The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-12-16
n. G. LEGISLATURE.
TUEsDAn December 9.


SENArE.-The bill to prevent the harboTiHg
of deserters passed its second reading.
The resolutions to pay ministers of the gospel
for oneping the sessions Of the Legislature with
nrarer, was rejected on its second reading.
Nr Young introduced resolutions in regard to
currency.
HOrsE.-Mr Brown offered a resolution that
the committee on Finance enquire into the e%-
nediencv of an increased issue of Treasury bills
Mr. Costner introduced bill to Incorporate
Daniels Church 0utheran) in Lincoln county.
The bill to enable the County Courts to estab-
lish work houses in connection with the jalls,
passed its third reading.
Mr. Amis from the Committee OF Conference on
the bill to prevent dstiaton of spirits, reported
that the Senate sgrced to the Houses amendment
with reference to peanuts" ''sugar cane seed,
and .riee" and that the act should be in force
from and after she lst Of January, 1868. House
receded from its amendment, and adopted that OF
the Senate, 500 dollars fine and 90 days imprlson-
ment anu also rcceded from the clause relative to
the expectation Of corn for distillation.
MILITARY BILLS.
Mr. Grissom presented a minority report from
the Committee on Military Affairs, with bill, as
a substitute for that proposed by the majority of
the committee. 1t proposes to raise 10000 men
by volunteering The men to elect their own
company officers.
MIR Stancil introduced bill for the defence of
the State. 1t proposes to raise six regiments of
infantry and calls out the members aud officers of
the General Assembly, Attorney General and
County Solicitors, and all men between Is and
80 not married.
Mr. Grissom moved to substitute the minority
bill presented by him for that reported by the
majority of the committee through Mr. Person.
= / 49,. q
Mr. Grissoms, aud called for the yeas and nays
Mr. Person, as chairman of the Military Com
mttee explained the general features Of the bill
and the motive and reasons which induced the
committee to adopt it. 1t provides for raising
5000 men by voluntary enlistment before the lst
of January 1868, and, after that period, by con-
scription. The constitution and the laws passed by
the Congress Of the Confederate States are the
supreme laws of the land; yet both substitutes
propose direct cohfict between the State and
Confederate authorities. la 1882 this would be
termed nuifcation, and it would require more
forcible arguments than he had yet heard. to sup
port the consttutionality Of these measures He
cared not for the number Of men raised, or whether
the officers appointed by the Governor or
elected by the men. ii was at the request Of the
Executive that the clause authorizing the Gov
ernOr to appoint all the company, field and staff
officers, introduced, as he Governor said he
could select efficient men to command and drill
the raised regiments. He knew election was
more popular but when the interests of the State
were concerned, he would follow his own iudc-
ment. There We're secret reasons we'll known to
the members, but which he could not make pub
lie, for deciding that 5000 would be sufficient, but
if than that number were necessary, he
would willingly give them. Under the commit
tees bill the Confederate Government would pay
all expenses, but by the other bills the expense
would fall upon the State His bill had no high
or rank than Colonel, while the substitutes put
the State 10 the expense of several Brigader
Generals BY putting them under the command
Of the Confederate Generals appointed to defend
the State all danger Of collision was avoided He
was, for the sake Of uniformity, ready to yield at
all points, that Of multiplying a law of Con-
greSs.- That he would not yield to, and concluded
by appealing to the House for unanimous sup
port of the bill
The House rejected Mr Stanciil's substitute,
yeas 9, nays 81.
Mr. Person said those who had any doubts Of
the cOnstitutonaiity Of the conscript law ought to
sacrifice them in favor of a unity Of action, that
would move without jar or conflict lie pointed out
minor differences between the bill and Mr. Girls
SONS substitute. He Of the unpopu-
larity of appointing the officers, but the Gov
ernor's opinion that he could select more efficient
to the House for un2nimity. He was willing to
amend the bill by allowing the Governor, with
permission of the President &C the Confederate
States to accept of volunteers within the con-
script ages. He answered the objections made by
Mr. Fowle and spoke at some length, with much
force anaefect, in support Of the BILL and against
the risk and danger of collision with the Confed-
crate authorities, which would follow from adopt
ing the substitute
AT the conclusion of Mr. Persons speech Mr.
Burgin moved that Mr. Grissom's bill be printed,
and made the order of the day for Tuesday at IL
o'clock.
WEDNESDAY, December 10
SEHATE.-The resolution requesting our Rem
resentatves, and in5ructing our Senators in
Congress to urge the repeal of certain clauses of
the exemption act was considered on its third
reading. Mr Graham admitted that the law had
many defects and the discrimination here alluded
to not among the least. But if the law
should assume that duty. Mr. Brown thought the
law had tendency to array shareholders against
n0n-Slaveholders, and those owning the number
affordirg exemption against those less Fortunate
The discrimination he thought was, with many
others, unwise. 1t operated prejudically to the
border States and those adjoining, and in favor of
the cotton States, because slaves being more
numerous in the cotton States, the proportion of
those owning 20 was greater there than liz the
border States, where majority were non-save-
holders. Mr. Ellis favored the passage of the
resolution, and stated from facts coming under
his observation, that unless that portion of the
law In question was repealed it would tend to the