Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-02-07
From the Raleigh Sentinel.
Tie /" constitutional Convention
fSo-caIIedl
FRIDAY, Jan. 81, 1868

The President called the Convention t.
order at II o'clock.
Prayer by the Rev. - Warwick negro
Mr.. Bryan presented petition from thu
citizens of Wilkes, praying the removal o
disloyal officers and replacing them witt
'sloyal men," Referred.
Mr.. Tourgee, a report from the Commit
tee on Towns, &c., to whom was referred
Eppes' (negro) resolution, and asked to b.
discharged from its consideration, as tn
subject matter did not come within thei
province
MIR. Rich, resolution that the Commit
tee on Governor, &C., consider and repor
the propriety of giving the Governor tn
veto power. Lies over.
Mr.. Tourgee, resolution that the Com
mittee provided for by Hoods (negro) res
olution be instructed to petition Congress
to relieve the disabilities of persons wht
were not in accord with the reconstruction
acts, bat who were good Union men during
the war. Mr.. T. moved to suspend tht
rules and put the resolution on its passage
Agreed to.
Mr.. Durham moved to amend by striking
out all after the word instructed" anC
insert the following: ''To ascertain ant
report the names of all citizens Of the
State who are DISTINGUISHED by the Re
construction Acts of Congress, that this
! CONVEX ton may recommend the same tC
Congress for a removal of their politica
disabilities.
Mr.. Durham said that he offered this
amendment in good faith, and WAS deter
mined that members should put themselves
upon record. 1t was the same substantially
that he offered yesterday, to the resolution
which passed this body. The enforcement
of the previous question by the majority
prevented its consideration then, and he
saw, already, that members on the other
side were prepared to dodge the issue to-
day. The object of this whole move was
very plain. 1t was simply to remove polit-
ical disabilities from those who support the
Republican party. This was the test of
loyalty.
If (said Mr.. d. submission to party die
tation and a craven willingness to rivet
upon my people the unconstitutional and
! tyrannlcal measures of reconstruction, now
proposed, is loyalty, then [ am disloyal ;
but if opposition to the attempted proscrip-
ton and tyranny of the majority here, and
opposition to the despotism which is being
pressed upon the people of North Carolina,
is loyalty, then I am loyal. If it is the in
tention of this Convention to recommend
the enfranchisement of all who support the
Republican party, as the resolution which
passed this body, yesterday, proposes, and
to exclude from the elective franchise and
all other rights of citizenship, all who OPP
pose their party, let it be said frankly, that
the people may understand your action
But the intelligence of the white people,
North and South, will condemn the infamy
of such a policy, and the authors of such
an Infamous and contemplate course will
be remembered only in the scorn and in
dignation of the civilized world.
Galloway (uegro) moved to lay the amend
ment on the table, (which would have the
effect of tabling the whole subject
Here everybody wanted to say something,
and, for moment Or two, scene of con-
fusion ensued.
Mr.. Graham, of Orange, called for the
yeas and nays.
Galloway (negro), then withdrew the mo-
ton.
Mr.. Hodnett then thought this the most
important question that hal. yet come up
He was loyal man-had never drawn a
disloyal breath he wanted not sectional
Union, Union of oppression and force,
but a Union of the whole, bound together
by ties of love and affection, in which the
life, property and rights of all would be
protected by just and equitable laws. He
did not think the reconstruction acts would
effect this, they stood at present. He
favored a qualified Suffrage. The masses
Of the negro race were III ignorance, lately
freed land thank God for it J from bon
dage and men must retain in their breasts
the passions and preiudices that the human
amily is heir to. He meant no disrespect
to them and thought the earnings of the
industrious and provident would be in an
unsafe condition, If they should legislate
to entranchlse large mass of Ignorant be-
lngs, and disfranchise a number of intelli-
gent citizens. He would support Mr.. DIS
amendment.
Mr. Tourgee disclaimed any intention
OF creating discussion. His object, in
introducing the resolution, was to clear
anything Like a party faint from Hoods
(negro) resolution. There were some who
were not in accord with the reconstruction
acts, who we're good Unionists during the
Wal that class he wished to relieve. no
matter whether they were Conservative or
Republican. But as to that class, that were
loyal to the so-called Confederacy, and were
still antagonistic to the General Govern
ment, they had no right to look to this
Convention for anything.
Mr.. Holt wished vote taken upon the
matter. He wanted the people to know
the men who dared record themselves as
voting against q general amnesty.
The hour of II o'clock having arrived
the unfinished business of yesterday, viz :
the report of the Committee on Militia had
precedence, when Mr.. Mcdonald, of
Chatham, moved to suspend the rules and
postpone its consideration, and continue
the discussion of this matter He wished
to have full and free discussion, and a
vote taken on Mr.. Durham's amendment
Several objections being raised, the vote
was taken, which resulted in the motion
being lost.
The House then went into Committee of
the Whole, Mr.. Sweet in the chair
Mr.. Abbott's amendment to the Sd sec
ton of the report on militia was discussed
and, after some debate, an amendment by
Mr.. Jones, of Washington, striking out the
whole section, was carried.
Section 4th was adopted without objec-
ton being made.
Section 9th was stricken out.
Section 7th was partially amended.
Mr.. Tourgee moved that the committee
do now rise, and report the adoption of the
bill, as amended. Agreed to, when
Mr.. Sweet vacated the Chair and reported
progress.
Mr.. Heaton moved the report of the Com
mlttee on Governor, &C., be engrossed for
final reading. Carried.
MIR. IL. also moved the same in regard to
the reDOrt of the (tommittoa on tho Militia