
| trouble the House with any remarks, but passing
events will not permit me to be passive observer
on this occasion. Justice to myself to the people
have the honor to represent on this floor, and
truthful history for posterity to read is the only
apology have to offer for the remarks propose
to make.
To-day, Mr.. Speaker, is the happiest hour of my
political le-today thrill of patriotic pride ami
mates my heart and strengthens my faith IN the
belief that all wrong will work out its own con-
domination, and that the eternal principles of JUS
tice will stand when the Vaccinations of injustice.
shall have passed away. 1t has been my lot to be
kept by sickness from my seat, while the major
part of the discussion on this bill has been progress
sing-but the short time in which have had to
examine It's merits enables satisfy myself that
it strikes at the existence of one of the most arbi
trary powers ever known to exist on the Continent
| of North America. 1t strikes at body more pow
erful in its operations than even the government
| which upholds and supports the Throne of Queen
| Victoria and Prince Alberta power omnpotent
| over the free people of N. G. Sir, | must be per-
mtted to revert back to the first day of May, 1861,
the day which this body passed the bill to call
| Convention-the day on which 1l9 members of
tiio llOuSS StOOu III Oue Vi OPP
position to my views and left me to meet the exult-
ing smiles of old friends my defeat and to bear
the tauntS of open and avowed political enemies at
| my lonely situation. When ] compare the past
with the present, and witness the great change
which has taken place in the views OF gentlemen in
this House, since the first day of May last repeat
again. that this is the happest day of my political
life, and enables to extend the hand of friend
ship to those, who, but short time since saw fit
| to ignore my position, and left me to meet the
peltngs of the pitiless storm then and now raging
| over this land-once the home of the free and the
brave. l have to day in this House, 95 members
| of this body to testify that | was correct in my
views in May last, and expect if this bill passes
both branches of this Legislature, the blessings of
| God and speedy termination of the present war,
| to have more than 20, 900 living witnesses at the
ballot-box in my favor. Who doubts it? Candid
men cannot. We'll do | remember the day when
stood upon this floor and claimed for the people the
right to judge and pass upon the acts of their law
makers and rulers, that was to be the day, in the
opinion of many, on which my political death-war-
| rant was to be dated.
But, sir desire to consume as little of the time
! of the House as may render me intelligble-and
the efore invite the attention of members to some of
the reasons why approve of the bill en- your table
and why | shall give my vote in favor of its pas
| sage. The GOODNESS of old frends-the threats and
ordinations of enemies have no terrors for me, and
| speak as becomes true representative.
1t will be remembered by the people of n. c. that
an extra session of the Legislature was called by
the Governor of the State to assemble on the first
| day of May, 1861, and that bill to call Conven-
ton was introduced and passed with unparalleled
haste in the history of legislation. That bill passed
| this body with unanimity hitherto unknown to
the people of N. c. Mr.. Speaker, l opposed the
| passage of that bill as you we'll know for reasons
which were not permitted to reach the public eye,
/ only in circumscribed manner. l opposed the
&c Ill
in my opinion, it did not give the people sufficient
time to examine the merits of the question upon
which they were soon to ballot. 1t gave the people
! only II days to decide upon one of the graveSt
questions presented to them, any other free
| people. The time was too short as is fully per-
| ceived by reference to the number of votes poled
| for members to the Convention. The number of
legal voters in North Carolina has been set down
1l5 900, and the number of votes cast for members
| to the Convention was but fraction over g. 900,
| leaving $4,000 voters in the State, unheard
| and silent upon the Convention question. Sir, how
do you account for the silence of this $4,000 free
| men at the ballot-box? Were they in the camp,
and on the tented field or were they in the distant
sections of the State far removed from the Capitol
and too remote to learn in so short time the action
of this Legislature? The want of time is the great
and substantial reason why more than SO 900 voters
were not heard upon the Convention question.
Again: opposed the bill because it did not
| bled, was to do-a restraint in my opinion, which
| justice safety, and the principles of Republican
| government required at the hands of every member
in this body at that time. safe guard, the
| eapse Of only three months proves, should have
been placed around and the actions of the Con-
vention. was told by learned legal gentlemen in
this hail. that the legislature had no Constitutional
right to restrict define the duties of the Conven-
| ton, and therefore the Convention, when assem-
| bled, was to be omnipotent-over and above the
| people, and their representatives in the General
Assembly, power which l thought, at the time,
would be dangerous to the rights and freedom of a
free people. Prophecy then is history now.
But sir, with all due Difference and respect for
| the opinions of legal gentlemen then, l could not
see the reason why it was that the creator should
have less power than the creature created-why it
was that the Convention should be supreme over
the people and the Legislature, when in fact it was
| but the offspring of the two, the people and the
Legislature combined. Such reasoning may do in
human and governmental affairs but you will pardon
me when say it is not in the course of the creative
| powers of Deity. The representatives direct from
the people, in legislative capacity, seems to COM
mon reasoner, like myself should as fully compre-
bend the wants, the rights and the liberties of the
people as the body created by the workmanship of
the Legislature Being not templar was forced
to yield the point that ihe Legislature had power
| to restrict the Convention; and therefore, it had
power to do all manner of things when it pleased,
and as it pleased-t change the form of govern
| ment, break up the Constitution, repeal and annul
laws neutraze the Legislature, consolidate the va
rious departments Of the State government and
make the people of North Carolina a set of serfs.
Let me not be misunderstood as impuning the cor.
rect motives of any gentleman who was or may be
a member Of that body. l have no personal re-
venge to crafty against any member. l have lived
to the age to know something of the weakness and
falibility of human nature; and though man may
be learned and deeply skilled in all the branches Of
human knowledge yet he needs props and stays to
guide him successfully on in the discharge of his
power ever thought that when in power they had
too much strength. The world has been deuged in
blood and demoralized by men who thought they
had not half the power that belonged to them
Id L..