Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-02-21
From the Raleigh Sentinel.
The constitutional ConventIon,'
(SO-Called.)

-hoNOA1, ESD III, 1OOO.
The Convention was called to order at IL
o'clock
Prayer by the Rev. Mr.. Welker.
The journal of Saturday was read and
approved.
a communication from the Conference
OF the Virginia and North Carolina NJ E.
Church, concerning education, was read
and referred.
MIR. Durham offered the following reso-
luton
WHEREAS, 1t is matter OF common rilmar that
corruptng influences have been used to secure
tho passage of certain ordinances, which have
been passed by this Convention ; and .rLerea$, if
hcso rumor5 are true, it is the duty OF this body
to ascertain who are tho guilty parties, and cxpOsc
such said corruption. Therefore,
be u ResOtCed, That q sclcct Committee of thre G
members be appointed by the President, whose
duty 1t shall ba to ascertain and report whethcr r
corrupting influences have been ed to secure
tho passage of any ordinance which has been
pa assed by this Convention, and. if so, the names
OF the guilty parties. and all tho facts connected
Herewith. The said Committee shall have power
to send for persons aud papers, administer oaths
and examine witnesses.
Mr.. d. said it was rumored on the streets,
in hotels, and everywhere that money has
been used to induce members to vote for q
certain ordinance or ordinances. It is the
duty of the Convention to enquire, and, if
1T is true, the Infamous name of the dele
gate should be handed down to posterity
and If by any corporation or individual
that its name or the names may be also
known. He did not believe that any one
wO0ld vote against the resolution and if
any delegate had been 50 base as to re-
cieve bribe, he hoped that it would be-
como known, or, If false, that the matter
would at least be Investigated.
The rules wore suspended and the reso-
luton was adopted.
Mr.. Abbott offered q resolution that no
one shall move the previous question, ex-
cept the Chairman of Committee, whose
report is under consideration, the mover of
a resolution or the author Of q minority re-
port.
Mr.. King, of Lemon, objected, and
thought if the resolution was passed. they
might as well adjourn sine die.
The rules were suspended and the reso-
luton was not adopted.
Mr.. Tourgee, a resolution in favor of two
sessions-one in the morning and the other
in the evening. Lies over.
BY consent, Mr.. Tourgee submitted re-
port from the Committee on Corporations,
to whom was referred the ordinance of Mr.
Jones, of Washington, incorporating the
town of Columbia.
The report was adopted and the ordi-
nance accompanying it was also adopted.
CALENDAR.
memorial from the citizens of Gull
ford, praying that the distillation of grain
may be prohibited, presented by Mr.. Wei
ker, was taken up and referred to the Com
mittee of three, appointed to confer with
Gen. Candy.
Mr.. Tourgee moved that an ordinance to
the same effect, offered by Mr.. Welker,
some time ago, and referred to that Com
mittee, be reported back to the Conven-
ton. Agreed to.
Also, Mr.. Welker's ordinance in regard
to Bank issues, was taken up, and on mo-
ton, was ordered to be printed.
The ordinance of Mr.. Mcdonald, of
Chatham, in relation to taxing old debts
rs per centum, was next considered.
Mr.. Mcdonald moved to make it the
special order for II o'clock.
Mr.. Graham moved to postpone it indef-
initely.
Mr. Mcdonald called for the yeas and
nays, and, the call being sustained, the vote
resulted yeas Y, nays Ii.
A resolution offered by Mr.. Petree, rails
ing Select committee of three to memo
rialize Congress for reduction of the reve-
nue. on tobacco, was next reached.
Mr.. Hodnett said he came from to-
bacco raising section, and that the present
tax was very onerous upon all classes-par-
ticularly the freedmen. He hoped the reso-
luton would pass.
Hood (negro), moved that recess be ia
ken until the Circus passed The Capitol!
Mr.. Abbott hoped no such ridiculous mo-
ton would be entertained.
Mr.. Durham said that there should be a
call of the House he did not think there
was quorum present.
Hood (negro), withdrew the motion.
Mr.. Rodman's resolution in favor of the
Sheriff of Halifax, extending the time Of
collecting taxes in arrears, was taken up.
MIR. Renfrow said that the Sheriff had
been very vigiIant in collecting the taxes
from colored people, and, before the cleo
tion, had told the negroes that they could
not vote until the taxes had been paid, and
that he drank a good deal of whiskey.
Here the President said that he should
bccompelled to call the Sergeant arms, if
gentlemen did not take their seats and keep
order. The sh0op acas passing. The Presi-
don't, indeed, thought the House had better
have q recess, as it was impossible to trans
act business The roll was about being
called, when, on the interference of several
members, it was stopped.
Tho matter under consideration was re-
ferred to the delegates from Halifax county,
as committee.
Mr.. Bradley's ordinance, in favor of j.
G.. Jones, Sheriff of Alleghany county, ex-
tending the time of collecting taxes, was
also considered.
Mr.. Bryan thought all the Sherif1s should
have the same indulgence, and moved to
amend by making it include the Sheriffs of
all the counties.
Mr.. Tourgee moved to lay the whole
matter on the table. Carried.
Mr. Rich's resolution giving the Cover
nor the veto power, was next reached.
Mr.. Heaton suggested that the matter
could be better discussed when the first
article of the Constitution is reported. Mr..
Rich agreed to the proposition.
SPECIAL ORDER.
The report of the committee on Pream-
bile and Bill of Rights was the order. The
Preamble was read, when
Mr.. Graham, of Orange, said that as civil
and political liberty did not preraH just at
Mis time, he moved to amend by inserting
" and imploring the restoration of our po-
htical, religious and civil liberties "
Mr.. Heaton thought if no moro attention
oo,,1J no had ST1oh an imDort3nt measure