Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-12-10
SENATE.
DLN u H.
TUESDAY, Nov. 80, 1869.
37-1ych


privilege Of recording his vote on the reso-
luton relating to the removal Of political
disabilities; he voted in the negative.
Mr.. Lassiter, from the special commit
| tee, 10 whom was referred several commu-
nicatons and resolutions relating TO the
credit Of the State, reported & substitute
| for the whole
| Mr.. Etheridge moved suspension Of
| the rules IN order to put the resolution on
its passage. The motion prevailed.
Mr.. Graham said he could not vote for
| the resolutions because q part Of them
were not true, and, moreover, they were
| simply paper declarations that would
amount to nothing-making mere empty
promises when there is no arrangement be-
ing made to meet those promises. If Re-
| publican Senators really meant anything
| by the resolutions they would put the
| Constitution into effect ana make adequate
arrangements to meet this interest by taxa.
| tion. He did not believe that this Gener-
al Assembly intended to pursue any such
policy during this session.
Messrs. Etheridge and Sweet urged the
adoption Of the resolutions.
Mr.. Lindsay (Republican) said he re-
| gretted that the consideration of these
resolutions had been forced upon the SEN
ate to-day. He was constrained to believe
out in good faith the declarations of these
| resolutions; they are not willing to vote
| for the tax to meet the requirement of the
| resolutions; he looked upon the whole
| thing as mere farce. Some Of the Sena-
| tors who have spoken before ne in favor
of these resolutions, who have hooted at
the idea of reputation, talked about the
| dishonor OF Reputation, and those very
men who sing that song, have by their own
actions already inflicted upon North Caro-
| lima the disgrace Of repudiation. ItWould
have been we'll for them to have thought
about it then. They repudiated bonds at
| their last session amounting to SlOO, 600?
| Why? on the charge of fraud? He would
not say it was SO, but if a thorough inves-
| tigation into the numerous charges in re-
| latOn to certain railroad Presidents, had
| been admitted hero as proposed by the
| Senator from Orange, more fraud and a
great deal OF it might have been detected.
| You can repudiate North Carolina debts,
| but you hold up your hands in holy hor-
ror when anything is said about repudia-
| ting debts due the Wall Street brokers.
| These resolutions so on and assert that
we pledge ourselves to pursue course of
economy" How can you vote for that
clause when proposition, to reduce the
| per diem and mileage of the members of
! the General Assembly was voted down?
| That looks like beginning to economlze;
you make your pledge about economy and
| pass your paper resolutions, but the peo-
Die will require something more substan-
tial
He noticed in a certain report (meanlng
the Treasurer's) that the entire receipts Of
the enormous tax laid on the people this
year, is just sufficient to meet the expen-
ses of the State Government. Even this
| tax is moro than the people can bear now;
double it, and what will be the conse
qucnco ? This kind of legislation is draw
ing the people into r6pudlatlon, whether
they desire it or not. You put this tax on
the people. You have taught them re-
pudiation, and they will strike deeper into
it. and then Wall street will howl. ihe
resolution was nothing more than farce,
and it was this kind of legislation the
General Assembly had been engaged in
ever since it's return, and the effect has
| been that the bonds have gone down,
down, Gown. He would vote against the
resolution, or any tax bill to increase the
present barthens of his people.
Mr. Lassiter urged the adoption OF the
| resolution.
Mr.. Jones, of MeckIenburg, opposed
the resolution in a speech of some length,
able and replete with argument.
Mr. Winstead. (Republican) said North
Carolina was his home and he had known
no other. and he felt a deep interest in
her welware, but, it would do no good to
disguise the fact that our State credit is
now tottering. Why it was so, was SUBJ
| iect that he did not intend to investigate
at the present time; the only question
should be what course must be pursued to
sustain and build up the credit OF the
| State and make her strong as she once
was. He was not so sanguine as the Sen
ator who introduced the resolution, that
this was the proper method to pursue to
accomplish that end; but it could do no
! harm and he should vote forit, The cred.