Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1865-02-10
HOUSE OF COMMONS.
TUESDAY. Z O'clock. A. J

TUESDAY, o'clock, A. n.
Mr.. Fowle presided in the absence of the Speaker
The House concurred in an amendment proposed
by the Senate, to the bill to amend act entitled
an act to promote the efficiency Of the Home Guard
Organization.
The following engrosSed bills and resolution
passed their several readings under suspension
of the rules viz bill to amend the charter of the
town of Salisbury bill to give jurisdiction to the
Superior Court of Wilson county, and resolutions
to raise joint committee to investigate abuses By
Railroad companies of their chartered privileges,
etc.
Mr.. Benbury offered the following resolution
which was unanimously adopted:
Rssolued, Messrs. R. S. Tucker principal and
Jno A. Stanly, Assistant Clerks of this House. arc
hereby rendered the thanks of this House for the
faithful discharge of their duties
Mr.. Benbury also introduced the following:
ReSotUed, That the Hon. r. S. Donnell is entitled
to, and hereby rendered the thanks Of the House
of Commons for the able dgnif1ed and satisfactory
manner in which he has discharged the duties of
Speaker during the session of this Legislature.
In support of this Mr.. Grissom said
cannot in justice to my feelings, permit this op-
portunity to pass without bearing testimony. to
what honestly and consciously believe to be the
extraordinary claims OF the highly meritorous in
cumbent Of the Speakershp of this House of Com
mons.
Without attempting what is perhaps not practi-
of any one of our public stations or our peculiar
obligations to any one of our public fnnctionaries,
l can say without doing violence to the truth that
with but few exceptions none is of more conse-
Guence to the public interest than Speakershp to
the General Assembly, and none more deserving
of esteem and confidence for public virtues and
substantial attainments than the able and distn-
gushed gentleman who has presided over the de.
hberationS OF this House with much ability and
satisfaction.
This is the popular branch of one of the CO.
ordinate departments OF the goTernment-heEe the
popular UM upon all subjects of public policy is
supposed to be well understood and faithfully re-
hected.
And upon the ORDER conduct and management of
its deliberations, depend to q great extent that
successful and proper legislation which promotes
the honor, the interest and the glory of North.
Carolina
1t is no ordinary compliment to be called upon
to preside the deliberations and to be made in
legal and parliamentary sense the representative
embodiment of the House of Commons as y sovereign
State, but it is much enFiable distinction TO
have exercised and performed these high functions
with acknowledged satisfactory and successful
ability.
The present incumbent was chosen to ill this
important position, in highly complimentary man.
ner more than two years ago, at time Of extraor-
binary political interest and peril. The State and
the country in crisis that no period Of their
previous history of any part of the American con-
tinent had witnessed-overHhelmed by the clash Of
resoundng arms and convulsed by political upheav-
ings unparalleled in point Of ferceneSs and magni-
| tude in ancient or modern times.
Extraordinary emergencies might we'll be sup
posed to require extraordinary Efforts and extraor.
binary. qualifications to meet and equal them. And
as if TO make the occasion Still more embarrassing
in the general metamorphosis of affairs new par.
ties sprang into existence and found their repre-.
sentatives upon this floor, whose insxperienee IN
parliamentary and legislative usages Afforded nc
additional to the duties Of The Speakers chair
| He brought to their discharge, however, hrmnesE
with torbearGnee and ability with tolerance Dur
| ing all that eventual period, down to the present
moment the responsible duties Of legislator have
not been Of easy performance. 80,
To give proper aid, strength and support TO th'
general government in its various CLAIMS in the ex
ercise of its jurisdiction and to protect cherish
maintain intact the landmarks of ciyil freedom ant
States Rights As conferred on the enc hand and re
served on the other by that instrument which ",
have sworn to regard is legislative responsibility
of no ordinary moment. Aud he is fortunate VII,
can leave these Halls with . consciousness of haV
| ing performed it, with satisfaction to himself ant
advantage to his country and fidelity to his consti
| tuents. .-.--- ss go.
Amidst al the conflicting views upon policy OF
principle among ourselves there has been no differ