The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-08-05
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES .

The House met according to adjournment.
Prayer by the Rev. Mr.. Shaver, Of the Douse.
communication was received IRON the Code
Commissioners, announcing that the requisite
number of printed copies OF the bill concerning
fees of clerks, sheritfs, coroners, &c, had been
placed at the disposal of the House.
Received message from the Senate, transmit
ting bill concerning the government OF coun-
ties" with amendments, asking tho concurrence
of the House in the same.
Mr.. Seymour, from the Judiciary Committee,
reported back the memorials from citizens of
Guilford, Randolph and Northampton coun-
ties praying the abolition OF capital punishment,
recommending no action on the subject II was
sufficient for the committee to report that no
other adequate punishment for what are now
capital felonies, was at present possible in North
Carolina. Laid over.
Also recommending that the act in reference
to the stay laws do not pass. Laid over.
Mr.. Stevens introduced resolution in favor Of
j. j. Sawyer, who acted as engrossing clerk of
the House from the 1st OF July to the 6th-rying
him the per diem allowed to the regular engross
ing clerk.
Under suspension of the rules the resolution
passed its second and third readings.
Mr.. Sinclair asked that bis bill ito provide for
the public roads and public works, and TO pre-
vent crime" be referred to the judiciary com
mittee. So referred.
Mr.. Barnett, from the committee on Corpora
tons, reported back the bill to provide for the
laying Oft the State into townships, and asked
that il be referred to the committee on Internal
Improvements. So referred.
BY request of Mr.. Whitley, the majority and
minority reports from the committee on Corp0
rations reference to the bill, were ordered TO
be printed
The Senate resolution authorizing the Public
Treasurer to negotiate loan of 500, 900 TO meet
necessary State expenses, passed its third read
ing-yeas 62, nays 10-and The Senate or
dered to be notified of the same.
The bill appointing Clerks OF Superior Courts
to take privy examination of Je3ne coOe,tS in the
ing.
On motion Of Mr.. Seymour, the rules were sus-
pended, and the bill placed on its third and last
reading.
Mr.. Latin moved to amend by inserting after
''courts'' the words Justices of the peace"
Mr. l.. said he offered the amendment to save
the expense of travelling from the extreme end
OF County to the county scat, in order TO reach
the office OF the Superior Court Clerk. Mags-
trates had the right 10 take privy examinations of
married women in the States Of New York, Mas
sachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and Others,
and he hoped the same proceeding would be al
lowed in this State.
Mr.. Seymour said the judiciary Committee
had twice decided adversely to the proposed
amendment, and he was glad it was brought be-
fore the House for its decision. The ostensibc
object of the law was to prevent married women
from being cocrced by their husbands into the
signing OF deeds OF conveyances. The amendment,
| ifadopted, would entirely abrogate the policy Of
| the law. Justices of the peace under influences
that could be brought to bear upon them, might
assist in coercing .trnae cooe'fs, and in order 10
protect the interests of those persons, the COM
mittee were of the opinion that it wonld be un
| wise to adopt the amendment.
| Mr.. Harris, of Wake, moved to amend by say
ing that examinations shall take place before two
| magistrates, which was accented
,I... l.xtk and
| thought that it would be detrimental in its re-
| suits TO the interests of married women. II the
| amendment should prevail, he thought it ought
to be restricted to sales OF fifty dollars or less
| The Interests of wealthy persons ought to nave
the protection that could be conveyed by an ex-
animation before the clerk of the Superior Court.
MIR. Laflin thought there should be no di''
| tinction made between wealthy and poor persons.
| If magistrate would act corruptly in cases
where interests to the amount of $500 were con
! cerned, he would do the same thing when the
sum of $50 was involved. The people certainly
would not elect any but honorable men to act as
Justices ofthe Peace.
Mr.. Short said as property was involved by the
| provisions of the BILL he thought the Legislature
| should have an eye to competency. magistrates,
in many instances, had buta very limited kn0Wl-
| edge of the law, and, in his opinion, it would DC
| Improper to confidc TO them the right to take ex-
aminations where such important interests were
| involved.
Mr. Latin, ironically, IN reply to his .S eol,
were not competent; ard ne supposed it WOMB
be necessary for the married women to go before
Rufus Choatc or Judge Pearson. before they
would be allowed to sign deeds of conveyahees;, 81,
Mr. Stilcy could see no objection to the b tia
as originally reported. he suggested that t the
difficulty might be obviated by allowing inc
Clerks to issue commissi MS to magistrates a ~
take examination o: teme coUerts on Ge'
mand by the parties interested, the masi %
trates to make reports of their examinations "
the Clerks He had no idea that the magistrate
| would be disposed to practice deception; luo
plan would save expense. There was dlspos,s
ton on the part OF females not to attend Coufh