Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-06-12
The STANDARD.
NoRTH.CARoLINA STATE CONVENTION.

the county Vi OaIaWUa.
The journal of Wednesday was read and approved
RESOLUTIONS.
By Mr.. Biggs, a resolution that this Convention
shall adjourn on - next to meet on the hrst
Monday in October, subject in the meantime to the
call of the President if the emergency of affairs re-
quire it Referred to the committee on ADJOURN
ment raised some days since.
By the same a resolution to repeal the resolution
of the late extra session to meet the 25th inst,
and that the legislature shall meet in regular ses-
sion on the = day of October next Referred to
the committee appointed some days since, on this
subject.
By Mr. Smith, of Macon resolution instructing
the finance committee to inquire into the expense In
CURED by the several Sherfs of the State in hold
ing the elections for delegates to this Convention,
and to report an ordinance to provide for the pay
ment of the same and the resolution was adopted.
By Mr. Wilson, resolution to amend the Con-
stitution of the State by striking out the 33d sec
tion and to provide for the election of Judges and
Justices of the Peace by the people. Referred to
the special committee on this subject.
By Mr.. Hamlin, resolution to amend the Con-
stitution so to allow soldiers having legal resi-
dence in this State to vote for all officers for which
the people have right to vote.
Mr.. Smith, of johnson, offered a substitute, pro-
viding for the appointment of a committee to in
quire into the expedency of adopting plan by
which soldiers belonging to this State, shall be al
lowed to vote in camp during the continuance Of
the present war. Lies over.
By Mr. Armfeld, resolution to so amend the
Constitution as to remove the restrictions on cer
gymen having the of souls to hold civil office.
Passed the first reading
Mr. Green moved to take up and consider his res
olution to go into the election of delegates to the
Confederate Congress- and the motion prevailed.
The resolution together with Mr.. HOlden's sub
stitute read.
The question being on the substitute
Mr.. Speed demanded the yeas and nays, and the
call was seconded
Mr.. Holden said that he was willing to re-insert
the number ten in his substitute, and would prefer
it, as all the other States except Virginia had ap-
pointed the number to which they formerly
entitled, and that he understood upon good author
ty that Virginia would follow the example
Mr.. Gorrell suggested that his motion to strike
out five" and insert 'eight" was pending when the
matter was postponed on Friday, and was sustained
by the chair.
The question was then on Mr.. Gorrers motion to
insert 'S, }" when
Mr.. Jones, of Rowan, moved to insert O.
The chair decided the motion to be out of order,
in the present state of the question.
Mr.. Ellison said he hoped the resolution would
be so shaped to provide for the election of two
delegates for the State at large by the Convention,
and of one for each Congressional district by the
people.
Mr. Holden asked division of the question, and
the motion to strike out being put, was decided in
the affirmative.
Mr.. Osborne said, when this question was under
discussion last week, he was in favor of the smaller
number, five but circumstances had since inclined
him to change his views, and he was now in favor
of sending two delegates for the State at large and
from each Congressional district as thereby the
State might be more fully and more generally rep
resented.
Mr.. Hicks was in favor of sending ten, but he
thought the Convention ought to elect them, and
no ct,hct itnfo ho tod
Mr. Mitchell moved to amend Mr.. Gorrelrs amend
ment, by making the eight proposed by him, to be
from the districts and adding two for the State at
large.
The chair decided the motion out of order
Mr. Spruil of BERTHE favored the appointment
of ten delegates but was not very choice as to the
manner of electing them.
Mr.. Green defended the original resolution intro
troduced by himself He had heard no good reason
to his mind, for sending larger number than five;
that the State will be entitled to but one vote in
the Congress- and five were sufficient to decide how
that vote should be cast As to referring the cleo
ton to the people, he did not believe they expected
or desired to have it referred to them.
Mr.. Gorrell said, if the idea of the gentleman
from Craven (Mr. Green) be carried out one would
be the proper number to send and on the other
hand, the reasons of the gentleman from Bertie
(Mr. Spruill) stronger in favor of twenty than
of ten. He thought eight the proper number, be-
q
chance to all parts of the State to be represented
and hence, there necessity for any more.
Mr.. Bond said he was in favor, when the subject
was up BEFORE Of eectng five delegates to the Con-
gress and he yet thought five enough, but he sees
there is disposition to send ten-therefore, he
shall vote for giving the election to the people
The question was then put on the motion to in
sert ''eight" and it was carried
The hour of eleven having now arrived, the Con-
vention took up the special orderthe ordinance to
adopt the Confederate States Constitution.
Mr.. Headen took the floor. He said he did not
intend to weary the Convention with long speech,
but desired to give the reasons for his position on
the question under consideration. He had listened
to the arguments adduced on both sides, and while
he was anxious not to agree to the proposition to
postpone, yet he had heard no arguments that, to
his mind, had met those of Mr. Graham, in favor of
giving time for mature deliberation and inves-
tigation. He was in favor of Mr.. Dicks amendment
to refer the ordinance to the people, and gave sew
eral reasons why this should be done
Mr.. Rayner read prOUis0, which he gave notice
he would offer at proper time, that provision shall
be made for North Carolina to participate in the
first Congress- and in the election of the first p es
ident.
Mr.. Rayner spoke at some length, on the points
of the question at issue, directing his arguments
mainly to points raised by Mr. Badger and Mr. Ruff
fin in regard to the authority for admitting other
States into the Confederacy, under the authority of
the Provisional and the Permanent Constitutions of
the Confederate States. We may give the speech
at length hereafter.
Mr.. Venable followed. He was in favor of the
immediate passage of the ordinance. He had no
doubt that North Carolina would acquire, by the
adoption of the permanent Constitution, all the
rights and privileges of the States that framed IT.
and read from the provisional Constitution and the
act providing for the reception of North Carolina in
to the Confederacy, to sustain his position
Pending his remarks, the hour arrived, and the
Convention took a recess until o'clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The Convention was called to order at o'clock
The President presented communication from
the Governor, transmitting copy of the articles
and regulations of war of the Confederate States.
A motion was made to print the usual number for
the nse of the ConYentinn