Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-12-14

Mr.. Phillips rose to make personal explanation.
He was ordinarily indisposed to read or make such
explanations and was willing that the general tenor
OF his conduct should slone rebnt allegations to his
prejudice. He deemed it. however, beth natural and
proper that in the present instance he should make
statement of facts with view to removing even
temporary prejudice. Charges had been made in
derogation of his right to seat in the House of
Commons He held it matter Of personal honor
la matter Of conscience that he should hold his
seat in strictest compliance with the provision of
the constitution. It had been alleged that at the
time of election he held an Office Of trust and pro
fit under the State government and that consequent.
" he had no right to his seat
Gov. Vance bad suggested, in his message to the
last Legislature, the appointment Of committee to
investigate the operations Of the State in blockade
running, etc The Legislature, instead Of appoint
ing committee of their own body, had appointed
him commissioner to investigate those matters
during vacation, and report to the succeeding Leg
isature. Had the Legislature appointed q commit.
tee of its own members to act in vacation, would
any one contend, he asked that their seats would
have been vacated by such commission The ap-
pointnent Of committees by legislative bodies to sit
in vacation were quite common. and such appoint
nsnts had never been regarded as "paces o: trust
or profit" otherwise their seats had been vacated
He did not however, put his defence on that
ground. When elected he was eligible, for he had
not accepted that position and before he took his
seat here he had discharged its duties and no long.
er held it Hany member Of the body questioned his
right he would only ask Committee of investiga-
ton.
These remarks elected from Mr.. Shepherd the
opinion that Mr. Phillips clearly entitled to hold
his seat-an opinion based upon the facts that Mr..
p had stated.
Mr.. Grissom rose to q question Of personal pri
vilege He said, Am incorrectly reported in two
Of the daily papers of this city, as having voted in
the election Confederate States Senator on yester
day for Hon. T. S. Ashe. Not expecting a ballot
so soon was absent from the Hall at the time OF
the election on business for some of my constitu'
| ents Had been present. should have voted as
had done in all the previous balotings for Hon.
E. G. Reade whose ability, patriotism and fidelity
entitle him to the confidence of the Conservative
party Of the country.
Mr.. Shepherd from the committee on Finance,
reported resolution in relation to the expenses
incurred by the State in executing the various con
script laws, which was adopted
Mr.. Caldwell, resolution requesting our Sena-
tors and Representatives in Congress to protest
against the imposition of tax by Congress upon
Treasury notes issued by this State Referred.
INTRODUCTION OF BILLS
Mr.. Harris, bill to incorporate Pedee Lodge
| No $50, Ancient York Masons.
MT. tdnn, UlIl u pIOVlu6 ZOE Tue 0OlQlDg OF
| Courts in the county Of Hartford.
Mr.. Faison, bill to incorporate the La Place
| High School,.
| On motion of Mr.. Waugh the House reconsider.
ed the vote by which was rejected, on its second
reading the bill to extend the time for perfecting
titles to lands heretofore entered The DILL was
then referred to the committee on Cherokee Lands
Leaves Of absence were granted Messrs. Davis.
Murphy, Patterson, Perkins, Shpp and Phillips
Tho odod 70, nHnic ho1
business, viz Mr. Fowles resolutions in relation
the suspension Of the privilege Of the writ OF ha
| beas corp,A.
Mr.. j. H. Headen, being entitled to the floor,
proceeded to advocate the passage of the resolutions
Mr.. Headen said that 3 number of measures
had passed the Confederate Congress, which he
regarded as violations of the constitution, and
none of which could receive his endorsement
He adverted to the enthusiasm of the people
at the commencement of the war which had call
ed into being an army composed exclusively
| of volunteers whose equal the world had never
seen. The people had sprung spontaneously to arms
with an alacrity unequalled in the annals of hsto.
~ and yet twelve months had hardly elapsed ere
Congress passed an act of holesale CONSUMPTION,
which he did hesitate to characterize as unconsti-
tutiona and oppressive. 1t not only unnecessa.
~ bnt was alien to the genius Of free people-ths
idea having been drawn from despotic governments
/ in Europe. This measure was followed by others
equally unconstitutional fact every leading mec-
sure Of the administration evinced like disregard
of the sacred guarantees of the constitution. An
act had been passed violating the plighted faith of
the government to the fulfllment Of contracts with
its own people. Though the act in question did not
wholly annul those contracts, it was still repudia
ton pro tanto.-He alluded with indignation to the
studous defamation Of this State certain quarters
and paid high tribute to the galantry of our SOL
diers and the loyalty of our people.
He proceeped to deprecate another suspension of
the writ of hn6eas corpus endorsed the resolutions
under discussion as consisting Of legal truisms and
announced his unalterable opposition to a suspen-
| sion Of the writ under any circumstances
Pending the discussion, the hour arrived for the
execution Of the joint order for comparing the votes
cast in the August election for Governor. The
Senators assigned seats to the left of the Chair
and the Clerks and Teers under the supervision Of
the Speakers Of the two Houses proceeded to count
| the votes.
| Mr. Patterson, one of the Te[lers on the part of
the Senate subsequently submitted the following
| report:
| For Zebulon B. vanca -57,s7s votes.
Nv. W. Holden, l4,452
| Majority for z. B. Vance, 43,44l votes
The Speaker Of the Senate pursuant to this re-
port declared q. B. Vance, Governor elect Of the
State Of North Carolina for two years from tire LIST
| of January next
1ue Oeu2I0 feturneO 70 tOelr CuamO6f, ana the
| House adjourned until Tomorrow morning 10
| o'clock.
SENATE
| SATURDAY, December 10, 1854.
REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES
On Propositions and Grsepances. on
a memorial from citizens of Rutherford county in
regard to the distillation Of grain. Favorably on
an engrossed bill to prohibit the dstillaton of spir.
| itous LIQUORS