The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-02-05

ernor and 1t. Governor to two terms of two
years. t 5Ht EFT
Mr.. Tourgee's amendment was put and |
lost. |
Mr. French, of Baden. renewed his mo-
ton, which was put and lost
Mr. McCubbins moved to strike out "twO" |
and insert -four years and require a free !
hold qualification of $1,000. Put and lost.
Mr. Nicholson moved substitute, that |
the Governor and 1t. Governor shall be a
resident of the United States twenty years.
be thirty years of age, resident of North
Carolina for two years. and not be eligible
to Office more than four years in any term
OF six. unless conferred as 1t. Governor.
The substitute was adopted.
On motion of Mr.. Galloway the committee
rose and reported progress.
The Convention then adjourned.
FRIDAY, Jan. 31st. 1868.
The Convention assembled in the Com
mons Hall at II O'Clock, President Cowles
in the Chair.
Prayer by Rev. Mr. Warwick.
The journal of yesterday was read and
approved.
Mr.. Bryan presented a memorial in ref
erence to disabilities and their removal.
Referred.
Mr.. Tourgee presented report on towns,
counties, dc. The committee asked to he
discharged from further consideration
thereof Granted.
Mr.. Rich presented resolution in favor
of comforting on the Governor the veto pow
er. LAID over.
ro,,,l,f.n, tl,o
committee TO enquire and report in refer
ence to the disabilities of Union men
during the war.
On motion the rules were suspended and
the resolution put on its passage.
Mr. Durham moved to amend so as to ia
clude all persons DISTINGUISHED.
Mr.. Durham said he had offered the
amendment in good faith, in the earnest and
sincere desire of removing the political dis
ability from every man, whether he belonged
to particular party or not. The resolution
passed yesterday, by the previous question,
or gag-law, which was not allowed to be
amended, did not propose to do this thing,
but only to relieve those who are in hearty
accord with reconstruction. Those who
were opposed to this body were to be kept
under political disability. And now this
resolution, which he proposed to amend,
only contemplated the relief of those, who
were Union men during the war. But men
as loyal as any, who had taken the amnesty
oath, were to remain DISTINGUISHED, because
they were not Union men during the war,
or in hearty accord with the reconstruction
acts. Now he desired to know whether this
Convention intended to relieve all or only
part. If delegates meant to do that, lie
| desired that they should go upon the record,
| SO that the people of North Carolina and of
| the United States might know the iniquity
of the proceeding. The resolution yester-
| day also proposed to remove the disability
of those who were not Union men during the
war; but are now acting with the Republi
can party 1t is put upon the ground of
loyalty" What is loyalty2 Obedience to
the behests Of some party, or to the laws
and Constitution of the United States j
There is no word in the English language
more perverted to-day than "loyalty."-
Or is loyalty the approval of the de-
grading, contemplate measures of Congress
1t was said that those, who did not ap
prove. were not loyal. He said, if the re-
construction acts were opposed to the Con-
stitution. they were loyal. They had taken
the amnesty oath to support the Constitu-
ton. But whether this amendment is adop-
| ted or not, though it was evident that the
previous question was enforced, when he
moved to amend, yet lie was determined
that the people should know how the
members of the Convention voted. He be-
lieved that it had determined not to remove
the disabilities from ALL but to fasten on
some constitution for which they would
not be allowed to vote. 1t was known that
large number would vote against the Con-
stitution to be cobbed up here, and if this
relief was mere party measure, the Con-
vention would relieve its party friends only.
and continue it on its enemies-tbose who
believed these acts to be an iniquitous
scheme If the Convention act in this man
ner, he desired the people to know it.
Mr.. Hodnett said this was the most i'm
portant question that would come before this
body. 1t involved the overwhelming ques-
ton of re- union, which must be settled
speedily. He had been Union man all his
life. 1t was his desire above all things to
see the unity of the States restored. But it
should be a Union of sentiment. of heart and
love-a Union of affection. He was opposed
to parts of the reconstruction acts, because
they were not calculated to reach that end.
But he was in favor of qualified suffrage for
the Senate and otherwise universal suffrage.
That was for the protection of the rights of
property. In these excited times, one-half,
or more than one half of the voters are 10.
norant. Not only so, but nearly one hall
have just been relieved from bondage
Thank God they have. But they were men,
and the passions of men dwell in their breasts
He believed that when they went to the
polls, they would remember the past, and
the property and earnings of the industrious
would not be safe under universal suffrage
Besides there should be relief from disabili
ty Tor all the people, in order to restore q
Union of affection. Men are so constitutu
ted that coercion is not sufficient. It may
enforce obedience, but the law of love mus
draw men again into the bonds of affection
The amendment of the delegate from Cleve
land met his approval. Unless this Wa.
adopted, we should never see harmony
among the people.
Mr.. Galloway moved to lay on the table
when Mr.. Graham, of Orange, called tn
yeas and hayes
The motion to table was withdrawn, whel
Mr.. Tourgee said that he did not intend Il
indulge in protracted discussion. Thi
resolution was intended to remove any tain
nf partizauship from the matter of relic
|, from disability. He claimed that it did thi