Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-02-21
not wish to do that. He hoped it would
be adopted as it stood.

not wish to do that. He hoped it woul,
be adopted as it stood
MIR. Graham said he had no disposition
to refer to the past, but everybody kney
the facts that dungeons were full of prison
ers, whom the hdbeaS corpus could no
reach that we were under rigorous mill
tary power-whether rightfully or not h
would not say at present. But it was foil,
to say that the people of this Stat,
were enjoying either political or civi
liberty.
Hood (negro, thought moro liberty wa
being enjoyed than ever before He al
luded to the emancipation Of the negro
race.
Mr.. Hodnett said that the reason h,
would not support Mr.. Graham's amend
ment, was because that by the time thi!
Constitution would be in operation, those
Liberties would be awarded
The question on Mr.. Grahan's amend
ment WAS put to vote and lost.
The preamble was then adopted.
Tie caption OF the 1st section Was mex
considered and adopted
Mr. Heaton moved to make the balance
OF the report the special order for Thurs
day next, at II o'clock. Agreed to.
On motion of Mr.. Abbott, the report or
militia was taken up.
In the first section, Mr.. Graham, o
Orange, moved as an addition
But arhite and c0lored persons shall be
organized into separate commands, and No
Whtfc man stat eoeJ be ye1uired 10 OJey {
negro officer"
Mr.. q. said he had heard q great deal
said about social equality, advocated by
gentlemen on this floor now he wished the
yeas and nays called, and the gentlemen on
record in the matter.
Mr.. Jones, of Washington, thought the
Convention should have nothing to do with
this. The Legislature was the proper body
to legislate in this matter.
Mr.. Durham said this was test ques-
ton. He wished to have it distinctly SC
regarded. The reconstruction acts did not
prevent the passage of this resolution, de-
claring tie superiority Of the white man.
We claim that the white man has some
rights left him, even under the recOnstruc-
tion acts. But it is the evident intention
Of this Convention to go beyond the recon
struction acts, and thereby not only give
civil and political equality, but to force
upon the people Of the State social equality.
He wanted the people to know who were
the men that We're endeavoring to perpe-
trate such an outrage upon them. He in,
tended to try, by every means in his power,
to make these radical gentlemen upon this
floor come up fairly and squarely to the
mark, and show, by their votes upon this
question, whether they wished to force
social equality between the races upon the
people. It was vain for gentlemen to try
to dodge the question by saying that the
Legislature would provide for such mat
truth, and tear from their faces the mask
under which they had hid, and the people
would see and spot the men who are will
ling to degrade their own color by admit
ting to-day that social equality between the
races does and shall exist. Such an at
tempt to fix upon our people such DAMN
ing shame, by certain members on this
floor, ought to go over the whole country,
and the men be marked.
1t was a test question. We, the Con
servaties on this floor, so regard it !; and if
the yeas and nays upon this question are
refused us, it will be palpable AID direct
acknowledgment of fear, on the part of the
Radical element of this Convention, to
show their record to the people. It would
be skulking and lodging the question in a
miserable and abject manner.
Mr.. Rodman gave his reasons why he
rather liked Mr.. Graham's amendment
that the Legislature will provide for such
things, &c. (But when the vote came, Mr..
r. was found with the pnty)
Mr.. Abbott was opposed to the amend.
ment, and did not mind placing himself on
record.
Mr.. Mann moved to lay it on the table
but, on being told that it would carry the
section with it, withdrew it,
Messrs. Welker and Watts both thought
the Legislature The proper body to con
slider this matter of CHASING races.
Mr.. Durham again told them that the
Conservative gentlemen of this body in
tended to make them stand up to the rack,
"fodder or no fodder"
MI Ashley thought the amendment
would draw an iauitliOuS distinction between
the races. In the course of his remarks he
stated that Gov. Graham had, before 1885
drilled free men Of color, and, according tC
the argument of the Conservative gentle
man on this floor, thereby acknowledged
these men his social, moral and intellectual
equals.
Mr.. Durham said: ''Si', 1 Gra,ed H5a
assertion as q .falsehO0G assd q foal2able lie. ,
Mr.. Ashley simply said it was so, and
continued his remarks IL opposition to the
amendment at some length.
Hayes, of Halifax, (negro), offered all
amendment to the effect that white men,
having mulatto children. be placed i'll the
same company with their children.
The reporter asked the Secretary foI
the amendment, to copyit. On being told
that the President had it, he applied to
the President and the application was re-
fused; and the President, after calling
Hayes to him and having some conversa-
ton with him, announced to the House
that the amendment was withdrawn.
Harris, of Wake, (negro), next spoke,
and the gist of his remarks was, that like
Mr.. Ashley. he stood upon tho broad
ground of manhood, irrespective OF race OIL
color.
The yeas and nays upon MIR. Graham'f s
amendment, after a good deal of reluc-
tance, were ordered.
The vote being taken, resulted as fol
lows:
Those who voted in the affirmative were
Messrs Bradley, Durham, Ellis, Graham, oI
Orange, Hare, Hodnett, Maclcr, Merritt, VIII
hap2s, OF fSampson.
Those who voted in The negative were:
|. Messrs Abbott Andrews, Ashley, Barnes, Bry-
an, Carey (negro), Cherry, neSro), Chiison, Corr
gleton, Cox Daniel, Dickey, Duckworth Eppes,
(negro), EtheridGe, Fisher, Forkner, Franklin
French, CT Bladen, French, of Rockingham
French, Of Chowan, Gahagan, Galloway, (negro)
Garland. George, Glover, Graham. of Montgome-
rF ant of II