The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-08-26
SENATE.

n
President in the Chair eit, the
Prayer by Rev, Mr. Welker
The Journal of yesterday read and annro
Mr. moore, OF Carteret. presented n.,;,i
vi .nc pilots OF Beaufort Harbor, and moyrd ~
referenclfo Committee on Proposiiion.u It's
A act to punish bribery and coercion in 81,
tions came up. ~ eiec.
Mr.. Robbins was opposed to the bill. cor,,,
cred itan Outrage on personal liberty, and s "a
ped the Senate would not pass it. 1t comns, no.
a man to keep employees for whom he hsaed
use, and whom they did not want, and sno, no
course would be condemned by the people oS tha
State He considered any such q Till as mo me
festly improper He moved its indefinite post
Mr.. Jones, of Wake, thought every man w..
entitled to vote and to vote as he pleased H.
thought this bill, which only proposed to pro,s",
that right, should pass. "0'eet
Mr.. Osborne thought this an entirely unncco.
ry act, as the Constitution had alreaoy provided
for everything contained in this act, and tbe.ou
fore there could be no possible need for II Fns
thermore he considered this bill as temntot,uulr'
to commit acts of oppression and fraud ~
moved the bill be printed and made a specio, n.
der for tomorrow.
Mr. Lassiter was not familiar with this Rim
but thought some provision should be made !,
protect every man in the free exercise Of tbo
right of suffrage. Eoi
Mr. Moore, Of Carteret, called for the yeas and
nays on the motion to indefinitely postpone 'u
Mr.. Robbins was in favor Of q bill to proven,
coercion and bribery and did not care how sever
the punishment provided, but was opposed ~
the present bill, as he considered it unjust ana
tynnnical. ~ .7e ,s,. u
Mr.. Robbins withdrew his motion to postpono
Il Mr. Brogden had always understood that the
true object of legislation was the greatest goos
to the greatest number. The greatest number V ~
people in this State were men who owned M
land and who. worked for living, and WHO wero
dependent upon the owners of land for work, HI
was in favor Of this bill or something very much
like It, as protection for this class of people was
needed. Last spring numbers OF coored men
who had undertaken to cultivate farms belonging
to other people, with an understanding with thss
owners that they should furnish them with sun.
plies until they should be able to sell their crons
voted the Republican ticket and were retpsrS
supplies, and were told to go to those for whom
they had voted, and get their supplies He con.
ceived this an unjust punishment Tor the exercise
OF the right OF suffrage, and practical coercion
He did not believe in keeping up such fraud,
upon the colored or any other people, and con.
sidered it our duty to protect those who were nm.
able to protect themselves. While We do mot
propose to deprive property holders of any of
their rights, we do not intend to allow them to
domineer over those who are not SO well off as
themselves, nor allow them to injuriously dis
charge men for voting according to their honest
convictions OF right.
Mr. Osborne withdrew his motion.
Mr. Robbins moved to refer the bill to tlIe
Committee on the Judiciary with instructions
Mr.. Moore OF Carteret, was in favor of passing
this bill just as it came from the House, and was
opposed 10 referring Il to the Committee on the
Judiciary as it would kill the bill, and that was
just what the Democrats wanted. They knew
that If the bill was referred that 1t was killed
and that was the object of the motion to refer
They were afraid that 1t would hurt and lose thR
votes at the ensuing election, and they wantedh
cd and bepc "a ax.p h.. 81.
/ to have the bill referred He hoped the rules
would be suspended and the bill passed.
Mr.. Blythe was in favor of the bill 1t was
settled policy with the Conservative party to
compel colored men to vote their ticket OF they
would endeayor to starve them to death.
Mr.. Moore of Carteret, moved the previous
question Motion sustained, and on his motion
the yeas and nays were ordered.
Mr.. Osborne was willing for the bill to have its
second reading, If desired, but wanted it to be
printed and made special order for Tomorrow.
Mr.. Cook could not agree to vote with any
previous understanding of the question as the
Senator from Mecklenburg desired. There was
nothing in the bill that he considered obectiona.
ode, and ,.J-e.,ould vote untrammelled by any
| implied promise.
| Mr.. Robbins wanted the reporters to table
| down his declaration that the Conservatives had
| offered to provide bill Furnishing bribery and
coercion, but would not vote for bill which
compelled people to hire any person who came
| aiOnS anu ueuuuutu empiOymenC, OF presented
| Mr.. Moore insisted on his motion for the pre-
viOus question.
| The bill passed its second reading.
4 Mr.. Osborne moved that the bin be printed
| and made special order for tomorrow.
| Mr.. ShOfner moved to amend the motion by
making it the special order for tonight at
! o'clock.
Mr.. Osborne refused to accept the amendment
Mr.. Osbotne's motion prevailed.
| A message was received from the House an
/ r,aeeo of HOuea hill cd ton,
| act to provide for the setting off OF homesteads.
Mr.. F0rkner moved to take up the bill to in.
| corporate the North Western North Carolina
| Railroad Company.
Mr.; Welker spoke in favor of this company and
| hoped the people of that portion of the State
| through which the road would pass would aid
| the road by subscribing to its stock.
Mr.. Cooke said there was another bill demand
| ing q large appropriation He would vote for it
but considered it unjust that while almost every
| ferred upon it, nothing had been done for John
ston County, and be- thought justice had not
been done the people OF that county.
Bill passed second reading. @ ..,..
| Mr.. Smith moved to take up the bill amending
the charter Of the Southern Air Line Railroad.
| Lost SCI ~ .t.rs+-
Mr.. Winstead presented the report Of Com
mittce on the Judiciary, recommending the pas.
| sage of House amendment to bill relating 10
| Register OF Deeds. Concurred in.
| MT. OtUOTnc preScuttu " supplementary Dill 10
| act concerning salary and fees, and moved sus-
pension Of the rules to allow the bill to pass its
| several readings. Motion sustained, and bill
having had its several readings, passed. rs to /.
Bill amending, charter of Southern Air Line
Railway Company came up. -.
Mr.. Cook said when he urged the considera-
ton of the photographic survey took place, and
proposition was made to improve water pow
| er in Johnston capable of carrying Ovei 5000
looms, the Senator from Perquimans yot,d
against it. Now he asks to vote Tor this bill
! which benefits Perquimans county Johnston
| county more magnanimous than he, votes aye.
| Bill passed. Yeas %; nays g.
! Act in relation to punishments came up by
assignment.
Mr.. Welker offered as n substitute therefor
| the bill reported by Code Commissioners emit
tied crimes and pnnishments.
Mr.. Osborne considered that most of those
] punishmcDts were not adapted to the present
| condition of the State. Mr.. o. then argued the
bill point by point in its legal positions. lie
/ thought discretion should be given Judges in re.
| gard to the amount of punishment to be admin.
istered. He was opposed to the adoption of the
1 substitute,
/ Mr. Welkcr thought we retained all the bar.
barism OF the law OF England while we adopted
none of the excellent that country was contin
ually making in her law. Over two thirds 81
the States OF the Union have abolished the death
i penalty Tor every crime except murder, and
| North Carolina should not remain behind In the
work of civilization and humanity. He con-
sidcred the people far in advance of the bar in
the State and thought a jury could not be found
who would impose the death penalty except In
! case of wiliul murder s.
Mr.. Barrow could hardly conceive the Senator
from Guilford to be in earnest in offering thu
substitute and he was opposed to its adoption
Mr.. Robbins thought it too late to adopt ;
system Of punishment that would change tn,
whole judicial system OF the State. There wert
many fine theories but the present system of the
State was the best:which could be formed ant
had always worked as well as any system could
He would be willing to make some amendment