Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-12-18

ebrly part Of this session and referred to commit
tee of which YOU did me the honor to place me NJ
tic head The resolution required said committee 10
examine into the accoVntS contracts, and dlsourse-
ments OF the public money by the several dlSourS-
ing officers and agents ofthe government and The COM
nttec were authorized to send for persons and pa
pcrS and to employ clerical force The committee
met and were DESTROYS of performing the duty as
Sigdcd them, but they soon ascertained that they
could not do so in manner satisfactory 10 them-
selves 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 invcsti-
CATION would develop fraud, pCcuiatiOM and nat
tedsaRcc, and they instructed me to draw up re-
port setting forth these facts and an ordinance pro-
TidIng for such an investigation, and 10 recommend
Its passage 10y the Convention. In drawing up that
report the committee did not have any particular
officer or agent in view They made general state
mcTt The Convention adopted the ordinance by
very large majority. acted in the discharge of
high, solemn duty and | do not intend To allow
myself to be drawn into 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 NAV he sent TO me-
MeSSrS Badger, Rufin, Setter, Jones Of Rowan,
Dickson. and others approved the course which MIR.
Satterthwai;e had pursued
The Convention now proceeded to consider the
special Order viz: THE ordinance 20 charter the
Piedmont Railroad Company" the question recur-
ring on the motion Of Mr. Strange 10 postpone the
ordinance and make it the special order for the 22d
of January next
MeS>rs Rayner Strong Speed and Holmes urg
ed the postponement; Messis. Gorrc.l and Gilmer
opposed it, and after protracted discussion III
winch the merits of the ordinance were fully can
vasSed the Convention refused to pOStpone-yeaS
IL nays IS.
Mr.. Speed moved to adjourn, and on this question
the yeas and nays were ordered on motion OF Mr..
GIlmer.
The Convention refused to adiourn-yeas 81,
nays Co.
MIR. Rayncr moved to postpone the ordinance I'M
til the Odd of January, 1862.
Mr.. Rayner said that he made this motion in no
facious opposition to the proposed measure lfthe
Convention were now full, he would not object to
its immediate discussion, but he opposed to the
disposition evnced by friends ofthe 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 MI. Ferebce might lay before the Con-
venton Il letter from Mr.. Secretary Memnnger, re-
lative to the subject matter ot his late mission to
Richmond.
The order was temporarily postponed and the let
ter was read and ordered to be printed.
Mr.. Rayncr resumed the floor. lie said that it
was very evident there to be nj ht session, lac
therefore suggested recess for the space Of hour
that delegates might set their SupperS.
Mr.. SattrrthwaIte made cOnciliatOry speech de-
precating the dentdcermnation of friends of the
measure, Ia force it through to night, when more
than forty delegates were absent ami when if pass
eG it could not receive the of majority of the
delegates. lie alluded feelingly to the uniform
courtesy and kindness which had hitherto charac-
terlZed this session Of the Convention. lie hoped
the friends of the ordinance would not urge it now
against the known wishes and feelings OF nearly as
large number of delegates.
The Convention then adjourned