Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1865-01-31
stmi- Weeklq gtanlarA.
SPEECH OF MR.. HANEs,
OF DAVIDSON,


sisoIutions on the subject of General Convention
# the Cdhtsdsrats States:
WHEREAS, The present system of legislation BY
I. , Congress of the Confederate States, by which
iSs most oppressive and Unconstitutional laws have
H. en- passed from time to time by the votes of IT.
Sponslbte representatives from Missouri, Ken.
NJ Ky and other States, some Of whom have ntvsr
! ceded from the Government of the United States
mat have at this time their full quota of men in the
Ct: mics OF enemies and who therefore have no
til ist!tuentS upon whom the laws passed by them
. Uah operate, and some Of whom dare not even show
themselves In the States which they profess to re
present is al outrage to which free people ought
To submits
And, Whereas, Article OF the Constitution OF the
Go Ifederate States provides that Upon the de-
IN nd Of any three States, legally assembled in
their several Conventions, the Congress shall sum-
I'LL Convention Of all the Confederate States, to-
take into consideration such amendments to- the
Constitution as the said States shall concur in sug
e ring at the time when the said demand is made
an! should any of the proposed amendments to the
Constitution be agreed on by the said Convention
Nuag by States-and the same be ratified by the
LH:'satures Of twO-thlrds Of the several States
l.y Conventions in twothirdS thereof-as the one
ur Re other mode of ratification may be proposed
l,y tie general ConventiOn-they shall thencefor.
.las.i form part Of the Constitution. But no State
shall without its consent be deprived of its equal
repro Sentation" in the Senate.
Therefore, ReSolred That the Joint Select Com
Im!;.en on Confederate relations be instructed to
i,an'. and bring in bill calling Convention OF the
leryln u this State, submitting the question to
EHeln so as to enable them to assemble in C0nven-
tGn If a majority Of them should desire to do so,
f. tic purpose Of CO operating with any two other
States in calling Convention Of all the COnfeder-
ate 81 ties, for the purpose Of amending the Con-
E'ituljon to provide that hereafter the repre-
sent. ives Of any State or States, whose territory
i i'll lie hands Of the enemy that the Coufeder.
Al Il
ing the continuance OF such occupation by the enc
Ivy to permitted to vote upon any question of leg
islation, but shall have only such rights al
lweH to the delegates from the Territories of the
Confederate States; and of considering such other
amendments as the said three STATES shall concur in
Sgg ting.
Res tped, further, That State sovereignty being
Tie principle on which North Carolina and the other
States withdrew from the Federal Union, the States
composing the Southern COnfede scy SOvereign$,
a: III Confederate Government is only their agent,
AID II Jrct to their CONTROL and that the States in
'..r.r--'Tereign capacity, in General Convention as
$,llhti, have the right to negotiate peace with
the government Of the United States without con
Suts:i"n with the President of the COnfederat:
S.atc, but subject only to the subsequent rattica
= Il {" he several. States in their separate State
I'n"rvi.tions.
The above resolutions having been read, Mr..
HANTS said -
Nix SPEAKER:-In submit ng these resolutions
hf II" consideration of the House. desire to avail
ihys>h Jfthe privilege e discussing them and their
Kindred topics, with that boidness and freedom
Hh'c.. should characterize the debates of the
rr;'IC> natives of free people, when assembled for
I"c T,'rpose of legislating for them in trying and
pr! iis times.
o.. memorable occasion during the period Of
'he !r'cll;on Of her American culnnits the great
Eir al Chatham said in the British House OF l.Or,,
that rtj1ced that the Americans had resisted;
of
l.. Nc made slaves would De lit instruments for
~, h2 he remainder On another memorable c.
.a-n', i few years later, another eminent British.
u>i.;,n, who never received Justice at the hands
- :! =. H',npnra les, but whose memory will be hal
E.w.G i:g the admiration of posterity Mr.. Fox
,;Sc tie British :sOUSe OF Commons on tue sub
- Vf IA answer to the Kings speech, using III
r.ua. Die language: =" shall treat the speech
-. h Z as the speech of the Minister, and Ill.
,-rtck TO say that there is not single fact Sc
h. t.: : :: his A''s'S speech winch Is not '''=s
=. i liberty Of speech was allowed in the Bril-
t'"h Parliament three quarters of a century ago
-. III greater liberty may | venture TO take ii
I'.iS tic high noon of the nnercenth century,
rnr rrpr sentative of American freemen; especial
wr.,,r I emembcr that the freedom of debate an.
r''r firr :om of the press is guaranteed to me b.
two Constitutions, that of the State, ami
al the rOnfedcrats Sntcs
snail therefore, proceed TO discuss boldly, ant:
p.lt.tiOa of public policy which may have bee''
I'd .~ed necessary by the dreadful which TO:
tr H.; four years has been sweeping over this de-
vc:cd Ind like tornado, communicating or destroy
!, er'rything which came within its vortex, ane
ttl,h has spread pail over the whole land-hss
brought mourning into every family-has renderr'
lI:lrgJs of thousands of hearth stones deSOlae -
! 5e b. the lani with the MANNED and the dis
:, 4, J. th widows and orphans, and with squali
4~YI.hy.
Tie : resolutions; Mr.. Speaker, propose the ca
I! SEE Convention for the purpose Of CO Operb
liz, ~ the Conventions Of other States in cal
i..g invention of the Confederate Safes for IT,
+. ipoSe Of making certain specified amendmeI
the Confederate Constitution in pursuance u
te provisions of Article Of said Constitutio
c',rd ia the preamble. No argument therefore, Il
l., ceSsary to prove that the powers Of such Coz
: nJa- extend, to the making the proposed amen-,
= Sc. subject to the subsequent ratification of Il
1:-r,rll states The only argument necessary to
- ere is to prove tbs necessity OF such amenu
L.-..,a
Much unjust oppressive and unoonHtit"tona'
- On has been done within the last three year
The Confederate Congress. Nearly all the sacred
.htS If the States have been tramped in the dust
L. -; Vt law after cOnScrpt law has been passed
NIL i! entire militia system OF the States has been
.yc;t away. Exemption bill after exemption bill has
b,en M lifted or repealed until the whole male white
iIonr' on between the ages OF seventeen and NIFTY
1.s ith the exception Of the State officers, ed
iar$ rIinters and ministers OF the Gospel are sno,
Ct 70 lie control of tho military authorities. And
,.Sw L j! graveiy proposed to repeal all exemption
lax, allow no judges to hold ,, our courts no
man % legisIate for the States, publish newsPa-
r:r o. treaeh the Holy Gospel in pursuance OF MS
~,niSsop from Almighty God, without special
as.au f. 1m the President for that purpose, unless
sob person should be over fifty years of age More
IL -. onee has the privilege of the great writ of ha-
Gs eo,s,us been suspended to an exteht never con-
tcmpllt,d BY the Constitution. 1t has not only
hova suspended to all arresIs made Tor criminal
c.r ,se: lint Il has been suspended to deny to
ca. citizens inquiry through thai writ into the ex-