Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1865-01-27
HOUSE OF COMMONS.


The House was called to order at II o'clock
A. NJ.
Prayer by Rev. Mr.. Pritchard, of the Baptist
Church.
Mr.. Gudger presented petition from citizens of
Madison county, praying that certain changes be
made IN the boundary line of said county. Refer.
red to the committee on propositions and grieV-
ances.
Mr.. Benbury offered the following resolutions in
reference to the arrest and confinement of DR.. II.
p. Ritter:
WHEREAS, 1t has been represented to this Geher-
al Assembly, that on the 9th day of December,
1864, DR.. II. P. Ritter, citizen Of the county of
Chowan, was arrested at Weldon by Col. Parham,
Provost Marshall and detained and sent to Rich
mond by COL P. c. Gaillard and there imprisoned
until returned on demand Of the Governor of this
State: and, whereas, the ground upon which said
arrest is said to have been made were of feeble
and unsatisfactory nature as to raise reasonable
apprehension in the minds of all goods citizens that
the same outrage may be perpetrated upon every
one passing Weldon: and whereas, the harsh and
cruel treatment of said Henry P. Ritter by the au-
thorites at Weldon, represented to this General
Assembly, can be viewed only as a base and inhu.
man use Of power to Cypress and torture under the
pretence of combining suspected parties therefore,
ResotUed, That the Governor is hereby instructed
to institute immediate and searching enquiry
into the circumstances of said arrest and detention
Of the said Henry P. Ritter and should it appear
that said arrest was based on insufficient grounds
that his treatment after his arrest was unusually
harsh or severe, he shall demand of the Confeder-
ate government the immediate arrest and trial of
the said ColoneS, Parham and P. @. Gaillard and
all other officers at said post voluntarily concerned
in any part of said transaction, that was contrary
to law and right necessarily offensive cruel in
its execution.
ResOl1ed, That the expenses attending this in
Yestigation be paid by the State and that the Gov
10 nv tn nv
from the Public Treasurer such sums as may be
necessary for the same
Papers were submitted with these resolutions
setting forth that DR.. Ritter after his arrest was
treated with great indignty; was refused permits
sion to communicate with his friends; was not al
lowed to send to the hotel for his oveIcoat; and
was confined in a log pen for two days, being al
lowed at night neither light nor fire. He was then
sent to Richmond and imprisoned in Castle Thun-
der. While there he was treated with unnecessary
%Igor-was inadequately fed and denied permission
to purchase food. On the 18th ult, he was exam
ined and the board of examiners declared there was
no just cause for his arrest or detention. Notwith-
standing this decision he not released until the
14th On arriving in Weldon after his release, he
found that his trunk had been broken open while
in possession of the Provost Marshall and ried of
portion Of its contents. Illness consequent upon
exposure, caused the death of one of DR.. Ritter's
servants, who was arrested at the same time The
arrest was oasea only upon an anonymous letter,
purporting to have been written by an officer of
Hoke's division and asserting that DR.. Ritter was
spy; that he had received q bride of $40 900 to go
to Salisbury and communicate to the enemy the
state of the deences, &c, in that locality. copy
Of this letter was read by the Clerk
Mr. Cobb moved to amend by striking out the
word demand" and inserting the word "request."
Not agreed to-
Messrs. Benbury, Mann and Caldwell, urged the
passage Of the resolutions which, after discussion,
were adopted unanimously.
An engrossed resolution to authorize the Gov
ernor to send State supplies to the town of Will
mington for the support of citizens, put on its
several readings.
This resolution authorizes the sending Of 10, 900
lbs. of bacon, 800 sacks Of -four and 100 bbls. Of
corn to Wilmington, from the State CommisSariat,
to be paid for or returned in kind
Mr.. Grissom moved to amend by authorizing the
Commissioner OF Granville county to make like
purchase for the benefit of INDECENT citizens of said
county.
Mr.. Cowles moved to amend the amendment by
adding also the county of Yadkin.
Mr.. Lowe moved to amend by adding the county
of Davidson. This was ruled out of order, an
amendment TO an amendment already pending.
,Messrs. Fowle and Mclean opposed the amend
ment which was subsequently, withdrawn by Mr..
Grissom.
Mr.. Russell moved to amend by providing that
portion Of these supplies be appropriated to sup