Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-06-05
s. The Standard.
sEoRTa-cARoLINA STATE CONVENTION,

rH1sg . .t.r 4
MosDAT, Nay %, 1861.
The Convention was called to order at 10 o'clock.
The journal of Saturday was read and approved
Mr.. Ward introduced the following preamble ant'
resolution, which was adopted. a f-i5s ~.
WHEREAS, the present Military Board of the Stat
is understood to be Organized without the aid an
cooperation Of experienced medical advisers; an
the selection and appointment Of experienced me
Is surgeons and assistant surgeons of the sewers
regiments of North Carolina volunteers and Stat
troops being highly necessary and important There
fore,
Resoloed, That the committee on military affair
be instructed to inquire into and report some practl
cable mode of examination for applicants for the O.
ce Of surgeon and assistant surgeon of the militar
regiments of the State and report the same to thi
Convention by resolution or otherwise. q
Mr. Speed then introduced the following preambl
and resolution
WHEREAS, tho Convention has been invested wit
supreme power, to meet an extraordinary and Gal
gerous emergency, and to exert its best energy
secure the safety and promote the welfare Of tb
Commonwealth, unbiased by any influence Thu
might arise from the proposed political advancemer
Of any Of its members; therefore,
Resolred, That this Convention will not COME
any appointment of political trust or profit upon an
ofits members.
Mr.. Osborne moved to lay the resolution on tn
table s......
Mr.. Speed demanded the yeas and nays on tn
motion which being seconded,
Mr.. Osborne withdrew his motion.
Mr.. Speed then advocated the passage of the res
olution He alluded to the blockade Of the Virgin
ports and the threatening aspect of affairs on ourow
border, and said, the Convention had been in ses
sion eight days, and all that has been DONE wa,
accomplished within the first six hours of the ses
sion. He said that more attention seemed to be
given to the question Of who shall represent North
Carolina in the Congress Of the Confederate States
than to the necessary defence of the State against
the invading foe the people have sent delegates to
represent them in the Convention, and they ought
not to be sent away as members of Congress nor
should they spend their time in going from room to
ROOM ogrolling and in turning the stone for those,
who have axes to grind He said he did not feel
happy here, while it might be that an enemy might
be ready even now, to invade his home and butcher
his family and that il the business Of the Conven
ton is attended to- he must leave and 60 to the
protection of his wife and children. He said that
the time had come when it should be understood
that North Carolina had circumference as we'll as
centre and that there people and interests to be
legslated for besides those in and around the capt.
tol. He would not speak Of all he had heard-per-
haps it might not be we'll founded; but if one-hal
be true it would be sufficient to sink this ad0inis-
tration so low that the hand of resurrection could
never reach it fit be necessary to fill public Of
God let it be done at once and let the Convention
70 on to the discharge Of its duties
Mr. Osborne replied. He said, the subject Of
who shall be elected to the Congress at Montgomery
had never been agtated in his presence, and if the
gentleman had seen anything of the log-rolling he
speaks Of he has seen more than have. He was
opposed to the resolution, because he wished to
maintain unanimity in the Convention, for the pro-
lection of the interests of the State He was un-
willing to be restricted in his choice Of delegates to
Congress, and thought the proposition degrading to
this body. He knows it is difficult to forget old
party ties, but he would be willing to vote for
to whom he had formerly been opposed He men,
toned the names of the gentleman from Orange,
(Mr. Graham,) the gentleman from Wake, (Mr.
Gilmer,l and said he would not like to be debarred
the privilege of voting for either Of these if he
wished to do So He assumes that this Convention
is patriotic body and is unwilling to trammel it
with such restrictions as are contemplated in the
resolution.
Mr. KittreI said, he was not in when the resou-
ton was introduced, and asked if there were any
limit As to time. Uhe resolution was again ready
Mr.. K. said large portion of the talent of the
State is embodied in this Convention, and it would
be unjust and injurious to the State to thus deprive
her Of the services of such men. 1t is probable
this Convention will be in session for some time
and to say that no member of it shall be elected to
Congress would be an unheard-of restriction.
Mr. Speed rejoined He said he would choose
his own time and manner of speaking his senti-
ments, and if gentlemen suppose he will not do So
they mistake their man. He said it is rumored in
the streets and the hotels, and even in this hall,
that men are wire-working and log-rollng for the
Office Of member OF Congress- and that it is strange
that the gentleman from Mecklenburg, (Mr. Os-
borne) has not heard it. 1t is very strange, too if
the gentleman has buried all party feeling, that he
should allude to three prominent gentlemen this
floor, heretofore acting with the party opposed to
that Of the gentleman. He thought it unnecessary
to come to the Convention to select delegates to
Congress, because North Carolina had as much
talent out Of the Convention as in it. But if the
resolution be wrong, why, vote it down. but at all
events, get clear ohis matter; elect the delegates
to Congress, and letSlbers take their places who
have no glttering starnhead of them, and who will
attend to the business for which they are sent here
Mr.. Rayner thought it would be better that the
resolution should lie on the table it may be neces-
sary to extend the thought he should 60 for it !;
but he suggested that the end might be obtained by
each member rising in his place and declaring he will
not accept any. other Office while member of the
Convention. Mr. R. said he was surprised at the
remarks Of the gentleman from Mecklenburg, (Mr.
Osborne in alluding to three prominent gentlemen
Of al!o.ion wrong-that certain journal in this
city had enumerated the great men of the Conven
ton, and in the category had placed the names o.
two gentlemen who were never in any legislative
body before while the gentleman from Orange Cdr
Grsham,) was at the tail Of the list, and the gentle
man from Caswell, (Mr. Brown) and the gentleman
from Granville, (Mr. Venable) were not even named.
He said he thought the resolution ought to be ex-
tsnded but if the election must be had let it be had
to-day, and the matter disposed Of
Mr.. Kittrell offered an amendment extending the
restriction to members of the last General Assembly
and members of the last session of U. S. Congress
. Mr.. Osborne again addressed the Convention in
opposition to the resolution, and was followed by
Mr.. Spruill of BERTHE, who favored the resolution
He was sent here BY men Of all parties and hoped
that others who preach the burial of party feeling
will practice what they preach. He thought ther
were plenty of men out of the Convention to FL! tn
Offices required
Mr.. Osborne moved to postpose the resolution in
definitely. q
Mr. Barnes moved to lay it on the table for tn