Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-12-18


ing officers and agents ofthe and the con'-
!ttee were authorized to send for persons and pa
pers, and to employ clerical force The committee
met, and were DESTROYS of performing the duty as
signed them, but they soon ascertained that they
could not do so in manner satisfactory tc them
selves, or with justice to the public interest or the
public officers. The Committee were satisfied that
the public interest demanded the investigation and
they became further satisfied that such an nvcsti-
cation would develop .traud, 2,ecalataon and nut.
teasance and they instructed me TO draw up a re-
port setting forth these facts and ordinance pro-
vdlng for such an investigation, and to recommend
its passage by the Convention. In drawing up that
report the committee did not have any particular
officer or agent in view. They made general state
ment. The Convention adopted the ordinance by
very large majority. acted in the discharge OF a
high, solemn duty, and | do not intend to allow
myself to be drawn intn any correspondence with
any Of those public officers and agents, and take
this public occasion to say, that shall make no
reply to this letter or any of similar character
which may be sent to me-"
Messrs. Badger, Rulin, Setter, Jones of Rowan
Dickson, and others approved the course which Mr.
Satterthwaite had pursued
The Convention now proceeded to consider the
special order, viz 1.-The ordinance to charter the
Piedmont Railroad Company" the question recur-
ring on the motion of Mr. Strange to postpone the
Of January next.
Messrs Rayner Strong Speed and Holmes, urg-
ed the postponement; Messls GorreI and Gilmer
opposed it, and after Il protracted discussion i'll
which the merits of the ordinance were fully can
vassed, the Convention refused to postpone-yeaS
A, nays 4S.
Mr.. Speed moved to ADJOURN and on this question
the yeas and nays were ordered OH motion OF Mr..
Gilmer
Tba tn
nays 81.
Mr.. Rayner moved to postpone the ordinance I'M
til the 23d of January, 1862.
Mr.. Rayner said that he made this motion in no
tactlouS opposition to the proposed measure. lfthe
Convention were now full, he would not object to
its immediate discussion but he was opposed TO the
disposition eyinced by friends the ordinance press
it through at this session. when many delegates had
returned to their homes.
Mr.. Rayner yielded the floor to Mr.. Howard who
moved to postpone the further consideration of the
order, that Mr.. Ferebce mi ght lay before the Con-
| ventlon letter from Mr. Secretary Memninger re-
atve to the subject matter of his late mission to
! Richmond.
The order was temporarily postponed and the let
ter Was read and ordered to be printed.
| Mr.. Rayner resumed the floor. He said that it
Was very evident there to be night session, he
therefore suggested recess for the space of hour
|
| Mr. Satterthwaite made conciliao.y Speech de-
precating the evident determination of friends of the
! measure, to force it through to night, when more
than forty delegates were absent and when if pass
Ell it could not receive the votes of majority of the
! delegates. He alluded feelingly to the uniform
| courtesy and kindness which had hitherto charac-
| terized this session Of the Convention. lie hoped
the friends of the ordinance would not urge it now
against the known wishes aud feelings OF nearly as
large number of delegates.
, The Convention then adjourned.
FRIDAY, Dec 18th, 1861.
The Convention was called 20 order.
The journal of yesterday was read and approved.
The President laid before the Convention COM
munication from Adjutant General Martin
MIR. hittrell objected to its being read.
MessrS. Graham Satterthwaite Rayner and Os.
borne, concurred in thinking that the communities
ton if respectful, should lie received and read
Mr.. kittre having withdrawn his objection the
letter was read
1t asked the appoir tment of committee of three
members of the Convention to investigate the affairs
OF his department during the approaching recess
and suggested that they devise some system of &C
countability in the disbursement of. public moneys
! through his department. and that the ordinance
passed by the Convention on this subject should be
suspended until the Convention again assembled.
ton as ian insolent outrageous attempt to over
awe and brow beat the Convention He said that
the time had arrived when this Convention must
either tamey submit to military dictation or rebuk,
Indignantly such otticIous nterneddng. 1t was
an unworthy attempt on the part of these military
gentlemen to create tie impression abroad that the
ordinance reported by the committee and passed by
the Convention had stopped the payment Of claims
or would delay their adjustment. They wished tt
prejudice the action of the Convention in the pub
lie eye, and thus lead to repeal of the ordinance
If every thing RI Int they would court the in
vestigaton proposed, but the terrible panic which
the action of the Convention had caused among these
military gentlemen was conclusive evidence tina
they dreaded it. This inSolent communication asked
the suspension of the ordinance. He ventured Il
say if this we're DONE every claim would be speedil,
aduGicated, "by some convenient third person,
and it would never be known what had become o
the public money In CONCLUSION, Mr.. Satter
thwaite moved that the letter be returned to it
writer.
Mr.. Badger also commented with some severit,
upon the letter lie regarded it arrogant, dicta
torial, and wholly uncalled for
Mr.. Brown denounced it as an attempt on the par
of the military to dictate to the civil power 1t wa
gross abuse of the right of petition and should b
promptly rcbuked by the Convention.
Messrs. Osborne, Reid and Thomas of Jackson
viewed the communication IN a different light, an
concurred in thinking that undue sensitiveness ha
been evinced as well 10y members of committee a
by the officers whose letters had been laid befor
the Convention. They thought that the letter wa
not Intentionally dscourteous to the body.
After flther discussion Mr.. Satterthwaites me
ton for the return of the letter. laid the t.
bic. Yeas 5S, nays IA.
The communication was finally laid on the tabl
on motion of Mr.. Badger.
Mr.. Leak of Arson, presented memorial agains
dstillers from citizens of Arson county, which wa
referred to the committee on distileres
Mr. Warren from the committee appointed to cor
slider the memorial of sundry citizens of Beaufo'
county, aggreved by military arrest, submitted
report recommending that the Convention shout
take no action in the premises, and requested to
discharged from further consideration of the sui
Ject.
Resolutions giving an extra allowance of $25 eacl
to the doorkeepcrs, and authorizing the President
call the Convention together during the recess
necessary We're adopted under a suspension Of tn
rules.