The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-02-19

| Rockingham, Fullings, Gahagan, Galloway,
Glover. Hayes, of Robson, Heaton, High
smith, Ing, Latin. Lee, Logan, Mayo, MUIR
! ply, Pierson, Rhodes, Rich, Robbins, Rod
man, Stilwelll, Taylor. Yeas "a. Nays 90.
! Mr.. Forkner moved to postpone indefi-
nitely.
| SPECIAL ORDER.
The report of the committee on corpora
tons was taken up, and the question stood
upon the proposition of Mr. Tourgee to
strike out from the 4th to the 9TH section,
inclusively, and insert:
No bank of issue shall be established by
authority of this State.
Mr.. Jones, of Washington, opposed the
/ amendment. 1t would forever take away
from the State power to establish banks for
currency purposes. 1t annihilated other
provisions Of the report as necessary. The
national bank system is now provoking dis
satisfaction. 1t may become necessary to
discontinue it, and in such an event, if the
amendment prevail, there will he no power
to establish State banks. Agricultural in
! terests cannot flourish under 20 per cent.
| discount.
Mr. Rodman called for division of the
| question.
| Mr. Welker said that the experience of
small banks in this State teaches their dan
ger At times of moLied crises, the banks
suspend and the peoples money is lost. The
national currency, if correctly managed,
| would be sufficient in the future.
The Convention struck out the sections.
Mr.. Rodman said if the amendment of
Mr.. Tourgee prevailed, and the national
| currency was Withdrawn, only the bank
notes of other States would circulate here.
| Therefore he was opposed to the amendment.
The amendment was lost.
Section II was read, when Mr.. Weker
moved to strike out and refer to the COM
mittee on municipal corporations.
Messrs Jones of Washington and Heaton
thought the section in its proper place.
Not stricken out, put and adopted.
Mr.. Rodman moved to reconsider section
| 2 and strike out.
He thought the language obscure.
The motion was not in order.
Mr.. Abbott, an ordinance to revive the
charter of the Dan River and Coalfelds Rail
Road, with amendments. Referred
Mr. Watts, an ordinance to prohibit the
collection of debts for purchase or hire of
slaves, or in aid ofthe rebellion.
HoMEsTEADs.
On motion of Mr.. Jones, of Caldwell, the
majority report on homesteads was taken up
and read
Mr.. Jones, of Caldwell, said
Mr. PRESIDENT The subject of home
stead law has had the serious attention of
the committee raised for that purpose, as it
doubtless has of the other delegates to this
body; all!classes of our country feel the neces-
sity pressing upon us in this day of the
wreck of fortunes-the results of the late
sanguinary war which has bereft the people
of North Carolina of so much of their form
er wealth and prosperity-to do something to
light up the dark future.
Mr. President and delegates, have been
instructed by the majority of the committee
on homesteads to present to your honorable
body, the report just read from the clerks
desk, and ask its adoption, as part of the
deem it right to do so. / believe, Mr.. Pres
ident, there is very little difference in the
minds of the members of the committee on
homestead, as to the propriety of a home
stead law incorporated into the Constitution,
removing the subject thereby farther from
the frequent changes in political legislation,
also the amount of a homestead exemption
and the loyal status thereof Your commit
tee all concur that it should be prospective
in its operation, believing as we do. that a
retrospective law if constitutional and adop-
ted, is inexpedient, that it would tend to
much confusion and dissatisfaction with q
numerous class of worthy citizens and
amount to practical reputation of private
obligations between man and man.
Speaking for myself, Mr.. President, do
not hesitate to say that homestead secur-
ed hereafter to all persons will operate as
a powerful incentive to the laboring man
to obtain one through the means OF industry
and economy; that the ruinous system OF
credit heretofore prevalent amongst the peo-
ple will be circumscribed within legitimate
bounds Agriculture will be improved and
production largely increased the moral and
political standard of our people elevated, a
love of home and country cherished and
mothers and their children will be better
protected from the sudden vicissitudcs of for
tune.
To some it may appear that the value of
the homestead proposed by the committee
is too small If those who may think thus
will reflect for moment, imagine any OBJ
lection on that score will cease.
A homestead is not needed by those who
are already rich; still it is secured to them,
while the poor man who owns no land or
property has first to obtain one before he
can avail himself of the benefit of this law,
and the value of the homestead proposed, is
consi6e cradle in proportion to the wealth OF
all the citizens of the State.
It will be seen by the minority report on
homesteads, that part of the majority allow
ing the owner under certain restrictions to
mortgage, and convey by deed their home
stead, is objected to.
The majority of your committee are clear
ly of opinion such privilege should be
granted, and believe that where one case of
abuse of the right thus conferred will hap
pen, the privilege will enable more than a
dozen landless and homeless laboring men
to buy, improve and pay for homestead
And we can well imagine condition of
things where the very existence of family
may demand such reserved power to dis
pose of property. If the owners desire to
remove to another State, or their interests re-
quire change of residence, the power to sell
should not be altogether Withheld from them,
for the same reasons the rights conferred
upon women by inheritance or otherwise Of
property, in section 6 is left to their sole
controls right never before allowed, but
Just and merciful now, we think.
Mr. President, am opposed to retro
| spective homestead even admitting the right
of this body to pass such law (Which by
no means do) both on the ground of expe-
| dlency and justice. Many poor men, ten
L.