The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-02-06
N. @. LEGISLATURE.
Monday, January 90.

committee to whom was referred the resolution
relative to the status of the present General As
sembiy reported that in the opinion of a ma ori-
~ of the committee, the present session is
continuation Of the session that adjourned De-
cenber 18th, 1868.
Bill compelling clerks OF Courts to reside
within the corporate limits of their county
towns, being on its second reading, eiicited
protracted debate, and finally passed
Mr. Cowles' bill amending an act for the re-
lief of landlords, passed second time.
HoUsE-Mr Smith, of Hartford, introduced
bill to authorize the banks of the State to SUBJ
scribe for stock in the National Bank. Refer
red to the committee on finance.
MIR jenkins of Warren by leave, introduced
bill to incorporate the North Carolina Emigra-
ton Company Referred to the committee
corporations.
Mr Hoke introduced ga bill to authorize the
formation of the English and American Wool
and Vine Growing Manufacturing, Mining and
Agricultural Association, in the United States
OF America Referred to the committee
corporations.
Mr. jenkins, of CASTOR, bill to charter the
High Shoals Railroad Company. Referred to
the committee on Internal Improvements.
Mr. Whitley, bill for the relief of Guardians.
Referred to the judiciary committee.
Tuesday, JAN 80.
SENATE-Mr Howard, from Judiciary COM
mittee reported back the tl for the more COM
plete organization Of the State Government,
with recommendation that it do pass ON mo-
ton the rules were suspended, aud the bill
passed its final reading.
A message from the House, transmitting the
bill to incorporate the Piedmont Railroad was
read (The object ofthe bill was to change
| ~ 6 I'D, to hat Of 10
Danvile and Richmond Road.) Mr.. Speaker
Settle led off in an able speech 10 support Of the
bill, at some length. Mr.. f. D. Hall strongly
opposed the bill, urging that the interests of the
State required that that Road should be kept
in crippled condition. Mr.. Morehead spoke
warmly in support of the bill, showing its advan-
tages by various facts and arguments Several
other gentlemen took part in the discussion, and
the bill was finally placed on the calendar,
On motion of Mr.. Leach the bill to compel
County and Superior Court Clerks, anG Clerks
and Masters in Equity who do not reside in
town, to have deputies appointed to attend to
business in their absence, was taken up, read
and amended, but on motion, the bill was tabled.
HoUsE-Mr. Smith, of Hartford, presented
| a number of reports from the Finance Commit
tee, also report from the Committee appointed
| to establish scale of depreciation of Confeder-
ate Currency stating that the Committee had
adopted the gold dollar as the standard of value
and fixed a scale ascertanins thes rate Of its
| monthly depreciation. n detailed report had
been made in the Senate. The committee ask
ed to be discharged from further consideration
| of the resolution referred. Discharged accord
iDgly.
On motion of Mr.. Allison, the House took
from the table ga bill to authorize a court of
| Pleas and Quarter Sessions for the County of
| Cabarrus." The bill was amended in some par
tculars at Mr. Allison's instance, and passed its
several readings under suspension of the rules
The House proceeded to consider Ia bill con-
corning Negroes, Indians, and persons of color,
Or of mixed blood" reported from the commits
sion appointed to prepare code for the govern
| ment of Freedmen.
On motion of Mr. Rayncr, the House resolved
| itself into committee of the whole. At the
| Speakers request, MIR. Rayner took the chair.
On motion Of Mr. Phillips, the bill was read
| by sections.
The first section having been read, Mr. Phil
lips said that the bill was badly printed-ap
peared in some respects to have been deliberate
ly misprnted. With regard to this section, the
preliminary question arose, whether the Legis-
lature was prepared to change the existing law,
and designate Indians hereafter as "persons of
color" He objected to the definition which
the commission had given to the term "negro."
| They use, it were, the unknown quantity, in
their answer to the question "what is a negro %
| They define ''negro'' as one descended from
"negro' ancestors, to the fourth generation in
elusive There, he said, an evident intention to
define, without definition, for the definition con-
tanned the very words intended to be defined.
Mr. Phillips proposed the following a suts;i-
| tute for the first and second sections
HNeprOeS and Indians and their IsSue even
| when one ancestor in each succeeding genera
ton, to the fourth inclusive, shall be white are
to be deemed persons of color; and by that
phrase may be conprebsnded, in all actions of
the Legislative or Judicial departments of the
government. And in questions under this see
ton, the ancestors by whose act the blood was
first mixed, shall be reckoned as the first gener-
alton"
Mr. Phillips further objected to the express
ion, "orlginal ancestors" as exceedingly indef-
mite, unless We should 60 back to the days of
| Adam and Eve.
| Mr. Manly suggested the propriety of testing
| the sense OF the committee as to including In
dams, in the first section, urder the term ssper-
sons OF color before taking action on the
amendment proposed by Mr. Phillips,
Nh Smith, of Hartford, concurred with MIR
Phillips in his structures upon the FIST section
of the bill He thought there was manifest
looseness and improperly in using the word to
be defined, in its own definition He was also
opposed to including Indians under the desicna-
ton "persons of color" There was no GOOD
| reason for degrading them to level with the
negro
Mr. Hoke thought that some one should raise
a voice in behalf Of the Indians Thew had re-.
manned here under their treaties and were TINS