The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-06-06
Proceedings Of the Convention.
ADJOURNED SESSION.
TUESDAY, MAY 29th, 1856


TUESDAY, May Goth, 1866.
Mr.. Mebane introduced resolution grant
ing the use of the Hall on the night of the
31st inst, to the use of the Young Mems
Christian Association of this City for the
purpose of a lecture, the proceeds to be ap-
piled to the care of the graves of Confederate
soldiers.
Mr.. Pearsall, resolution for relief of the
people by suspending collection of taxes.
MI. Jones, of Davidson, moved to take up
his resolution to raise committee on the
subject of salaries and fees, which was agreed
to. The following committee was appoint
ed: Messrs. Jones, Grissom, Harris of Gull
ford, and Bingham.
Mr.. Dockery, a resolution to raise a COM
mittee of five to take into consideration the
propriety of selling the States interest in the
Western n C. r. R. to any company of cap
italists that will finish the road to Cleave-
land, Tenn.
Gen. Dockery said he would make few
explanatory remarks. Forty years ago he
had embarked in the internal improvement
movement and had ever advocated judi
cious system for the development of the
State He had attended Convention held
in the Methodist Church in Raleigh in 1885,
attended by many prominent gentlemen, the
purpose of which was to encourage the estab-
lishment of internal improvements He drew
his ideas from series of essays written by
Dr. Caldwell, about that time, advocating a
Grand Trunk railroad from the seaboard to
the mountains He still adhered to the
original plan, and believed that it was the
best that could be devised.
The Grand Trunk had nearly been built
The Western extension alone remained un
finished, and in the present condition of
State finances could not be finished On the
contrary he learned that it was sinking near
ly $1,000 per week. The State treasury
could not bear up under this expense.
And here his plan came in for relief. He
proposed to sell the States interest to COM
pany of capitalists, who would pledge them
selves to finish the road to Tennessee. Vir-
ginia had done the same thing, and so had
New York in q similar condition of affairs.
1t would be a paying bargain to the State, if
by parting with s5,O00,O0O worth of an un-
finished work, they would secure the con-
struction of $15,C00,0 900 worth and the COM
pletion of system of internal improvement,
that would develop all the material interests
of the State, and greatly enhance the value of
our other railroads
Mr.. Love, of Jackson, moved to amend by
making the number of committee seven in
stead of five. Accepted.
Mr. Patterson moved to amend so as not
to restrict the Tennessee terminus to Cleaye-
land alone. Accepted.
The resolution was then passed, and the
following committee was appointed: Messrs
Dockery, Patterson, Eaton, Caldwell of
Burke, Ferebee, Buxton and Brown.
A majority report from the committee on
magistrates was submitted, with an ordi-
nance to amend the 33d section of the Con-
stitution. providing for the limitation in
number and election by the people of magis-
trates.
Mr.. Garland, a minority report from same
committee Both were read and laid over
under the rules
Mr. Logan introduced an ordinance for the
relief of the counties of Rutherford and Polk.
He moved to suspend the rules and put the
ordinance upon its several readings, which
was not concurred in.
Mr.. McRae, an ordinance to ratify and
confirm the right of way of the counties OF
| Harnett, Cumberland and Moore, Ill the
Western Plankroad
Mr.. King, an ordinance extending the
time for settlement of taxes by sheriffs and
tax collectors to the 31st of December next.
Referred to the Finance committee.
| UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
An ordinance concerning debts of the
State to be hereafter contracted, which pro-
vides that no appropriations shall he made
| by the Legislature, unless by majority OF
the members of each House. the yeas and
nays to be recorded upon each reading was
taken up and read.
The question being upon Mr. Love of
Jackson's amendment, which provides that
| the restrictions of the above ordinance shall
not apply to works of internal improvement
already chartered and begun,
Mr.. Moore, of Wake, inquired of the gen
tleman from jackson, whether he had con-
| sidered and could tell how many works Of
internal improvement in this State would be
covered by his amendment9 He apprehen
ded that it had not entered the gentleman's
mind how many there were. Mr.. Moore
then referred to his devotion to the interests
of internal improvements in this State He
! alluded to the extraordinary revival of oul
railroads since the war, which proved then
to be a necessity; and said that nothing
could be more beneficial, than this revival o
the railroads, to the best interests of th'
State
He opposed the amendment and favored
the passage of the ordinance. The prin
ciple therein contained was correct, tina
a majority of the representatives of the peo
pie of this State, representing the taxabl
property and the will of her voters, should
alone appropriate the public moneys. As tn
| law now stood the majority of quorum 0
each House, Which was really a minority ofth
members, could make the most onerous ap
preparations. This ordinance provides tina
hereafter only majority of the representa-
tives of the people, after mature deliberatlor
shall bind them to raise large sums Of money