Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-12-04

Morris) was, that those gentlemen came
here, knowing themselves to be banned,
and attempted to palm themselves off up
| on this Legislature. Now, almost in every
instance, the alleged disabilities of these
| gentlemen arose from the fact of having
| held offices that, in the opinion of many
legal minds, worked no disqualification. -
Judges of the Supreme and Superior Courts
had SO decided and publicly expressed
such opinions. The Senate had invariably
given pay to those gentlemen whom their
decision had declared ineligible. lie
thought it nothing but simple justice that
these gentlemen should receive pay and
mileage.
Mr.. Pou, in a speech of some length,
advocated the measure. He did not see
any necessity for reference They should,
in matter of simple justice, rise above
mere party feeling. In regard to the ar
gument that those gentlemen came here
in defiance OF the laws of Congress, why,
how many gentlemen here can define, in
all cases, who are banned, and who are
not? He would venture to say that four
6fths could not tell he could not.
w. j.. Hays, colored. wanted to know if
those gentlemen came in defiance Of the
law, knowing themselves to be banned,
was it not good reason why they should
be refused pay? Why were they put up
for seats in this body
Mr.. Pou replied that those who "lived
in glass houses should not throw stones. ,
Why, the gentleman who so ably and eff
ciently fills the Executive Chair was nomi
mated and elected while laboring under
disabilities. Suppose Congress should
have considered that a defiance on oul
part. Did not gentlemen come here ban
ned and have their disabilities removed by
Congress after they had reached this city
MIR. Pou continued to urge the adoption
and during his remarks touched upon the
operations of the 14th article.
| Cuffee Mayo, colOred May I ask the
| gentleman q question
| Mr.. Pou: Certainly.
Cuffee Mayo Will you tell me aChdt IL
the Howard Amendment?
Mr.. Pou explained and then resumed
his remarks, and in conclusion, offered an
amendment allowing pay only from the 1st
to the 10Th of July last.
Cuffee Mayo, colored, opposed the
whole matter.
Mr.. French was in favor of referring to
some committee he did not care which.
He thought some of those gentlemen enti-
tied to pay others were not. He wanted
the matter settled and tho proper d1stinc-
tions made.
Mr.. Foster was in favor of the reference.
VIM. Cawthorne, colored, wanted di-
rect vote. He thought they were as well
prepared to vote now as they would be at
any future time. He saw no necessity to
refer.
Mr.. Ferebee said those gentlemen came
here in good faith, in obedience to the pro-
clamation of the Governor elect, and he
thought they should be reimbursed for the
expense which they had undergone in so
doing. It was nothing but matter Of
Justice. and one for which there was pre-
cedent of years and years standing.
After considerable discussion MIR. Foster
moved to refer to Special committee.
Mr.. Estes opposed any reference, and
took the ground that whether or not any
of these gentlemen came here in good
faith, they were entitled to mileage and
per- dien, for the time they were here.
J. S. Leary, colored, favored the resolu.
ton in speech of some length, in which
he cited the case of Stephens in the Senate.
Mr.. Ingram also supported the measure
and opposed any reference.
G. W. Price, colored, thought that they
should rise above all party consideration
He would support the resolution upon the
broad principles of justice.
Mr.. Foster called the previous question
upon his motion to refer to Special com
mittee. The call was sustained and tht
motion was put and lost.
The motion TO refer to the committee OF
Privileges and Elections was put and lost
The rules were then suspended and the
question REQUIRED upon the amendment O
Mr.. Pou, limiting the operation of the re
solution from the 1st of July to the 10th.
The question was put and carried. Upol
the passage of the resolution, the yeas anC
nays were called and resulted in the adOp
tion of the resolution as amended. Yeas
II. Nays 20.
Mr.. French gave notice he would soor
introduce bill making an appropriation
to pay rejected members, as he did no
think the action here to-day legal.
| By Mr.. Green A bill to amend the char
ter of the Cheraw and Coalfelds Railroad
Company. Referred.
The bill to authorize the Commissioners
of New Hanover county to issue bonds lin
troduced by Mr.. French) was taken up and
put on its third reading, when
J. 81. Harris, of Wake, colored, said he
would like an amendment added to require
the sale of bonds whenever they should be
worth SO much. It would prevent any
fraudulent speculations. AS the bill stood
there was room for some undetermined
practice.
Mr.. French replied that it was proposed
to deposit bonds to the amount of $7,00t
as collateral security-the Commissioners
giving their note. Upon the deposit they
expected to raise S. 200, and when the note
matured it was to be hoped the bonds
would be at par.
J. FL. Harris (colored), moved to add
" axe county. Carried.
Mr.. Gunter moved to reconsider the vote
by which Chatham county was included
yesterday. Carried.
He then moved to strike out that county
from the list. Carried.
Mr.. Seigrist moved to add Wilkes coun'
ty. Carried.
Mr.. Ingram moved to amend by increas-
ing the amount to so, 200 instead of ST.
900, as provided for in the bill.
MIR. French said he thought that larger
sum than 81, 200 would he needed, but he
f"areo that an increase would defeat the
UlD. Therefore he hoped the amendment
would be withdrawn.
Mr. Ingram withdrew it.
J. S. Leary (coloredl said he opposed the
bill Yesterday, but upon careful conSilera