Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-06-12

mcnC 70 reIer 10 tuo peopio. LILO ASuioA no WV
listened to attentively throughout and were well re-
ceived by all of all opinions.
Mr.. Graham said he had made the motion to post
pone in order to remove difficulty which existed
in his mlnd in regard to some of tho provisions OF
the Constitution. He believed good had resulted
from the discusson-he would withdraw the motion,
and offer proriso that North Carolina shall have
an equal participation with the other States in the
first Congress and in the election of the first Pres
dent under the permanent Constitution. :,
Mr. Badger opposed the proviso, because ne SAID
q conditional ratification was no ratification at oil,
and cited the views of Mr. Madison in regard to the
case of New York.
Mr.. Graham said he had as much confidence in the
parties to the Constitution, but as plain bust
ness matter it would be better to have everything
put down so that there may be no misunderstood
ing. He alluded to the Virginia ordinance of ratfi-
cation-that Florida had attached condition.
Mr.. Rufin said that Virginia had made an abso-
lutte ratification, but had passed separate declara-
tion and that the Same was true of Florida Thinks
the adoption of the proviso would lead to perplexi-
ties.
Mr.. Kittrell said that he presumed that no gentle
man here would be willing to adopt the Constitution
if the rights alluded to in the proviso are not guar
antied to the Statesome thought they were, others
had doubts-the proviso could do no harm, and that
all could vote for it.
Mr.. Graham demanded the yeas and nays, and the
call was seconded.
The yeas and nays were then ordered and result
ed-yeas Sc, nays 70.
Mr. Speed offered an amendment to the effect that
North Carolina reserves unto herself the right to re-
sumo the powers herein delegated to the Confederate
Stales government whenever, in the opinion of
Convention of the people such q measure becomes
necessary
Mr.. Rayner said he supposed that all the original
secessionists would vote for the amendment, and
the original Union men against it.
Mr.. Speed said he had never believed the right of
secession recognized in the Constitution, but is
said by authority that the government ofthe Con-
ederate States incorporates the principle in its Con-
stituton and if this is the doctrine and this State
goes into the new government with that understand
ing, it ought to be so stated in the ordinance
Mr.. Ashe The abstract proposition is correct, but
don't embarrass this ordinance by migrating the
amendment upon it.
Mr.. Barnes asked if any member here denied the
right claimed in the amendment
Mr.. Craige believed the right Of secession was
recognized in the old Constitution. He explained
the difference in the two Constitutions on this subject
Mr.. Barnes said he was not arguing the abstract
principle of secession, its recognition under the
old Constitution, but he wishes to know if any one
here denies the right under the Constitution Of the
new government into which we are about to enter.
If under this Constitution State concludes to 60
out who is to be the judge of Its right to do sou
If North Carolina wishes to 60 out who is to forbid
her? Then if we have this right, what objection
can there be in expressing it in the ordinance adopt
ing the new government?
Mr. Leake, of Richmond, was sorry that the ques-
ton of secession had been alluded to. He had al
ways been in favor of the principle of secession as
abstract right and since the result of the Peace
Conference last winter had been in favor of its
practical application He objected to the amend
ment-it is Pathological the principle being clear
ly incorporated in the Constitution ITSELF there is
no use repeating it by adding amendment for
the purpose. Let this amendment be proposed in
separate proposition, and he would 60 for it
Mr.. Warren offered an amendment but the chair
decided it out of order
Mr.. Satterthwaite rose to a privileged question.
The amendment of the gentleman from Guilford,
(Mr. Dick had been temporarily withdrawn the
amendment of the gentleman from Orange, (Mr.
Graham,) had been rejected; the gentleman from
Pasquotank, mr. SPEEDY had offered an amendment
which was now pending, and to this the gentleman
from Beaufort (Mr. Warren, had offered his amend
ment, which being simply an amendment to an
amendment was in order.
The chair stated that the ordinance under consid-
eratior was itself an amendment to the original to
this, Mr.. Speed has offered an amendment and no
other amendment was in order until that was dis
posed of.
Mr. Hicks said he believed in the right of seces-
sion but he could not 60 for this amendment-it
would embarrass the ordinance he believed it was
introduced for that purpose
Mr.. Satterthwate called the gentleman to order.
The chair said that no delegate could impugn the
motives of others.
Mr. Hicks resumed, and said he had not intended
any personal offence; he thought what he had said
was true, therefore he expressed it and then made
further remarks with regard 20 the amendment
Mr.. Osborne said that all such amendments pro.
posed to such solemn ordinance were unfortunate,
as giving rise to discussion which can do no good
Mr.. Speed said, that so fa- as the accusation of
the gentleman from Haywood (Mr. Hicks was con-
cerned all he had to say was he would have thought
that that gentleman had better heart He had no
wish to acerate old wounds; he did not think that
gentleman would have objected to the endorsement
Of principle which many of them seemed to hold
'as dear as the wives of their bosoms. But as gen.
t'emen seemed so sensitive on the subject, he would
withdraw the amendment
Mr.. Dick again offered his amendment referring
the ordinance to vote of the people, and it de-
manded the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays being ordered, were taken and
resulted yeas 3s, nays rs, as follows:
Nays-Mr President Messrs Arlington Ashe,
Badger, Barnes, Bachelor Battle of Edgecombe,
Biggs, Brodnax, Brown, Bunting Carson, Craige
Cunningham, Darden, Dillard Durham, Foster of As6e
Fuller, Green, Greenlee, Grimes, Hamlin, Hargrove
Hearne, Henkel, Hicks Holmes, Houston of Duplin
Houston Of Union Howard johnson of CASTOR
johnson ofMecklenburg, Jones Of Rowan, Lander,
Leake Of Anson Leake of Richmond. Mcdowell Of
Bladen, Mcdowell Of Burke, Mcdowell of Madison,
Mcneil Of Cumberland, McNeill of Harnett,
Meares, Mebane Miller, Moody, Mosely Myers, Os-
borne, Penland, Pettigrew, Phifer. Rayner, Reid,
Rhodes, Royster, Rufin, Satterthwate, Shaw Shipp,
Smith of Halifax, Switzerland, Stewart, Strong,
Thomas Of jackson, Thompson Thornton. Tracy,
Turner, Venable, Ward, Washington, Whitford,
Williams Woodfn and Wooten-75
Teas-Messrs. Allison, Armfeld, Battle Of Wake,
Berry, Bond, Galloway, Cannon, Christian, Council,
Davidson, Dick, Douthit Filler, Ellison, Ferebee,
Gilmer, Cornell, Graham, Headen, Holden, Jones Of
Caldwell, Kittrell, Long, Manu. Manning Merritt,
Mitchell, Sanders, Smith of Johnston, Smith of Ma
con- Speed Sprouse, Spruill Of Bertie Spru of Tyr
re, Thomas of Carteret, Walton, Warren and viii.
! son-38
nF. IL L