Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-08-21
ruRg lssi' III

J. guilty j lhs anne thns 81 hoped moi B.
ssisssiy ihtostiis asstser Il; involved sefiCns
and die matter ,ahould eaarsfu'ly'
III F6y disclaimed III unkind towards re I
Convention. He had followed bis own sense OF dus
IL and tie wishes of his constituents IN presenting
the resolutions The Convention having done what
It MS called into exstence to he tRougnt
it time that its existence should be terminated
4Mr Fleming mdst oppose the resolationS tine !,
aotion proposed was not respectful to the
ton Tie Question involved was q serious one !;
gentlemen had mot looked to- the consequences. :
Whatever may have been the course OF the Conven;
ton, it admitted Of very serious doubt whether the
Legislature had the right 10 adopt
such action. He idoubtedthe right andshould OPP
pose it 4.44ss.j 7,.s gssiT sssss 49,;
MI. Hill of Caswell, entirely approved Of the reso-
lutions and was in favor of immediate action. He
could not see how the Legislature could compromise
its dignity by adopting them at wasa question 81
duty simply and he WAS ready to discharge IT,
The people were dissatisfied with its action. It had
been called together to do certain things, it had
transcribed it's boundaries and he was for putting
stop to the exercise of. powers which might prove
dangerous 1t claimed unlimited powers and the
right to sit long it thought proper and he was
opposed to q body who claimed such rights IN Re-
publican State.1' Fas5fst4'a ~ il.1a9 1s%'4 B
Mr. Meares replied warmly in defeuceiof the
Convention. Heat first supposed that the design of
the advocates of these resolutions was simply lit
tie fun He was surprised to find gentlemen on
that floor treating tho matter seriously. What had
the Convention done to merit such action? Com
plants were made in general, TERMS but no specific
charge had been alleged, except the offensive re-
marks of one or two gentlemen Of the Convention in
regard to the Legislature. And must the entire
body be condemned for the imprudent or undgni-
fed remarks of one or twoi, He hoped gentlemen
would consider where they were drifting. What
had the Convention done, he would asky It had
been said that the Convention had broken;up the
military system of the State. The fact was the
Legislature had ordered the raising Of 900 troops
but had made no provision to equip or pay them.
The State was heavily in debt-the military sys-
tenn of the State as organized by the Legislature,
was increasing that debt at the rate of $14 600
per year. If the war continued several years. the
debt must have been immense, Such was the con-
dition Of things when the Convention met Neces-
sty obliged it to resort to Legislation to provide the
means for equipf ing and feeding the troops. Pres
ident Davis had told our commissioners that in ad
dtion to the ten regiments Of State troops he could
only receive 900 volunteer troops for IL months
The Convention therefore was obliged to make some
provision by which the State should be protected
against a debt likely to become enormous. What
the State incurred in equpping and preparing men
to go to the field she was told could not be refund
ed to her by the Confederate States until after the
war. What did the Convention dor. Did it dis.
band the residue of the troops not wanted by the
Confederate States !. Certainly not The Conven.
ton knew not what contingencies might arise. 1t
therefore, SO far from treating the Legislature dsre
specially, manifested its confidence in this body
by leaving their disposition to it. which, assembling
at later period would be better prepared to judge
Of the demands ofthe State, and Of the country and
dispose Of them accordingly. Gentlemen had allu-
ded to the exercise OF power, and that the Conven-
ton might hold on to an unlimited time. No one
believed that body had any idea of sitting beyond
the necessities Of the case. We we're in war, and
knew not what exigencies might occur to require
the action Of the Convention. But why did gentle
men vote for unrestricted and unlimited Conven-
ton? Why did not the gentleman from Caswell
vote to restrict it if he had fears of body like that
Mr.. Hill said he was SO anxious to get out of the
old Union he took time to think of other matters.
He thought the Convention would confine itself to
the object for which 1t was called and not trench
upon the prerogatves of the legislature He
claimed that the Legislature had made provision for
carrying on the war, &c.
- Mr. Meares rejoined
Mr. Foy had heard no good argument against his
resolutions. If gentlemen could show any good
reason against their passage, he would be glad to
hear it, and would give it respectful consideration,
but until they did he must Insist upon their passage
Mr.. Bridges could not vote for the resolutions, at
any rate in their present shape They we're not
respectful to the Conyenion-a body entitled to re-
spect for its high position and its eminent ability
The Legislature could gain but little credit for ini-
tating what was considered the undignifed course
of the Convention. The resolutions would engen-
Ger bad spirit and its effects upon the unanimity
which should prevail during the war; would be dele.
FERROUS. The Convention might retalate upon this
body sharply BY passing an ordinance abrogating
the Legislature, and the consequences, might be
fearful He was proceeding, when q question of
order arose. and the Speaker decided that the merits
Of the resolutions could not be discussed gentle
men must con6ne themselves to the question of re-
ference to tho Judiciary committee The question
was then taken when it was decided in the negative
The question coming up on its second reading,
Mr.. 1ebane urged that the matter before the body
one Of too serious concern to be adopted hastily
It involved very grave considerations He preferred
reference to committee that time might be given
for cool deliberations but rs that had been refused
4 he moved that the subject be postponed, and be
made the order of the day for Tuesday next The
proposition was rejected. -. asJ,s ts.ss -,
Mr.. Ferebee, as a,member Of both bodies, was per-
sonay Indifferent to the result yet be must express
his disapprobation of the resolutions The Conven-
ton IS body did not merit such condemnation. It
had not transcribed its authority and if it had e-
gislated, it was because Of the exigsncies of the
times. Besides, the Convention had not completed
its work. Very important exigencies might arise,
when it might be essential to the pubic good that
the Convention should be in existence Most Of the
other States in the Confsderacy had their Conven.
tions and they would no doubt exist until the war
closed ...s ;; - 81 Il. :. Z! T.
Mr.. Galloway was as much opposed to the action
of the Convention complained of as any one, but
the course proposed to be, pursued towards it did
not have his sanction. Itwas entitled to courtesy
The manner it was proposed to treat the Convention
was novel, and he must warn the House against any
action which would divide and distract our people
during the existence of the war. It was all impor
tant that should be united in its prosecution but
who could oresee the consequences Of arraying the
Convention aganst the Legislature, and yipe ssrsd
Would not this action create Legislative party
and Convention party in the State, and what would
be the consequence f.s; g,5,, s 50 & :, q =;
- Mr. Clark Of Craven endorsed fnliv The reeoi,,