Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-02-07


requesting statement of the whole mum
, Der of votes cast in the election for candi
dates to this Convention. Ordered to he
printed.
Mr.. Rodman presented memorial from
!, Hyde county, which was referred to the
Committee on Internal Improvements.
i Mr.. Abbott stated that the Committee
on Finance had not been able to arrive at
|: a conclusion in regard to negotiating a
loan of $4,000 yet, but hoped to be able
!, to present definite report on Monday
next.
: Mr.. Sweet presented a majority report
= from the Committee on Legislature. -
Ordered to be printed, together with an
accompanying minority report.
MIR. Rodman, report from the Commit
tee on Judiciary, to whom was referred the
( application for divorce between D. c.. Will
son and Nancy Wilson, recommending
, that the divorce be granted, if the Conven-
! ton should determine to consider private
, matters. He offered an ordinance as a
part of the report, in order that the sense
= of the Convention in regard to the matter
might be had.
Mr.. Jones, OF Washington, read from the
Revised Code in regard to such matters,
and took grounds against the report, as it
was against the policy of the law of the
State. No reason to grant divorces in such
a light manner had been set forth in the
petition for such proceeding The appli-
: cation should have been made to the Courts
of Law. He moved to indefinitely post
pone the whole matter. Carried
Mr.. Rodman, from the Judiciary Com
mittee, to whom was referred Mr.. Tour.
gees resolution in regard TO costs in Grim
inal cases, reported an article to the Con
stitution that 10 one shall be made to pay
cost in Courts, except for counsel, until
found guilty. Laid over, to be considered
with the other reports of that Committee.
! Mr.. Peterson, a resolution providing
agencies in each county to purchase lands
for the benefit of actual settlers. Refer
red.
Mr.. Renfrow, an ordinance for the pro-
lection of laborers. Referred
Mr.. Congleton, a resolution to raise Il
Select Committee of eight to negotiate a
loan with Congress of $4,000 for educa-
tional purposes, to provide homes for the
homeless and to develope our agricultural
resources. Made the special order for Tues
day next, at II o'clock.
Mr.. Ragland, q resolution requesting the
Committee appointed to confer with Gen
Candy, to ascertain if bonds and notes
given since LIST May, 1865 and notes renew
ed prior to that time, are subject to Gener-
al Order No. 81. Rules suspended and
resolution adopted.
Williamson, (negro,) a resolution asking
Congress to loan the State from one to three
millions of dollars, for agricultural pur-
poses. Referred.
SPECIAL ORDER-RELIEF BILL.
| Thequestion was upon Mr.. Watts amend
ment. He withdrew it in favor of the
amendment of Mr.. Welker, (which deprives
the Courts of jurisdiction over all cases of
contract or debt, except for labor performed,
since, as we'll as well as before May LIST,
1869
Mr.. Graham, of Orange, was opposed to
the measure He wished to substitute the
Ordinance of Convention, of 1865, with the
necessary changes.
Mr.. Watts said he had been misunder-
stood by the Reporter of the Sentinel, on
last Wednesday. He only argued that the
Convention had the pouOer to repudiate, not
that he advocated reputation. But he
wished for relief for the people now, tenn
porarily, and permanent relief when the
Constitution was adopted.
! Mr.. Abbott favored the bill, as reported
| by committee, and was opposed to the
amendment.
| Mr.. Pool next discussed the measure, and,
during his remarks, stated that the gentle
men who had argued that North Carolina
was not State were in error. North Caro-
lima was State, but, by the rebellion, she
had lost every constitutional right, but
still she had never lost her constitutional
obligations. The present ordinance was
an unconstitutional measure, for ii inter-
fered with private contracts. He did not
believe the Convention had right to go
beyond the matters for which they had
been assembled here. He gave notice he
would soon introduce minority report,
which he hoped the Convention would
adopt, as it would contain such relief as he
thought this body could legally and prop
erly give.
Mr.. Tourgee said that the opposition to
this amendment arose solely that aid
might be given to corporation that had
gone into debt, since 1866, (the Whining
ton, Charlotte q Rutherford Railroad, and
in discussing the constitutionality of the
measure, declared that the State of North
Carolina, at the close of .the war, was left
simply in territorial condition.
Mr.. Abbott asked the gentleman if eUerg-
thing that had been done by those State
governments was void, marriages, wills,
| &c.
Mr.. Tourgee replied that whatever has
been done in these States, from 1861 to
1867, that depended for it's validity upon
recognition from an established govern
ment, was null and void.
MIR. Durham wished to know if the Courts
of law, that had condemned criminals to
death, had been guilty of murder
Mr.. Tourgee substantially replied, yes
He proceed in his remarks for some time
and closed by expressing the hope that men
outside of its provisions would also be al
lowed the benefits of the ordinance.
Mr. Abbott again spoke in opposition to
the amendment, and said that while he
would vote for proper and judicious re-
lief, and for the bill, as reported by the
committee, still, as amended, it would en-
tail ruin upon all of our industrial pur-
suits
! Mr. Heaton concurred with Mr.. Abbott,
and, though he did not entirely agree with
the provisions of the bill, yet, in his judg-
4nent, it did not come in cofict with the
authority of the Constitution, which he
held to be supreme law, in regard to the
reputation of private contracts. To him
the idea of Reputation was odious, and
when that matter came up before the Con
vention, he would ask to be heard fully Ill
opposition to such measure.
Mr.. Fullings did not think this Conven~
ton had right to legislate in favor OF one
oil IF 10 10 NP no