Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-12-13
HOUSE OF COMMONS.


The House was called to order at 10 o'clock A. NJ.
The Journal Of yesterday was read and approved
Mr.. Brown, OF Mecklenburg, presented the state
ment of the Bank of Charlotte, which was referred
to the committee on finance.
Leaves of absence were granted Messrs. Baxter,
Russ and johnson.
BILLS INTRODUCED.
Mr.. Sharpe a bill to make the robbery of dwell
ing houses a capital offence
Mr.. HancS, bill to incorporate VIM. R. Davie
Lodge No. 81, of Free and Accepted Masons, in the
town Of Lexington.
Mr.. Murphy, a bill to provide more effectualy for
reclaiming Swamp Lands
An engroSsed bill from the Senate, to amend an
act entitled "an act to amend the Charter of the
Shelby Brord River Companz."
The unfinished business of yesterday viz bill
to extend the time for perfectng titles to lands here
tofore entered was taken up.
Mr.. Horton, Of Watauga, urged its passage, and
the gu ston recurring the bill did not pass its Sec
Ond reading
The following bills passed their third read
ing:
bill for the relief ofPowell, Lowe Company
bill in relation to alimony; bill to repeal an act
to prevent distinctions in the Big Swamp by means
OF fish traps bill to incorporate the Confederate
Joint Stock Publishing Company bill to author
Izs the payment of bounty to citizens of this State
in the naval service bill for the relief of Hugh B.
Gurthrie, late sheriff Of Orange County; bill to
incorporate the Lnville Steel and Iron Company
bill to incorporate the Cranberry Iron Works.
BILLS ON THIRD READING.
bill for the support of the n q. Institution for
the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind, was referred on
motion Of Mr.. McAden, 10 the committee on finance.
bill for the relief of William Stewart, of BERTHE
county, was referred to the committee on the judi
ciary.
passed its second reading.
At IL o'clock A NJ the House resumed the con-
sideaton Of the resolutions in relation to the suspen
sion of the privilege Of the writ Of habeds corpus.
Mr.. Carter said he should feel guilty of some
Surance, were he to essay to address the House at
all fully, as to the legal aspect presented by these
resolutions. The legal points involved had been
discussed ever since the second suspension of the
writ by the Confederate Congress. The first sus-
pension was a fragrant and open violation of the
Constitution, but owing to the intense military
thusiasm which pervaded the country, it had excited
alarm. But another and still another suspension
followed Congress deleg ,ting to the President pow
ers 1t did not possess. These measures enumerated
no less than thirteen specific offences for which the
suspension should be authorized, and then for the
first time alarm and anxiety were awakened The
Legislature and Governor Of Georgia and the Leg
lslature and Governor Of North Carolina entered
their solemn protest against these violations of the
Constitution endangering the rights of the peo-
pie. Now, fourth suspension of the writ was
threatened, and warned by the experience Of three
former attempts, Congress, he said, might possibly
succeed without violating law though to this he
for one, unalteraby opposed These resolu-
tons present ed matter for practical legislation. The
action of the Legislature in May last rendered nee
essary by the condition of affairs, only in form
Of protest Thirty days after the adjournment of
Congress, that suspension ceased, but the sus-
pension Of the writ opened up questions of the gra
vest import in tina midst of revolution
1t might be said that our experience under pre-.
vious suspensions was not of character to excite
alarm hut neither North Carolina nor any other
State could permit at this time safeguard after safe
guard to be encroached upon. The last Congress
had materially modified tie conscript laws. The
whole oody of the people between the ages Of sew.
enteen and fifty bad been swept into the army
What an immense power did these laws place in
the hands of one man. In time of peace the dele
CATION OF such power would more than suffice to
annihillte the Constitution. A refusal 10 try the
question whether citizens owed military service
subVersiVe of personal liberty, and put it in the