Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-02-28
MORNING SESSION.
SATURDAY, Feb. p, 1868.


The Convention Was called to order at 10
O'Clock.
Prayer by the Rev. Mr.. Brewer.
Ir. Mcdonald, of Chatham, moved that
the body adjourn until Monday next at 10
O'Clock, in honor Of Nashington's birth
day.
Mr.. Forkncr moved 10 amend. by forfeit
ing the per diem for to-day.
McssrS. French, Of ChOWan, and King,
OF Lenoir, objected to the adjournment.
Galloway (negro), favored it.
Hood (negro), didn't.
BY Mr. French, of ChOwan A resolu-
ton that this Convention honor the mem
DRY OF Washington, by proceeding to en-
graft upon the Constitution the principles
Of truth and justice which have rendered
his name illustrious.
On motion of Hood (negro), the rules
were suspendedand the resolution adopted.
Mr.. Pool moved to suspend the rules and
take up the Suffrage question. Agreed to,
when
Mr.. Grant, of Wayne, took the floor
He spoke for some time in favor of the
majority report, as he did not wish to pre-
sent Constitution that savored of a par
tisan character. He gave vent to the usual
argument in behalf Of universal negro suf-
frage, and grew eloquent" upon the
long suffering Of that down~trodden race.
Mr. Heaton next arose. He was glad
that they were approaching the settlement
of this great question upon the birth day
of the father OF his country, and he could
have wished that the Farewell Address of
that great man could have been read to this
body, as the principles embodied IN 1t I'M
derlaid the whole foundation of the govern
ment, and he hoped that at least some por
tiOns of it would be read ere this days work
was done. Mr.. II. went into long argu-
ment upon the subject, and, in regard to
| the acknowledgements of a certain class, he
said that though the membranes OF the
late rebellion, and the appeals OF aged men
upon this floor, and the shrill notes of de-
tiance from gentlemen on the other side
had made his bosom swell within him, yet
| he would not be driven from off his ground.
| He did not think thai they should for an
| instant set aside their cool and sober judg-
| ment i'll coming TO conclusion in this
| matter.
Mr.. Heaton did not exactly favor any Of
the reports. He thought they should con-
| form to the acts Of Congress-not go one
| iot beyond them or fail one iota below
them. He held that any Constitution that
| they might frame must conform in every
| particular to the requirements OF the re-
construction acts. AS this plan is laid
down there was no other resource than to
comply with it and he thought, so far as
| cOttng is concerned, that when the State is
reconstructed under that plan, universal
suffrage viii practically prevail, but not
universal amnesty until the Congress
chooses to relieve men by special act Of
legislation. He believed tina: there is ii
large class of men in the State that should
never hold office, and that, while they would
be allowed to vote. yet many Of them would
grow grey before Congress would allow them
to hold Office.
In touching upon negro suffrage, and the
rights of that class, he contended that the
| Declaration of Independence contained no
clause that recognized the right of proper
ty in man, and that the noblest sentiment
| ever uttered by Madison was when he
said that he (Madison) would not permit
the word "slave" to appear in the Con
| stitutiGn.
Mr.. Durham asked him if it did not CON
| tain a pledge not to Interfere with the Ain
can slave trade until 1908
| Mr.. IL. replied :" know very we'll that
the slave trade was permitted to exist until
| the year 1905, but was then abrOgated as a
| great moral crime, and those who engaged
in it were held to be pirates.
| Nj, H. continued for some time, and In
conclusion was followed by
Mr.. Durham, who said that he hoped
that Mr. Pool would not, according to his
notice, call the previous question at this
| hour, as he found that he was compelled
to reply briefly to the remarks of Mr.. Hea-
ton. He (Mr. Durham) thought the invo-
cation of the spirit of George Washington
was merely made to hush the mournful
| death-knel that was about to be sounded
over the death of the liberties of the peo-
pie of this State. Washington was himself
a large Shareholder, and never word fell
from his lips advocating the freeing OF