Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-02-06
NEsDAY. FEBRUARY 6, 1861. WHOLE Nv,.ua 1s4s
CONVENTION ACT.

'>Fa > ,'t CONVENTION ACT.
AN ACT CONCERNING A CONVENTION OF
s-Z THE PEOPLB
WHEREAS, The present perilous condition of the
country demands, in the judgment of this General
Assembly, that the sovereign people Of this State
should assemble in convention to effect an honors.
BILE adjustment Of existing difficulties whereby the
Federal Union is endangered or, otherwise, to de-
termine what action viii best preserve the honor
and promote the interests Of North. Carolina: and
whereas, this General Assembly, on matters of such
grave import, involving the relations of North Car
oina to her sisters in the confederacy is reluctant
to adopt any settled policy without the sense of the
people, in whom, under our government al sove-
reignty resides, being first ascertaned - !
SECTION !: 70 1t therefore enacted by tho General
Assenbty Of the State Of North Carolina and IL Is
hereby enacted BY tho authority Of the sams, (t,oo-
thirds Of both Houses eoncurring,1 That upon the
passage of this act the Governor of the State, be
and he is hereby required to issue proclamation
commanding ths shers Of the respective counties
in the State to open polls at the several election pre-
cincs in said counties on the 2Sth day of February
1851, when and where all persons qualified to vote
for members of the General Assembly may vote for
or against State convention those who wish con-
convention" and those who do not wish a conven-
ton voting in the same way "no convention;" also,
tn open separate polls, at the said time and places,
Tor the election of delegates to the convention to be
assembled on such terms as are hereinafter provid
ed, said polls to be superntended by inspectors ap
pointed by the sheriffs,, with the advice of three
justices of the peace Of the respective counties who
shall he sworn according 10 the provisions of section
=, chapter 50, of revised code,
Re 81 T1,ok; - II.
the duty of the shers to make out duplicate state.
ments Of their polls in their respective countless on
the question Of convention" and mo convention"
sworn to before the clerk of the county court copy
of which shall be deposited in said clerks Office and
the other copy transmitted to the Governor of the
State at Raleigh, under the same rules and regula-
tions and under the same panaties as are prescrb-
ed in the case of the returns Of the vote for electors
of President and Vice, President as now prescribed
by law Immediately after the election
Sec. 8. Be 1t further enacted That it shall be
the duty of the Governor, soon he shall have
received the returns of the sheriff. in the presence
of the secretary of the State, public treasurer and
comptroller, to compare the number of votes for and
against convention; and il it shall appear that a
majority of the votes polled are in favor of con.
vention, he shall forthwith issue proclamation in
such manner as he may think proper, summoning
the delegates elected to said convention aforesaid
to convene in Raleigh, on such DAY as he may de-
, signate in his said proclamation: Provided, The
day designated be not earlier than the eleventh of
March; and if a majority of the votes polled are
against convention, the governor shall, in like
manner, issue proclamation Of that fact; and in
that the assembling of the said delegates elect
ed as aforesaid under the provisions of this act is
hereby declared to be illegal and of no effect
SEC. T. Be further enacted That the election for
delegates as aforesaid shall he held and conducted
in the same manner as elections for members of the
General Assembly, and the vote shall be counted
and the scrolls compared and certificates issued in
the same manner as prescribed by law for members
Of the House Of Commons.
SEC. 5. Be it further enacted, That if vacancy
shall occur by the death, resignation removal from
the State by the refusal to serve of any person
elected delegate as aforesaid the presiding officer o
the convention shall issue his writ to the sheriff o
the county in which such vacancy may have occur
red, after such notice as the convention may order
to open poll to fill such vacancy under the SAM
rules and regulations herenbefore prescribed fo
the election Of delegates.
Sec 6. Be it further enacted, That the said con
vention shall consist Of one hundred and twent,
delegates. and each county shall be entitled to tn
same number of delegates as members of the Hous
of Commons under the last apportionment.
Sec I. BE it further enacieA That the mileag
and per diem pay of the delegates to said convention
shall lie the that Of members of the Genera
Assembly, to he paid IN the same manner; and SAT-
convention shall have power to Tx the pay Of all it
officers and Of any representative to any convention
or State and shall provide for other expenses, to
paid out of the treasury, as it may direct.
SEC. g. Be it further enacted, That the said con
vention shall have power to elect its officers an
prescribe qualifications for its members, not ncon
sstent with the true intent Of this act.
SEC. o. Be 1t further enaetsd, That the SAID con
veliton shall have power to consider all grievance
affecting North Carolina, member of the conied
eracy, according to the true intent and meaning
this act the assent or dissent of the people to tn
proposition herein contained being respectively CT
pressed by the vote "convention" or mo conven
ton," at the time and in the mode hereinbefore 2rc
vided.
SEC. TO- Be it further enacted That no ordinanc
Of said convention shall have any force or valilit
until it shall have been ratified by majority of tn
qualified voters for members of the General Assem-
bly,, to whom it shall be submitted according to tn
mode prescribed for elections Of members to tn
House Of Commons, the assent or dissent of the pei
pie hereto being expressed as in preceding sectio
of this act. .....-
SEC. II. Be 1t further enacted, That no delegat
elected shall be permitted to take his seat in sal
convention until he shall have taken and subscribe
the following OATH before any judge Of the Supren
or Superior Courts, or any justice Of the peae
of Wake county, to wit: !. "A. B., do solemn
ly swear Tor affirm as the case may be) that
will not do any act contrary to the act Of the Gel
eral Assembly, under which this convention is cal
ed and that will duly and faithfully dischars
my duties as a member Of this convention accordii
to the best of my knowledge and ability, SO help
God. -.
Sec 12. Be 1T further enacted, That this act sha
be in force from and after its ratification.
p..;e.,, W. T. DoRTcu s H. c.
A"'"'' II. T. CLARK, S. S. >
Secretary Dir's Insructtons to tho Rerenae Strrit
He Denounces the Setzure Of the Marine Hospit
By tho Louisiana Troops.
instructed the Commanders of the Revenue Cutie