The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1868-02-18
N. C. CONVEN TON
MONDAY, Feb. 10.

Mr. Durham offered the following resolution:
Whereas It is a matter of common rumor,
that eorrupting influences have been used to Sc
cure the passage of certain ordinances, which
have been passed by this Convention; and schere-
as if these rumors are true it is the duty of this
body to ascertain who are the parties, and expose
such said corruption: Therefore
Be 1t Resotred, That select Committee of
three members be appointed by the President,
whose duty it shall be to ascertain and report
whether corrupting influences have been used to
secure the passage of any ordinance, which has
been passed by this Convention, and, if SO, the
names of the guilty parties, and all the facts con-
nected Herewith. The said Committee shall
have power to send for persons and papers, ad-
minister oaths and examine witnesses.
Mr. ID. said it was rumored on the streets, In
hotels, and everywhere, that money has been
used to induce members to vote for certain Or
dinance or ordinances 1t is the duty of the
Convention to enquire, and, if it is true the in
famous name of the delegate should be handed
down to posterity; and if by any corporation or
individual, that its name the names may be
also known. He did not believe that any one
would vote against the resolution; and if any
delegate had been so base as to receive bride,
he hoped that it would become known Or If false,
that the matter would at least be investigated.
The rules were suspended and the resolution
was adopted.
A memorial from the citizens of Guilford,
praying that the distillation of grain may be pro-
hibited presented by Mr. Welker, was taken up
and referred to the committee of three, appointed
to confer with Gen. Candy.
The ordinance of MIR Mcdonald, of Chatham,
in relation to taxing old debts IS per centum,
was next considered. Mr. Mcdonald moved to
- xl,o Il IL e., olo Nr
Graham moved to postpone it indefinitely. Mr.
Mcdonald called the yeas and nays, and the call
being sustained, the vote resulted, yeas y, nays
ID.
THE CONSTITUTION.
On motion of Mr. Abbott, the report on Militia
was taken up.
In the first section, Mr. Graham of Orange,
moved as an addition:
But white and colored persons shall be Or
ganized into separate commands, and no white
man shall ever be required to obey negro Off
GER"
Mr. G. said he had heard a great deal said about
social equality, advocated by gentlemen on this
floor; now he wished the yeas and nays called,
and the gentlemen put on record in the matter.
| Mr. Jones of Washington, thought the Con-
| vention should have nothing to do with this.
The Legislature was the proper body to legislate
| in this matter.
| Mr. Durham said this was test question. He
wished to have it distinctly so regarded. The
reconstruction acts did not prevent the passage
of this resolution, declaring the superiority of the
white man. We claim that the white man has
some rights left him, even under the reconstruc-
tion acts. But it is the evident intention Of this
Convention to 60 beyond the reconstruction acts,
and thereby not only give civil and political
equality, but to force upon the people of the
State social equality. He wanted the people to
know who were the men that were endeavoring
to perpetrate such outrage upon them. He
intended to try, by every means in his power, to
make these very radical gentlemen upon this
floor come up fairly and squarely to the mark
and show, by their votes upon this question.
whether they wished to force social equality be-
tween the races upon the people. 1t was vain
for gentlemen to try to dodge the question, by
saying that the Legislature would provide for
such matters. Their votes, to-day, would tell
the truth, and tear from their faces the mask un,
der which they had hid and the people would
see and spot the men who are willing to degrade
their own color by admitting to-day that social
equality between the races does and shall exist
Such attempt to fix upon our people such a
damning shame, by certain members on this floor
ought to 60 over the whole country, and the me-,
be marked. 1t was test question. We, the
Conservatives on this floor, SO regard it; and il
the yeas and nays upon this question are refused
us, it will be a papable and direct acknowledge
ment of fear, on the part of the Radical element
of this Convention, to show their record to the
people 1t would be skulking and lodging the
question in a miserable and abject manner.
Mr. Abbott was opposed to the amendment
and did not mind placing himself on record
| MIR Mann moved to Law it on the table: but
on being told that it would carry the section with
it, withdrew it.
Messrs. Welker and Watts, both thought the
Legislature the proper body to consider this mat
ter of chasing the races.
| Mr. Durham again told them that the Conser
vative gentlemen of this body intended to make
them stand up to the rack, fodder or no fod
der
| Mr. Ashley thought the amendment would
draw an inriious distinction between the races
| In the course of his remarks he stated that Gov
Graham had before 1885 drilled free men Of
color, and, according to the argument of the Con.
sentative gentleman on this floor, thereby &C
knowledged those men his social. moral and in
teectual equals.
Mr. Durham said ''Sir, brand that assertion
as falsehood and a palpable lie"
Mr. Ashley simply said it was So and continued
his remarks in opposition to the amendment al
some length.
| Harris of Wake, (col) next spoke, and the
/ gist of his remarks was that, like Mr. Ashley he
stood upon the broad ground of manhood ire
spectve of race color.
| The yeas and nays upon Mr. Grahams amend
ment were ordered, and resulted as follows:
| Those who voted in the affirmative we're
Messrs. Bradley Durham, Ellis Graham of Or