The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-02-12
SPECIAL ORDER.

Mr.. Congleton moved to amend that tor
second offence the fixtures and still be sold,
and money appropriated to charitable pur-
poses.
Mr.. Welker had no objection to the amend
ment He said the grain of the country was
rapidly disappearing and prices advancing.
Men are now beginning to manufacture into
whisky the little left i'll the country. He
placed this ordinance upon the ground, that
such distillation should be stopped to pre-
vent suffering, for whisky did not nourish
the weak or the poor.
Mr.. Tourgee urged the necessity Of the
measure. He said the memorial presented
this morning was signed by citizens of his
county irrespective of politics.
The memorial was read, praying for pro.
hihition two years longer.
Mr. Nicholson said tllis he had seen let
ter stating that in Yadkin county, corn
which had been selling for G5 cents, previ
Gus to the order of Gen. Candy, advanced to
81 per bushel and was rising now. The ar
ticle is growing scarce, and unless something
be done evil will ensue. 6..t
The amendment was adopted.
Mr. Hodnett saitl-the necessity of the peo-
pie required the adoption of tile ordinance
Mr. Bradley hoped that action would be
taken. The little corn left in Yadkin and
adjoining Counties now sold for 81 and
$3.50 per bushel Contracts made at 65 cts.
were broken, aid the parties are now pre-
pairing to dlstill their grain.
Mr. Marler said that when he iet Yadkin,
corn was selling at IS cts. and the highest
at 81. 1t may have gone up, but he did
not know it to he so.
At the suggestion of Mr. Durham, the
date of Feb. 9th was altered, so us to make
the ordinance read, enforced ten days after
the passage, when
Mr.. Jones, of Washington, said the State
had little power over this subject. under the
Q. 5. revenue law, and suggested a reeonsid-
Grafton of the amendment, which being
done,
The ordinance was referred to the COM
mittee of three to confer with Gen. Cauby
THE RELIEF ORDINANCE
was taken up, and read, when
Mr.. Rodman said that letters had been
constantly received here urging action. The
only questions now, were first. whether the
ordinance would stand fire. The Constitu-
ton of the United States says no State Of
the Union shall pass any law imparing the
obligation of contracts, &c. The action
of this Convention then does not at all in
teriere Upon that point, when Texas en-
tered the Union, the Supreme Court admit
ted the validity of law enacted by her be-
fore that period, impalring the obligation of
contracts, for there was nothing in the con-
sttution OF Texas fordidding such a law
As State we are not of the Union--though
in the Union. As individuals we are bound
by the Constitution, as State We are not
Whatever is done here will he law. 1t should
be wise and moderate to receive the appro-
baton of the people For that reason, he
could not support the amendment of Mr..
Welker, which stays all process on debts
since the war. The gentlemen from New
Hanover had not ovcrstated the consequen-
ces. He could perceive the propriety OF sus-
pending action ON debts, prior to May '65,
Tor the misfortunes which befell the people
were extraordinary and unforeseen. But
| since that time, misfortuncs had come in the
! ordinary course of nature.
What is the nature vt rclief2 He was
| surprised at the divergencv of opinion
| The delegate from Orange proposes to amend
| and re-enact the ordinance of SO. Sub
stantiaily it was the proposition of the COM
| mittee-eXcept one-tenth was payable the
| first year. and one fifth the next, and one
J half the next. and the balance the next year
| This gives four years, while the committee
proposes ten-to be paid i'll instalments of
the tenth. At the same time the delegate
says that he desires compromises between
| debtor and creditor, while he gives the lat
ter every inducement not to compromise.
| No less time than ten years would compel
| compromises.
Now the delegate from Guilford looks to
retrospective homestead for relief. He too
placed great value on the homestead pro-
vision of the constitution. But it should be
| provision that was of secure nature, else
it would give way and afford no relief.
Mr.. Tourgee-1 do not object to further re-
lief-but hold that when the new States
constitutional relations are perfected, such
measures will fall through. Therefore de
| sire IL retrospective homestead
Mr. Rodman-the gentleman thinks about
the relief ordinance, just as do concerning
the proposed homestead provision.
He favored liberal homestead, but feared
that no such law could protect tile people.
1t would he a snare ana IA lure
Then here is the bankrupt law. That says
man shall have $500 and such homestead
as the law of the State allow ed in 1864. Of
course it would not apply to homestead
granted in 1868. Nor would our Courts re-
spet it. Then if the Convention refuse to
pass the ordinance and rely on homestead
provision, the people will be fatally deceived.
The plan proposed it seemed to him, would
also be universally acceptable. 1t was not
class legislation-it was not reputation,
but a measure imperiously demanded. He
hoped the Convention would view it as he
did.
Mr.. CongletOn-Does the ordinance oper-
ate in behalf of railroads and other corpora
tions
Mr. Rodman-yes, sir.
Mr. Graham, of Orange, said admitting
the reconstruction acts to be constitutional
he doubted the power OF this Convention to
pass stay law But if distress is so great,
let SOME measure lie recommended to Gen.
Candy with the request that he enforce it,
| CASTOR had been quoted as to the power of
the Convention of '35. Now CASTOR held
that the Convention of '35 was restricted.
not by the act of the Legislature. but the
confirmation of that act by the people. And
so ill this instance of the acts of Congress
If the Convention went out side the letter of
the law, it was a self-constituted body.
Gentlemen said this was State out of the
Union. Now it was State in the Union,
and could pass no law that any other State
could not pass The proposition of the
committee plainly ties up the Courts, and
then there is constitutional section follow
ing that they shall have no jurisdiction save
| over tenth of any old debts. This is a
Deliberate insult to the people-a hard mer
eiless grasping proposal. We have heard