Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-03-20
THE SPECIAL ORDER.

acnOnS at law and suits IN equity.
Mr.. Tourgee hoped the amendment
would be voted down. He thought that all
such distinctions should be abolished. He
said that all the ground had been gone
over once and the sense of the Convention
had been taken in the matter, and it had
decided to abolish all such distinctions and
1t was a useless consumption of time to en-
ter into an elaborate argument upon mat
ter already decided.
The question recurred upon MIR. Pools
amendment, which was put to vote and
lost, and the section, as reported, was
adopted.
Sections to 7, inclusive, were, with
some slight amendments, adopted.
In section s, Mr.. Rodman moved to
strike out 4" two associate Justices and in
sert "a, " and to add to the section a pro-
vision that the General Assembly may de-
crease the number whenever necessary.
Mr.. Durham protested against this
amendment as q mere party measure to
provide places for pets, to be supported by
people already impoverished and ground
down by heavy taxes. He said that you
(the Radicals) have created enough use
less and unnecessary offices, in all con-
science. Why should two more Judges be
added? The three that we now have always
performed all their work in manner that
has placed the Supreme Court of this State
as high as that of any State in the Union.
The present Court was occupied about a
third of their time, and yet cry comes up
here now that they are OverWOrkcd. Why
not put three on now, and authorize the
Legislature to increase tho number when
ever it shall become necessary ? l am op-
posed even to empowering the Legislature
to increase the number, but if you are so
VII u-lx- fol
low that plan, and not increase the num-
ber when it is notoriously we'll known to
every one land [ believe even the present
Judges themselves agree in the matter)
that two additional Judges are totally use
less ?
l brand this as party measure, merely
gotten up to give certain party pets pull
at the public teat. Yes sir, you are cheat
ing those offices 70 support men who have
no other means probably of support than
that which your party will wiring from our
impoverished people to maintain them
This is an outrage upon the people, and q
policy so mean, sprlng1ng from vicious
purpose, deserves the scorn of every hon
est man.
Mr.. Cowles protested against the increase
of the number, as the party would be
charged with having done so merely to pro-
Mr.. RodI1an spoke for some time in ad
vocacy Of lis amendment, when the ques-
ton required upon Mr. Rodman's amend
ment.
The yeas and nays being demanded on
its passage were called and resulted in the
following ballot
YEAS Messrs. Abbott, Ashley, Bryan, Chilson,
Colgrave, Daniel, Dickey, Epps (negrol, Fisher
French, of BIaden, French, of Chowan, Fullings
Galloway ii:eSro) Graham, of Montgomery, Grant
of Wayne, Grant, of Northampton, Hall, Hayes
Of Robeson, Highsmith (negro), Hood negro)'
Legg, Logan, Mann. Mayo (negro), MARSHALL
Merritt, Mcdonald, of Moore, Moore, Morton,
Murphy, Patrick, Parker, Pierson (negro), Rag
land, Ray. Rentrow, Rich, Rodman, Sweet, Tay-
lor, TOurgee, Watts and Welker.
NAYs-Messrs. Aydlott, Baker, Benbow, Bradley,
Gambler, Congleton, Cox, Dowd, Duckworth, Dur
ham, Etheridge, Forkner, French, of Rocking
ham, Gahagan, Garland, Garrett, George, Glover.
Gunter, Hay, Hobbs, Hodnett, Hoffier, Holowell,
Holt, King, of Lincoln, King, of Lenoir, Lennon,
Long, May, McCu6bins, Mullican, Nance, Parks,
Petree. Peterson, Read, Rose, Sanderlin, Smith,
Silly, Stilwell, league, Trogden, Tucker, Turner
and Williams, of Wake.
The section, as amended, was then
ado pied.
Sections 8 to 16 were adopted.
In section II, Mr.. Durham offered the
following proviso and asked the yeas and
nays, acltich aCere refused linn
ProU1ded, That qchite orphan children
shall not be bound as apprentices to- COLOR
ED MASTERS and no coLored person
shall be appointed guardian for q WHITE
WARD.
The amendment was VOTED DOWN,
and the section as it stood, was adopted.
The remaining sections were then adopt
ed, and the article passed its 3rd reading
by ballot Of yeas 81, nays 10 (the Conser-
vatives all voting against it
On motion of Mr.. Welker, the report of
the Committee on Punishments, Penal In
stitutions and Public Charities, was taken
up, and the article passed its Sd reading
by party vote of yeas so, nays IL.
Mr.. French, of Bladen, called up his or
dinance in regard to the intimidation OF
voters.
The ordinance was read.
Mr. Rodman moved to strike out the
words ''by threats and otherwise"
After great deal of debate, on motion
of Mr.. Tourgee, it was referred to select
committee of three, to be reported upon by
Thursday next.
= After some further unimportant matters,
the Convention adjourned until = o'clock.
2. NJ.
NIGHT SESSION.
TUESDAY, March 10, 1868.
The Convention called to order at q
o'clock.
The report Of the committee on Suffrage
and Eligibility to Office, being the special
order for this hour, WAS taken up and con-
8idered
Section l was read, when
Mr. French of Bladen, moved to amend
by adding, after the word " election" IN
9th line, the words g except as hereinafter
provided" and, if that was adopted, he
would propose an additional section, which
he read.
Hood (negro) opposed, and Galloway
(negro) favored it, saying that it was al
most the universal sentiment of the color
ed people of New Hanover county, that the
men already disfranchised should remain
so until they repented.
Mr.. Pool, tho Chairman of the commit
tee, in long and elaborate argument, OPP
posed the amendment.
Tourgee supported it.
Mr.. Heaton opposed it. He said that,
on mature deliberation, he had come to
the conclusion that there should be fair
registration, and he read a substitute which
he should offer when Mr.. French offered
bis proposed section.