Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-12-04
SENATE.
o-A ~ Al l. 4<s
MONDAY. Nov. so, 1863.


By Mr.. Robbins bill providing TO
an official declaration of the result Of th'
late election in the several Congressional
Districts OF the State. Referred TO til,
committee on Privileges and Elections.
By Mr. Rich A bill authorizing tht
sale of the States interest in Railroad
Navigation and Turnpike Companies. Re
ferred to the committee on Internal I'm
provements.
By Mr.. Sweet i DILL to consolidate the
Atlantic and North Carolina and the NORTH
Carolina Railroad Companies, to be known
as the North Carolina Central Railroad
Company. Ordered to be printed and re
ferred to the CON- otittee On the Judiciary
By Mr.. Davis Two bills amendatory &c
an act to incorporate the Western North
Carolina Railroad Company. Ordered tc
be printed. and referred to the committee
on Internal Improvements.
BY Mr.. Davis resolution proposing !
recess from Saturday, the 10Th of Deem
Der, to Monday, the 4th of Jan. go After
some discussion, on molten of A. II. Gallo
way, coIored, it was voted down By q vote
of 21 ayes to 10 nays.
| By Mr.. Sweet A resolution proposing
! to raise a Joint committee to investigate
certain alleged charges in reference to the
appropriation of last session to the Chatham
Railroad.
Mr.. Robbins offered the following as a
substitute for Mr.. Sweets resolution which
was accepted
Whereas, Runners are becoming current
in various quarters, and are finding their
Way into the public prints, that members
OF this General Assembly, and others Ia
positions Of trust Ill the State government,
! have been guilty Of corrupt practices, such
/ oIly.r hrff, Il
using and receiving money as coneidera-
! ton for votes Or influence in favor of GER
tain measures Involving large appropfia-
tions Of money by this General Assembly,
particularly the appropriation OF tie
Chatham railroad, at the last session, and
! Whereas, It is common saying III the
mouths of men, that ii it Is desired to lav,,
any thing passed through this General AS
semb1y III which money is involved, money
must be paid for it and3
! Whereas, Our honor. AS we'll IS the
! good name OF North Carolina, therefore, I'M
impeached, are concerned III this matter
Therefore the General assembly Of NORTH
C1roIina do resolue That Joint commit
tee Of Investigation, composed OF three
members Of the Senate and five members
OF the House of representatives., to be des-
iguated by the respective presiding officers
whose duty it shall be to institute forth
| with 8 searching lnuucst IN reference to the
truth OF the aforesaid rumors and charges !;
and, particularly ilose touching the cor
III. ton alleged 10 be Connected with the
passage OF tine appropriation to the Chatham
! railroad at tho last session.
! End. That the said Committee shall have
| power. and It shall be their duty to send
| for persons anu papers, &c administer oaths,
either through their chairman or acting
chairman, to examine witnesses, and to
make report at the earliest possible day to
this General Assembly, OF the g.ilty par
ties, il any be found, together with the
facts and the evidence in wiling, by which
| the facts are sustained.
Ord. That if any person brought before
committee shall refuse to testify concern
ing any matter relevant to this investiga-
ton, be shall be forthwith brought before
the bar of one of the two Houses, that he
may be committed for contempt and if
any person shall, in the COURSE Of his ex-
animation as a witness by said committee,
| take any false oath Or testify falsely III any
particular respecting the matters which
may lie relevant to this Investigation, such
person shall be liable to indictment as a
perjurer, and upon conviction thereof
shall suffer all the pains and penalties Of
wilful and corrupt perjury.
9Th That said inquest and investigation
shall extend not only to members OF this
General Assembly, but to every other Off
Ger Of the Government, or any other indl-
vidual whatsoever, who may be alleged to
be in any way connected With the giving
or receiving of brides in money or other
valuable consideration, for the purpose OF
securing votes or Influence in favor of any
measure of this General Assembly, involv-
ing appropriations Of money Or bonds, Or
loaning the credit of the State to any
company or corporation whatever, and
especially to the Chatham Railroad Com
pany, at the last session Of this General
Assembly.
9th. That each and every member of
said investigation committee shall, before
entering upon the dnt!es thereof, be re-
CURED to take an oath before the presiding
officer of the House of which he is o mem
Der, to conduct the aforesaid inquest faith
fully, and without fear, favor or affection,
towards any person whatever, to the end
that the truth of this matter may be well
ascertained, the guilty. if any, punished,
and the good name of the innocent be vim
dictated
6. That a majority of said committee
shall be invested with all the powers herein
conferred on the whole, and the action of
the majority shall be, in all respects, as
valid and binding as that of the entire
committee.
Mr.. Jones, OF Wake, said that it was we'll
known that he had taken an active part in
securing the appropriation to the Chatham
Railroad, and he thought he knew as much
about the matter as any member on the
floor, and he thought the charges in the
resolutions were of grave character
They say that Senators or members have
been bribed to secure their votes. If the
resolution was intended for him it was
foul SANDER on his character.
Mr. Robbins said the Senator from Wake
misunderstood the resolutions. They were
intended to defend and not to attack him.
The resolutions make no charges. They
are made outside, on the streets, and
through the public prints. The resolutions
were friendly to every member of the Gen
eral Assembly. IF he knew Of any dishon
est act, or the taking of bride by any
member, he would not hesitate to say 30, it
mattered not who it might bit. and gentle
men who are mostly interested in this mat
ter should be the first to desire an investi