The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-07-22

,;torv amendments fell alike with the
Hall Wl" thaf cave them birth. lie should
Ote for the resolutions :,
'O ~. Latin addressed the House in an able
MI n in defence of the bill. He said IN
ars!ln ,rt IA the words lin the absence
s g onv contrary provision" meant amy
Oh ,,frary plovision" in this constitution or
cg .hcrwise it was meaningless. 1t was pue-
o a' IN claim that this was merely reaiiirm-
'I .;on of the right of the Governor to APP
INF officers formerly appointed ny
Poi and not made elective by the
ll, "",,ttution. Neither did it apply to any
Oo. .Le General State officers, nor the officers
o. '"n,ntics, for whose election or appoint
oil y. there are specific contrary provisions"
ne n.,ices /, 3, 3, 4, and z. Nor does it APP
ID D. 10 10 the officers, whose appointment is
yrI~oyiled for in article 8. 1t is evident that
iho convention meant something definite by
. .ho words "all officers" In constituting one
',,ion of an instrument it is necessary to
S s' it harmonic with the rest. The
iInrIs in the absence of any contrary pro-
sion did not apply to the case OF any
c.atc county or township officer, yet there
,,,mst have been some officers in regard to
'Tnsp election there was an absence" &c.
Mo were these officers? The words reads
..,,iicers in the State not Of the State
nv, rc are two classes of officers in regard to
,rIicb there are no specific provisions first,
o,rnorations under the control of the State,
o ,"ch as the Asylums and N. G. Railroad,
so and second, municipal officers of cit
w md towns. These classes of officers are
~ fine State, not Of it; and are evidently al
,"dod TO by the section. When the Consti-
. 4 was framed, these were military ap-
nn;ntecs. Every municipal officer in the
State held his office, not by virtue of, but in
onnosition to, the charters which they now
niead The Mayor of Raleigh was just as
,nrch provisional officer as the Judge of
the Provost Court in this City. When the
State was admitted to representation in
Congress the functions of these officers
ceased. The present government is not a
continuation of the old provisional govern
ment. Gov Holden is not the successor, in
:, local sense, OF Y. &c. Worth. Governor
Worth derived his authority from General
Candy, while Gov. Holden, on the contrary,
received his power from the people The
laws of dead government cannot
bind the people of living one. Gen.
Capbys authority is now confined not to the
reopIe of North Carolina, but only to the
tiro5ps under his command. That part of
the sentence following the word ''or." must
have been introduced to prevent any extern
sion of the powers conferred in the previous
mart of the section to the officers who are
made elective. 1t is mere surplusage when
oDpIied to municipal officers, and must be
ca considered. This is evident from the fact
fiat no provision for city and town elections
MAS made, nor for the registration of the
voters thereof, without which no election
takes place. See sec. 2, art. G. As no reg
istration is provided for by any of the char
tcgs of the municipal corporations, it is
clearly inconsistent with the provisions of
the Constitution. The Legislature can pass
a general law, repeating or altering all such
charters. Meanwhile, it is necessary that the
offices made vacant by the expiration OF
military authority, should be filled. He
therefore, for the sake of the peace of the
State, urged the adoption of the bill.
Mr.. Ingram thought the conduct of the
opposition was not calculated to make IA
vorable impression as to their political hon
esty. The cry about Constitutions is not a
new one. Most of these very men for the
last six or eight years had trampled under
foot all Constitutions that did not look to
the overthrow of our Government. He
should vote for the bill, because it was right
and necessary.
After some further debate by Messrs. Dur
ham and Bowman, the bill passed its second
reading. Yeas 81, nays 81.
Mr.. Seymour moved that the rules be sus
pended, and the bill be put upon its THIRD
reading Carried.
Mr.. Downing moved to strike out "Octo
Der" and insert january" Carried
Mr.. SWEET moved to amend sec. by ad
ding the words "and residence within
the corporate limits shall be required to con
stitute an eector"
Mr.. Durham moved that the House adj
journ, and on that question called for thu
yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays being ordered, thu
House refused to adjourn. Yeas AZ; nay.
81.
Mr. Durham moved to lay the bill upon the
table, and called for the yeas and nays
The House refused to table. Yeas 81
nays 80. -..
Mr. SWEET, by consent, withdrew hi.
amendment
Mr. Robinson move to strike out the pen
atty prescribed in the fifth section Lost.
Mr.. Seymour rose tn clnse the debate
There were two questions every Republican
must ask himself First, was there gooc
reason for the passage of the bill ?" H,
thought they could give but one answer tt
this question If they answered yes, then
"have you right to pass it under the Con
stitution of the Staten He would answe
for himself, without hesitation. yes Eacl
member must answer for himself, but mem
bers must. anslcer the question. They ar
not to say we have doubts, and therefor
We will not vote against the bill. By com
ing here they bound themselves to decid
such questions. The responsibility was up
on them, and they must meet it. II
would only say, ''it after all. you doubt
give yourselves the benefit of the doubt.
He moved the previous question.
The call was sustained, and the bill pass
ed its third reading, was ordered to be en
crossed, and sent to the Senate.
hr. Bowman moved that the use of tn
Hall be granted tonight for the purpose o
forming Grant and Colfax club. Carried
On motion, the House adjourned.