The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1868-02-25


Mr. Welkers ordinance, prohibiting the dis
tiilation of grain, was reached. The question
recurred on motion to postpone indefinitely,
made by Mr. Mel 9onald Of Chatham. The vote
was taken upon the motion to postpone, which re-
suited: yeas 26 nays 31-not quorum voting.
Mr. Rich then moved as the former vote was
Illegal to lay the whole matter on the table.
The yeas and nays were called and the vote stood:
yeas 80, nays 55.
Mr. Colgrove moved to amend by inserting
November, 1861" instead of.sJanuary, 1862
Carried
MIR Welker moved to strike out the provision
IN relation to Imprisonment. Carried
The question recurred upon the adoption of
the ordinance as amended, and it was adopted.
BILL OF RIGHTs-THE STATE DEBT.
The question racurred upon section 9th, pledg-
of the cd State debt.
stion (unintentional, of course,) to misrepresent
him. If any one presumed to differ with them
on this matter, he was called repudiator. lie
had not taken grounds for such measure He
only contended that the debt of an old State,
that had completely lost it's Stata organization,
should not be assumed by the new State now
coming into existence.
Mr. Jones of Washington, said the gentleman
intended to make this Convention marked era
in his history He (Tourgee) seemed deter
mined to impress upon this body his code Of
morals and his own peculiar philosophy. Mr.
Jones then drew parallel between that gentle
mar and the famous Knight of Wind mill noto~
rety. Mr. Jones adverted to the great losses the
STATE had incurred during the war, saying that
though she had lost her wealth and her former
high rank among other States of the Union, yet
she still clung to, and intended to keep, her
honor unspotted and unstained. MIR Jones
wished to know of the gentleman, if Congress
recognized this as a State, with certain bounda-
res, how did he get the idea that this was not
State In 1861 this State became part of a
DE- taeto government; and her political relations
to the Federal government were merely suspend
ed during the existence of that de .facto govern
ment When the South felt unable to carry on
the struggle and the war ended, our functions as
a State and part and parcel of the government
were resumed. Every line of the reconstruction
acts all the language of Congress, treat each one
of these rebcllious States as State with its civil
functions suspended. Hence those reconstruc-
ton acts were to provide government for those
States, until we frame Constitution and provide
civil government for the State. Mr. Jones said
the measures of those gentlemen were nothing
more or less than rank reputation, and, notwlth-
standing the ingenuity of their arguments, all
the waters of the ocean could not wash out the
damning blot.
Mr. Mcdonald endeavored to speak, but was
ruled out of order by the Chair, and he took his
seat, saying he was always ruled out of order.
After some little talking, MIR Med. was allowed
to occupy the floor, and the gist of his remarks
was that Mr. Tourgee had convinced him that
section had no business in the Constitution.
Mr. Rodman said he wished to say only few
words in regard to MIR Tourgees allusion to our
institutions in regard to slavery. That insttu-
tion existed in the Northern States before it did
here, and, when abolished there, it was on ac
count of the unproftableness of the institution,
not on account of morality. And the slaves that
should have been emancipated by the laws Of
those States were brought down South and sold.
Mr. r. characterized Mr. Tourgcc's theory as
feeble and second hand imitation of that Of GER
tain men in the French Revolution. He would
not follow in the wake of those revolutionary
steps He would never turn his back upon the
example and teachings of those ancestors whom
he revercd, as he wished his posterity to respect
him. This was new era conflict between
capital and labor and he trusted in God that the
laborer would fare as well in this conflict as he
did in the old.
Mr. Heaton closed the debate in favor of the
section, and concluded his remarks by calling the
previous question.
The call was sustained, the section put on its
passage and the vote stood yeas II, nays 9.
The following is the section of the Bill of
Rights as adopted:
SEC g. To maintain the honor and good faith
of the State untarnished, the public debt regu-
lof nd tha at,allI
shall be regarded as invioable and never ques
toned; but the State shall never assume or pay
any debt or obligation, incurred in aid of insur-
rection or rebellion against the United States, or
any claim for the loss or emancipation Of any
slave.
SOCIAL EQUALITY.
Sections 25 to 33, inclusive, of the Bill of
Rights were adopted
Mr. Durham moved to insert an additional sec
ton, to come between sections 33 and 81, to read
as follows:
1.-The Caucasian and African distinct by
nature and color; therefore, all nter-marriages be-
tween the Caucasian white race, and the African
or black, are forever prohibited
Mr. Durham called the yeas and nays, and the
Secretary had commenced to call the roll, when
Mr. Sweet arose and said that as he, at the time
the amendment was offered was entitled to the
foor, on privileged question, he would now
move to Law the amendment on the table
Mr.Durham called the yeas and nays on that
motion. The House refused to grant them.
Mr. Durham said his was an amendment to the
bill itself and not to any section. and that if it
was laid on the table. it would carry the whole
bill with it. He was not surprised to see the
Radicals resort to every dodge to shirk going on
record in this matter But if they did shirk 1t,
he would show to the people that they did 80 in