Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-03-06

lance JOHN Il. OGDEN,
No - Cedar St, New York
From the Raleigh Sentinel.
The unconstitutional Convention"
(So-CaIIed.l
MORNING SESSION.
MONDAY, Feb. q, 1863.
The Convention was called to order at 10
o'clock
Prayer by Rev. J. W..Hood (negro).
Harris, of Wake {negro), presented u
memorial concerning a divorce case. Re
ferred,
Mr.. Andrews, another of the same ma
tnre, which was also referred.
Mr.. Pool, from the committee on Relief,
submitted two ordinances, which were or
dered to be printed
Mr.. FOrkner, from the select committee
on final adjournment, resolution that this
Convention will adjourn, sine die, on Tues
day the 10th day of March, at L o'clock,
NJ.
On motion Of Mr.. Abbott, the report was
accepted.
He then moved that it be made the spe
cial order, at 10! o'clock, on Monday next.
Carried.
hESOLCIION O1LDlNAINtE1o3 AZ
Bv Mr. Mcdonald, of Chatham: A reso-
.nti0u in favor of establishing a Peniten-
tiary Referred.
Bv Mr. Colgrove: A resolution limiting
the duration of speeches. Lies over.
BY Mr. Abbott: An ordinance Incorporate
ing the Northwestern and North Carolina
Railroad.
SPECIAL ORDER.
The report of the committee on Im1ni-
grafton and Statistics, establishing an
Agent in the city of New York, was taken
up
The question REQUIRED upon the amend
,nent of Mr. Mcdonald, OF Chatham, strlk-
ing out, in the 9th line, the words 4" the
Governor shall appoint. and inserting
- the people shall elect. "
Mr. Jones, of Washington, was opposed
to this multiplicity of draughts upon the
Public Treasury. (The Agent is to be paid
-, 900, and the Treasurer Is directed to pay
all the other necessary expenses OF the
agcncv.l You have already established
too many high salaried offices for this pow
erty stricken State. He thought this meas
ure 4 qulxotic enterprise IN every partlcu-
lar.
The Chair interrupted the speaker, say
ing that Il motion TO Indefinitely postpone
had heretofore been made.
Mr. Rich hoped the gentleman would be
allowed to go on, for this was q rehash of
the harangue he gave them some days
ago.
Mr.. Turner said that if it eUds rehash,
it was very good, and he wished to hear
It.
The Chair Go on, sir; go on-the
House seems inclined to listen to you"
Mr.. Jones resumed his remarks, stating
his objections to the measure. He did not
think that the peasantry of Europe would
come down to this section among the col
ored class No, they would turn their foot
steps towards the West, where white labor
prevailed.
Pending the discussion, the hour arrived
to resume the
SUFFRAGE QUESTION.
Mr. Pool, the Chairman, took the floor.
He commenced his speech by declaring
that, for the last ten years, he had opposed
the Institution of slavery on principle. He
secuted the idea of negro supremacy, as
being utterly impossible. 1t was only made
the watchwOrd of the Conservatives, for
political effect, &c. In regard to liberal
course being pursued towards the men who
were lately engaged in the rebellion, he
read letter signed by Logan, Boutwell,,
C0lfax, Latin, and other leading Radicals
in Congress, recommending as few altera-
tions in the Constitution as possible, and a
Ienient course towards the men formerly in
rebellion. He thought that any clause of
Acknowledgement in the Constitution would
result most disastrOusly. He regretted that
gentlemen had seen fit TO drag up the dead
form Of the late rebellion, and rake the
ashes from its smouldering ruins. He re-
GREETED their appeals to passion and pref u
dice. lie thought they should lay aside all
such unworthy feelings. He would appeal
to the colored people they had tasted the
sweets of liberty, the shackles had fallen
from their limbs !; let those shackles for
white and black men, be buried forever
He appealed to the ultra men upon this
floor to pause ere they took such a fatal
step. He hoped that the minority report
would be voted down, and also the minori-
" Republican report, and that the 1st sec
ton OF the ma jority report would be adopt
ed, with the understanding that additiOna
sections may be offered IL the nature of
provisions.
The general debate being closed, Mr..
Abbott moved to take the first section of
the majority report.
Galloway (negro) withdrew his substi-
tute in favor of that of Mr.. French, of Bla-
den.
The article on suffrage of the majority
report was read.
In section l Mr.. Heaton moved to strike
out III fifth line. - three months" (resi-
dence of voter in county, and insert ''thir-
y days"
Mr.. Pool accepted.
Mr.. King, of Lenior, objected, saying it
would open the door to fraud. He thought
three months a short enough time.
Mr., Heaton's amendment created good
deal Of debate
Ir. Mcdonald, of Chatham, called for
the yeas and nays, but the call was not
sustained.
The question was put and the amendment
was adopted.
The question required upon the substi-
tute of Mr.. French, of Bladen disfranchis-
ing all persons who, previous Ito the war,
held Executive and Judicial offices, but |
providing that the Legislature, by two
thirds vote, may remove such disabilities
Mr.. French moved that it be adopted as
substitute for the first section, as already
amended. He said that this would leave
Tie dlsfranchisement question as Congress
mad fixed it, but provides further, that the
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