Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-04-10

~
fathers, and treat with the scorn and con
tempt which become white men, the dirty
thing which is offered you in its stead"
We lind, on reference to the records in
the Treasury Department, that the highest
compensation received by any member of
the Convention, was S94 This sum was
paid to James W. Gwinn, of the county of
Macon-S57 per diem compensation and
S37 for 74O miles travel. We copy the four
first names Oh the pay roll, with the aggre-
gate compensation of each annexed
" Hon. Nathaniel Macon. President,
$63 80.
John L. Bailey, S72 20.
William CASTOR, 800.
David L. Swain, S57"
| Gov. Swain, it will be perceived, did not
charge his mileage. His successors (Cdnd-
Ier'S) mileage amounts to SIG 40, more
than double the amount of Gov. Swain's
entire compensation. Mr.. Macon, for his
services, received less than tiGse of the
sum awarded to Kalvin J. Knowles.
The Reporter was the venerable Joseph
Gales, the father of the stenographic art in
the United States, the personal and politi-
cal friend of Mr.. Macon, during O long Sc
r1es of years. He reported and published
the debates of the Convention in a neat oc-
tavo OF 426 pages, without compensation.
Mr. Joseph ". Holden received for report
ing the debates, in the column of his news
paper, Sc per diem. The other officers of
the Convention were Secretary and Assis-
tant Secretary, Principal and an Assistant
Doorkeeper. Neither Sergeant-at-Arms
Or Engrossing Clerk, white or colored,
were considered indispensable, at time
when the condition of the Public Treasury,
and the aggregate resources of the State,
presented very dissimilar aspect to the
eye of the fnancier and the philanthropist
The venerable Edmund 3. Freeman, the
present Clerk of the Supreme Court of
North Carolina, was Principal Secretary,
and recorded all the ordinances of the Con
vention and engrossed the Constitution on
parchment. He received for all these SER
vices, 1924. The Principal Secretary and
the two Engrossing Clerks of the late Con-
vention, for like services 81, ,693 60!
We copy from the reported volume the
| following account of the closing scenes in
the Convention
FRIDAY, July 10, 1885.
Mr.. CASTOR asked leave, while the Presi-
dent was absent from the Chair, to lay
resolution on the table, to be called up as
one of the last acts of the session.
SATURDAY, July II, 1885.
MIR. Swain being Temporarily IN the Chair,
Mr.. CASTOR, of Craven, said that before
the Convention performed the last Act
which it had to do, he would call up the
resolution that he yesterday laid on the
table. He said, [ am about to offer to the
Convention resolution on which know
[ shall meet with perfect unanimity. How
ever we may have been divided on other
subjects, in returning our acknowledge
ments to our venerable President, for the
able manner in which he has presided over
this body, there will be no difference of
opinion. The following resolution was
then read
ResoIced unanimously, That the thanks
of this Convention are due, and hereby re-
spectfully and afectionately rendered to
the Honorable NATHANIEL MACON,
their venerable President, for the distin-
guished ability, dignity and impartiality,
with which he has discharged the duties of
his station.
The resolution being read, Mr.. Carson,
instantly rose and expressed hope that
this mark of well-deserved respect to their
venerable friend, for probably the last pub
lie act of his life. would be testified by the
members of the Convention standing
The word was no sooner spoken, than
every man in the Convention was on his
feet.
Chair, addressed the members of Conven-
ton, as follows
Conference.-The merits which you have
ascribed to me, in the performance of my
duty in the Chair, belong to you. I have
been for long time engaged in public
business and though no one will charge
me with being fstterer, I must say that
have never Witnessed so much good order
and deco1um of conduct in any public
body with which have been connected.
When entered upon the important duties
to which the Convention in Their kindness
called me, was fearful that I should not
have been able to discharge them with
any satisfaction to myself or to the Con-
vention, nor should /, without your at
tentive aid and assistance. To you, there
fore, my thanks are due for all your kind
ness
"This, expect, will be the last scene of
my public life. We are about to separate !;
and it is my fervent prayer that you may,
each of you, reach home in safety, and
have happy meeting with your family and
friends, and that your days may be long,
honorable and happy.
While my life is spared, if any of you
should pass through the county in which I
live, I shall be glad to see you
On the Presidents resuming his seat, and
the applause of the Convention having
ceased,
Mr.. Carson, of Burke, rose and said that
the concluding remark of the venerable
President had called him up to say that
he was about to leave old North Carolina,
to reside in the far West. where he should
be happy at all times to see any friend
from the old State-to be North Caro-
linian would be a sufficient recommends
| tiOn-his house and corn crib should be at
the service of his friends"
Mr.. CASTOR, from the Committee on En-
rolment, reported the Amendments to the
Constitution, correctly enrolled on parch-
ment, which received the signatures of the
President, Principal Secretary, ard Assist
ant Secretary.
| The President then informing the Con-
vention that the business OF the Conyen-
ton WAS finished
On motion of Mr.. CASTOR, of CravcD, the
Convention adjourned sine die.
Mr.. Carson is remembered by urlr oldest
citizens as among the most eloquent speak
ers of his day He represented the noun