Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-07-17

they should he allowed to see the law In
print. As far as politics was concerned he
was a Republican, but he did not come
here to represent one class to the total and
Unjust exclusion OF another.
Abbott (who Says he's not white) said
that his constituents (the mean whites and
uiegers of Wilmington had nominated a
municipal ticket that represented million
and a half OF property, and that the negro
part Of his constituents were large tax pay
ers. (Whe@ J He bad also been abused
and slaudered by the Conservative press.
and now they had the power, he WAS in ia
vor OF showing no mercy whatever. He
Intended TO fight this feeling against gen.
RenaeH of Northern bilth, who came down
South to make an honest Hoing. If any body
who did not take the Post, wanted infor-
nation in regard to the act, they could buy
d copy OF the paper for tive cents. He and
others had spent thousands of dollars 10
sustain that sheet, &c.
Seymour said that it should be published
IN all Of the papers OF the city.
Estes amendment was put to a vote and
lost.
Mr.. Sinclair moved to strike out '.two
newspapers and insert ''all the newspa-
pers in the city for ten days"
Abbott Chief Engineer Of the Scala
wags, who had, like his great greaser, Es-
ties, grown mad) moved, as substitute,
that the publication of the bill be IN the
form of land bills.
After good deal Of dispute, Abbotts
substitute was adopted, and the bill, as
amended, passed its second and third read
ings.
By Vest A bill to continue in Office the
MAY or and Commissioners of Salem.
Vest moved q suspension of the rules IN
order to adopt at once.
Abbott (uigger worshipper from New
Humpshire) moved its reference TO the
proper committee, saying that he thought
it within the province OF the 'Goverli1r"
to make appointments. The bill was re-
ferred
CALENDAR RESUMED.
Mr.. Durham'e resolution ccnsurlng the
Speakers action in excluding the Sentinel
Reporter, yesterday, was next reached and
read, when
Estes (hairy, jimber-jawed man from
parts unknown offered a series of resOIu
tiOnS as a substitute :: 1t Sustaining the
Speakers acrion I'd. Excluding the Re
porter not only from the Reporters table,
bat from tie IObbies and Q'AlerieS.
Mr. Durham said that this matter Of at
tempting to muZzle q free and independent
press was first begun In the Convention last
winter anu the resolution pa sed by thai
body had never been acted upon. He had
hoped that the Republican parry hau
gown ashamed of them elves, and resolved
to stop such contem ptible and illegal pro
ceediugs The editors of the Sentinel had
Instructed their reporter to use the term
''uegro" for the Information OF Their
re adtrs, and haE, time and again, dis
claimed any intention of Insulting the
African pornon of this Assembly by using
tue weird "negro.' Why should negro
De ashamed OF his color ? He could not
help it, and if he is really ne gro then
why not call him so If lie is not a negro,
then, in the name Of Heaven, hOU do You
classify him ? Is be white man, Indian
or what He (Mr. d regarded the action
OF the Speaker IL this matter us an in
fringement upon the liberty of the press
IL usurpation of unwarranted power. If the
Radicals on this floor think by this pro-
acriptlve course, because they have an
overwhelming MAJ ority, to intimidate Con
sentative gentlemen and presses they will
soon find themselves mistaken. We re-
gard this action of your Speaker, and the
purposes of the substitute for my resolu-
ton, as a despotic and unconstitutional
use of power. and as such we now solemnly
protest against it. I did not come here 10
be factions, but it is my sworn duty, while
sitting on this floor, to protest against as
sauIts upon the freedom Of the press, the
great bulwark of liberty. [ have heard
reading men among the negro race. often
and over again, say that they glOried in
being called negroes. l believe 1t is be-
cause you are AFRAID to have your acts and
proceedings looked into and fairly dis
C lssed, that you now seek to shackie a free
press.
Mr.. Durham continued for some time, in
one of has most able aud effective speeches.
His arguments were unansWerable-audn his
exposure of Radical rascaIity complete.
Cawthorne, (negro,) said that the word
NEGRO" was used to insult their pheelinks
and dtgHiy ana be protested agalnt Its
being used in the Hall.
Morris, negro did dot object to being
called negro, outside of the Hall, but
thought the Sentinel used it as slur against
them, and therefore, would vote for the
substitute.
Mr.. Pou sustained the action of the
Speaker, but objected to that part of Estes
substitute that excluded the Reporter from
the Hobbies and galleries.
Mr.. Sinclair said that while he did not
fully concur with Mr.. Durham, yet he must
join in the protest, as q matter of eXpedl-
encv. You cannot expect men who were
but yesterday the lords OF race, to forget
their prejudices, and learn, as it were new
vocabulary. What means this attack upon
the press This is the second one to-day.
We are going to stand by the rights of the
people, though the party lash is daily
cracked over our heads, and we are told If
we do not thus and so, we must take up
orr baggage and travel. We have defeated
our enemies in the field of political con-
test. Now is the time we should be gener-
Gus as conquerors. It cannot be denied
that we have d majority of the reading pub
lie, and when it goes out to the world that
we have excluded journal of the opposite
party from the House, for simply clinging
to Term Arrays used and certainly II ne, what
will they think ?
Estes (Iaukee adventurer, carpet-bagger
and niger worshipper,) ripped and snorted
for while, and only stopped when he
found no one was taking the least notice of
him.
Abbott, (the pompous Shaker, who does
Gov Holden's bidding in the Legislature
and wants to be U. S. Senator) repeated
one OF his old Convention speeches, aud
then, with an air of great dignity, resumed
his seat.
Mr.. Durham then said that if any mem