Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-02-21
t1samt From the Raleigh Sentinel
' constitutional Convention,
(SO.called.)
THURSDAY, Feb IL

tSO.caued.)
| THURSDAY, Feb. Is, 1863
Inc Convention was called to order a.
10 o'clock. " ofoer at
Prayer by the Rev. Mr. Ashley, of the
Convention. - VIC
The Journal of yesterday was read and
approved. "-1O
Galloway (negro) presented letter from,
the Republican Committee. of Nav
hanover county, instructing their dele.
gaees TO vote against all propositions for s.
general amnesty. Referred to tho Com.
m1ttee On Suffrage. Wiz Ooni,
MI GAMBLER, petition for divorce from
Referred county,
The President presented an anonur,,.
communication from Philadelphia, in re,
gard to money loaned the State bv NORTH.
ern men-praying that the Convention will
take some measures to pay interest to those
holding bonds of the State. Went ,1,lJc,.
the table.
| RESOLUTIONS, ORDINANCES, &C.
| Mr.. Sweet, an ordinance in relation "a
collections for the city of Newbern. Re.
ferred.
Mr.. Rich, an ordinance establishing q
Land and Immigration agency in New
York-said agency to have at its head n
Commissioner, who shall hold his Office for
four years, with salary of $4,000 year.
Referred
Mr.. Tourgee, by consent, presented
petition from Randolph county, which was
referred.
Leaves of absences were granted to Hv
man Cnegro), Eppes negro, and Mr.
Mr.. Silly, a'resolution requesting Con-
gress to reduce the tax on distilled spirits
other than from grain. Referred
Mr.. Rodman, an ordinance on Relief
Ordered to be printed.
CALENDAR.
Mr.. Abbott's resolution in regard to the
use of the Previous Question, offered some
days ago, was considered and adopted.
Mr.. Tourgee's resolution, providing for
two sessions on and after Friday, the 18th,
at 10 A. NJ, and u P. NJ, was adopted.
Mr.. FOrkner's ordinance, instructing the
Judiciary committee to report an article
allowing citizens to practice and plead in
the Courts of this State, upon establishing
a good moral character and upon payment
of the fees, was next taken up.
Mr. Graham, of Orange, said that as the
law stood now, a man could plead his own
cause in Court, but he who did it, without
any knowledge of law whatever, generally
found out that he had fool for e client
Mr.. Jones, of Washington, was also OPP
posed to it. He did not wish to offer q
bonus to ignorance.
Mr.. Forkner said that, by an ordinance
recently passed, men from other States
could come here, and, proving good char
acter and paying the fees, be admitted to
the bar. He wished to place our citizens
on an equal footing
Mr. Abbott favored it. likewise
The vote being taken, the ordinance was
adopted.
Mr.. Watts introduced an ordinance, by
permission, for the relief of the people
which went over under the rules.
SPECIAL oRDER-PREANIBLE AND BILL OF
RIGHTS
Mr.. Sweet said that the Chairman was
sick and moved to postpone it until to-
morrow, at II o'clock. Agreed to.
Mr.. Sweet then moved to take into con-
sideration tho report of the committee on
Legislature, which was recommitted to
them some days ago, and also the substi
tute for section 4th, relating to the appor-
tionment of Senatorial Districts
Sections 1, 2 and 3 of the majority re-
port were then adopted.
Section 4M: Mr.. Graham, of Orange,
moved to amend by apportioning the Sen
ate according to the apportionment Of the
Convention of 1865, requiring q property
qualification for seat in that body. Mr..
G. said:
The substitute propose makes numbers
the basis of representation for the House
of Commons, and the taxes paid into the
public treasury the basis for the Senate. l
believe that there should be some protec-
ton for those counties which pay the larg-
est portion of our taxes, against that wild
system of expenditures which will no doubS
ensue under the new regime. Some OF the
delegates seem to think the question of
suffrage is before us, and that a freehold
qualification is proposed. l will state,
land in this all the Conservatives agree
with me-, that am opposed to any free
hold or property qualification for any per-
son that / would allow to vote III North
Carolina. The Almighty has, for some
wise purpose of his own, made dlstinc-
ton between the white and black races,
and that distinction L am opposed to abol
ishing at the ballot-box. That, however,
is not the matter before US, but the ques-
ton is simply whether you will not give to
a county or district paying large amount
of taxes some restraint upon other coun-
ties which, with large populations, pay but
a small amount of taxes. This is the check
allowed by our present Constitution, but
as its destruction has been determined by
this Convention, it is needless for me to
argue against it.
Mr.. Sweet opposed the amendment. 1t
was Republican, (the usual cry, DC.
Mr. Mcdonald, of Chatham, expatiated
at some length, and, during his discourse,
took occasion to resent Mr.. POOLS allusion
to him some days ago. THE aforesaid al
fusion being in the nature of reflection
upon Mr.. Med. s legal attainments.
Mr.. Congleton said all such notions
about property qualification should be
buried here to-day.
Mr.. French, of Chowan, said it was an
Infamous doctrine, handed down from the
dark ages. Only three States now clingto
it, and to-day we will make the number
less by one. He wanted population only
to be the basis.
Mr.. Hodnett favored the property quail
fcation for the Senate, and alluded to his
resolution to that effect, introduced some
time ago. Mr.. 81. s able remarks will APP
pear hereafter).
Hood (negro) opposed the amendment.
So also did Mr.. French, of Bladen.
Mr.. Graham, of Orange, said the gentle
men were trying to place him in false po-