Wilmington journal., 1868-03-20
From the Raleigh Sentinel.
T.,c unconstitutional Convention"
(So-CaIlcd.l
C.TGCJON

(So-CnIlcd.l
NIGHT SESSION.
THURSDAY, March II, 1863
The Conve,tiOn was called to order at
the usual hour.
The Chair announced the following gen
tlemen as the committee on Relief VIZ
NTassrs, R9lman. Pool Jones, Of CaldWeu,
Rich, Watts, Bradley, McCubblns anu III
hngs.
IIr. Latin called up the report Of the
committee on Miscellaneous Provisions.
When section was reached, Mr.. Dur
ham moved to strike out the words ''veste4
in him by the government OF the oh''eo
States"
Mr. Durham said that if this section IS
adopted. as it is, You leave open Tor prose-
cntion the soldiers of the late Confederate
States. IF vOu pursue such poIlcy, what
kind Of q state of affairs Will yon produce
in the Western part OF the State II you
ar0nse the ureiudices Of the people, you
will have anything but peace and quiet
If yOu mean to prosecute one side, and pro
tect the other, YOU will needlessly stir up a
most horrible condition of things. 1t is
another party scheme Do yOu wish to
commence a prosecution OF Confederate
soldiers, for OF eyirg orders given to them
by their officers, who held commissions
under recognized belligerent power You,
in this section, protect Federal soldiers for
their acts. Ii does seem to me that this IS
another step TO create strife among the
people. | propose to strike ont this fca-
turc and leave the matter Just where it now
Mr.. Abbott was in favor of leaving the
section rs it was.
Mr.. Kodman supported Nh. Durham's
amendment.
rE Pr, ,,.,r,,aa1 II TTc eaiI tbo4
every effort had been made to take bis wal
uabIe' life, simply because he had been in
the Federal army. &c.
Mr. Bradley said that Mr.. Bryan had said
that no Union man from the West would
vote for MIR Durham's amendment. He
Mr.. Bralipvi would inform the gentleman,
that ha uoud vote for it, and lie was as
good Union man rs Nr. Bryan ever was.
lie was moi so bi8oted rs to think that one
side was nil night and the other all wrong.
lie knew oI murders committed in his
county o;l both sides he knew Of men
being Shot down Ior their secession princi-
pies, WHO had comIaittod no crime save
tbat Of expressing their sentiments. Col
0ncIs Ci!Icy and Folk had, to acknowledge,
been active ~ defending Union men, as
we'll as men OF the other side, on DrOsecu-
tioIs and indictments. He could vote for
this amendment with Il clear conscience.
lie wished to bnry the past TO protect both
gilas ond to lo ;ne+ion to oN He Wanted +o
ena an ast G;DI..~n',ces Ln,,;ed ~ o,>n COM
,,o, ,,Iaza "a would navar ~e,,nnort .
n,nqs,Sra which extends protection to one
cIassanl leaves an0shcroDantO to prosecution.
Al were his feIlow-citizens and entitled TO
cnmal RIGHTS and equal protection. The
adoDtion Of this section. as proposed to be
amended by Mr.. Durham, will not screen
men WHO have committed murder and other
outraees. under no authority and for no
reason save for their wicked PURPOSES
Those cases are plain and should be pun
i,hcl. But to leave one class of his people
open to prose cution. simply because they
differ in their noliticaI senti,annts with
others was atrocione, Give all an canal
aud fair chance; if one is to be prosecuted
why then let the other he.
Sir. Kinney would oppose the amend
mcut lie characterized the 6 Amnesty
law" as obnoxious and he hoped to see it
repealed
Mr.. kIuc, Of Icnoir. moved to strike the
whole section opt
The question REQUIRED upon Mr.. Dur
hams amendment. The yeas and NAYS