Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-01-16
STATE LEGISLATURE.

that no quorum having been present at any
time, no business had been transacted.
large number of memorials, petitions and bills
were introduced and referred to appropriate
committees, which will be noticed when they
come up for action.
The bill heretofore reported for calling a
State Convention was made the order of the
day for the 9th. The bill to amend the 6lst
chapter of the revised code, entitled internal
improvements was rejected on the End rea-
ding.
Mr.. Turner presented a resolution, asking
for information from the Governor as to wheth-
CT he had been asked forces to take and de-
fend any of the forts on the coast of North
Carolina; if so, by whom, and what his reply
to this application was On motion of Mr..
Avery, this resolution was laid on the table.
HousE-Jan. THE journal from both
Dec. CAST day a quorum appeared) to 9th Jan,
was read and adopted.
Proceedings Of public meetings in various
counties were read and laid on the table
Most or all of these meetings passed resolu-
tons opposing dissolution for existing causes,
in favor of arming the State and for resistance
to any aggression by a black republican ad-
miniStration.
4 large number of bills were introduced
and referred to appropriate committees, which
will be noticed when they come up for final
action.
A bill to authorize the holding a Court of
Oyer and Terminer, in the county of Caswell,
to try all slaves now in Jail in that county
charged with rape and other felonics, was read
first time and on motion of Mr.. Till. the Iule
was suspended and the bill read the second
and third time, passed and ordered to be en-
crossed and sent to the Senate.
The bill for calling a State Convention was
made the order of the day for the 9th.
JAN. -Senate-Among others, resolu-
TORS were introduced-to inquire into the
eXpcdicncy Of reducing the tax on mer-
chants to exempt all arms from taxation du-
ring the present crisis TO inquire into the
expediency of taxing negro hire.
. The following bills and resolutions passed
: their Sd readings and were ordered To bc tn
!. grossed-to autho Use j. ii. Allen, late shcr-
i'll OF Brunswick, to collect arrearageS of tax
> es in favor of John Pate to authorize the
surcties of w. Pollock, late sheriff of Jones.
4 to collect arrcarages of taxes; to amend Sd
sec, S5th chap. rev. statutes, entitled Pr
lots.
! The bill to amend chap. 101 rev. code, so
I" as to make all men do equal work on roads,
- ferries, &C.. was lost-aycS Is, nays %. The
, house bill for holding a special term Of court
in Caswell, passed three readings and was
ordered to be enrolled.
Several bills passed second readings, which
7 will be noticed when they come up for final
action.
NJ. Turner introduced a series of resolu-
tons, comprising those offered in the L. ;.
e Senate, on federal relations, by Senator Crit
10 uenden. and an endorsement OF the same. Or
- dered to be printed.
ry House OF CoYNoSs-Jdn S.-The Speaker
OF announced the House branch of the joint
ne committee on slaves and free negroes, viz
ry Messrs. Marsh, Woodland, Davis of Mecklen-
at burg, Davis of Ruth'd and Pope. The pro.
ceedings of various public meetings were
on read and laid on the table. A number of me-
nal MORALS were presented, also reports of COM
tee mitteeS, resolutions and bills introduced, all
re- of which we will notice when taken up for
final action. The bill to appropriate 100000
APP to arm and equip the State, was taken up
nd and after several Intellectual attempts tC
IN amend the bill, it passed its third and las
IN reading-yeas 70. nays &c.
his JAN. 9.-Sendte-After reading the pro
T. ~ceedings of a number of public meetings
I'M the Senate went into committee Of the whole
IA. and took up the bill for calling a State Con
%vention on federal affairs. Mr.. Avery pre-
VS. scented a substitutes for the bill, and said tina
du- the bill reported by the committee r"qnir~
on, a restricted convention, and that his bill pc
oe posed to make it an open convention, an
IL. required a two-thirds vote of the ASsembl
was to call it; said that he had omitted the eat
SIS because he did not think the General Assem-
ade bly, had power to restrict the convention.
nat The substitute was read.
Mr.. Turner rave notice that he would. O
tomorrow, or at some future time, move
the amend the bill by giving the convention pc,
sub or tn so amend the constitution of the Sta
sat as to tax slaves, that had not hitherto be-
t to taxed, as property under the constitution.
a to Mr.. Brown of Caswell opposed The subs
the tute. He said that when the bill was reportt
ohtl- it was thought that a majority Of the Leg
la'ure could call a convention, but that n
lrls- he was of the opinion that no convent
not should be called without the concurrence
the two-thirds of that body; that he could +
WIS give his assent to the proposition contain
even in the substitute of the Senator f. ON Bur
y ac- to omit the oath that it had been
f the custom and the LEGISLATURE had n rirht
On on prescribe an oath and to limit the power
a convention, because it was the creature
on OF that body ; that there was a marked diff
lrred ence between a convention called by
as at Legislature ard ote called BY the people
N the Mr.. B.. did not believe IT, making the pee
state, the servants of any sort of a convention
d on convention, if called, should be the serv
times of the people-should reflect their views
we sentiments.
J EN- Mr.. Avery thought Mr.. Il. had propC
In tue to dictate to the people. He was sorry
gave lose the vote of the gentleman on this q
on OF ton thought that the bill would pas
ana as some such shape as proposed in his am
that ment. Saw no hope for the Union but II
SUB c~ession of every Southern State, and a re-
action struction of the Government. lie OPP
ioPted delay on this subject said that before
Convention was held perhaps every SO
hreth- ern State, with the exception Of Nary
re, who would be out of the Union, and that y
Grand Carolina would be forced out, by surraun
eek re- circumstances.
but II Mr.. Brown said that Mr.. Avery's su
usual tute to the bill had prescribed rules for
factory Convention, viz: the time of meeting
pubic the manner in which delegates are to be
ted he therefore thought it might be flu
restricted.
Mr.. Avery said that there was no p
dent to the proposition of Mr.. Brown
VS. that submit the Convention question to the
,ertin o pie.
The debate was further continue
SUI Messrs- Avery, Brown, Erwin and Barr
num- On motion Of Mr.. Avery the CONN
10, and rose, and through their chairman,
friends Speight, asked to lie allowed to conside
:. -, question to morrow at II o'clock.
ou' The Senate agreed to the report
to committee.