Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-06-07

herself in an unworthy attitude. The State had
fully complied with the requirements of the Presi
dents poicy-had returned, as the prodigal, tired
of transgression, to the parental mansion-had
Knocked at the door for admission and been rude
~ repulsed. No good could possibly accrue from
sending a commission to Washington to consult
members of Congress kiss the feet of Thad-
deus Stevens and other political despots-to incur
still further contumely and abasement He re-
neWed the motion to lay the resolution on the ia
BILE.
On this question the yeas and nays were order
ed: on motion of Mr.. Harris of Rutherford
| The Convention refused to Law the resolutions
on the table as follows:
NAIsIMsssps Alexander Allen, Bagley Baines Baker,
BurSn Buxton, Bynnm Caldwell of Burke, Dick, Dickey
dE rnao HaasE Ghas op Ga4n Of Rnpa
19rd M Haynes Henry Hodge Jackson Johnston
McCorkle Mckay Hsrnett Mcdonald Of Moore, McIVor
Chatham Pserson Polk RnmIey RUSH, MGfhe
waite. Settle Sloan, Smith Of Arson Smith, Of Wilkes
swan Thompson Ward Warpen WIaPy
AYEs-Messrs Brickell, Clark Conigand, Faircloth
PeaFsal Perkins, Person, Richardson, Russell, spencer
of Hyde, Walkup, Winburne, Winston Wright 2O:
Mr.. Polk moved a reference of the resolutions
i to a select committee Not agreed to-
Mr.. Mcdonald, of Moore, addressed the Con-
vention at length in support of the resolutions.
Mr.. Clark said that the only issue presented in
the resolutions was wh8ther the Convention would
endorse President Johnson's reconstruction policy
or indirectly that of the Radicals in Congress.
The preamble to the resolutions express the ''hope
that the President during the recess of the Con-
ventlOn,) eCOud be authorized bv Congress to de-
clare the States restored to the Union' The fair
in fact the only inference from this remarkable
language is that what the President has done
without the authority of Congress, he had right
to do. This, III effect, is an endorsement of the
position of Stevens and Sumner that Congress
has sole control of the subject of reconstruction
and endorses the President only to the extent that
his policy has received Congressional sanction.
The resolutions propose to send committee of
seven to Washington City to consult with Presi-
dent Johnson, his Cabinet and Congress-
We have already ascertained that action is
satisfactory to the President-that have fully
met the requirements of his policy-a policy which
has received the approval of a majority of the
Cabinet.
This being the case, the only object must be to
consult with Congress, ignoring alike the Presi
dent and his policy.
Mr.. Clark here adverted to the impracticability
the absurdity of any attempt to consult Con-
gress In an organized capacity, and asked if the
Convention thought that any commission, repre-
sentng North Carolina, would be admitted to the
floor of either House OF Congress d coordinate
branch OF the government?
The only way in which consultation could be
had with Congress would be by interviews with
individual members-and upon these no Judicious
action could be based
The advocates of the resolution had INDUCED in
elegant diction, chaste and eloquent generaities,
many of which he prepared to endorse, but
they had strangely failed to speak to the subject
matter contained in the resolutions
In conclusion, Mr.. G. spoke warmly and enthu-
siastically in favor of the Presidents policy, and
cautioned members of the Convention against
raging themselves directly, indirectly, against
it by passing these resolutions. The policy of the
President was based upon the Constitution, and
to it alone could we look for preservation of our
rights under the Constitution in present
happy condition.
In this connection, he cited the declaration of
President Johnson, that rebellion could exist else
where than under ordinances of secession, and
babe the Convention beware lest they by their
action should give encouragement to the Radicals,
who were seeking to subvert the Constitution.
At the instance of Mr. Conigland, Mr.. Jones, of
Rowan, moved reconsideration of the vote by
which the Convention refused to refer the resou-
tons to a select Committee.
The motion prevailed and the resolutions were
referred.
The President appointed the following Com
mittee, viz Messrs. Polk, Mcdonald, of Moore,
N. A. Mclean, McGehee, Boyden, Buxton and
Winston
The Convention then adjourned until ten o'clock
on Monday next.
MONDAY, June 4.
Mr.. McGehee, for the select Committee to which
was referred Mr.. McDonalds resolutions declaring
what has been done, and appointing Committee
to ascertain what is necessary to be done, to re-
store the State to the Federal Union reported the
IL
Whereas the people of the State of North Carolina have
manifested their loyalty to the general Government by
promptly adopting such measures deemed
An ordinance declaring null and void the ordinance OF
cessOn ordinance prohibiting slavery in the State of
North Carolina ordinance prohibiting the payment of
all public debts created Incurred in aid of the rebel
lion which said ordinances have become part of the
organic law of the State And Whereas the relations of
the State the general Government yet
fully recognized and Whereas the people of the State
do ardently desire that whatever obstacles still in the
BE ResoIced, That Committee of be appointed
by the President of this Convention to proceed to Wash
and report the results of their conference to this
Convention at an early day.
Mr. Ward introduced an ordinance to incorpo-
rate the North Carolina Petroleum and Mining
Company. Referred to a standing committee of
five to be STYLED the committee on Corporations.
Mr. Caldwell, of Guilford ordinance for ex-
changing the stocks of the State for bonds issued
before the year 1861.
Mr. McRae, an ordinance to enable the Fayette
vile and Florence Railroad Company to establish
National Bank in the town of Fayetteville. Re-
ferred to the committee Currency.
Mr. Wright, from the committee to which was
referred the petition of Rev. Thos. d. Fleury for
relief from pedlars tax for the year 1862 submit
ted ordinance to grant such relief accompanied
by lengthy and humorous report, setting forth
the reasons why the committee, while recommend
ing relief in this particular instance were opposed
to its further extension.
Mr.. Pearsall moved to lay the report and ordi-
nance on the table, which was not agreed to-
The Convention proceeded to consider the
amended Constitution.
Mr. Phillips moved to amend the Declaration of
Rights by adding the following:
Sec 81 All Courts shall be open, and every
person for injury done him in his lands, goods,
person or reputation, shall have remedy by due
course of law, and right and justice administered
without sale denial or DELAY. Adopted.