Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-11-26
From The Raleigh Sentinel.
pROCItEDf SIS III! T'nEG LEGISLATURE

|
| ham, ESQ, tho talented and patriotic
Senator from Orange, introduced a bill to
| repeal the acts granting appropriations to
Railroad companies, which was, on motion
| OF Senator Sweet referred to the Commit.
| tee on Judiciary This course was sug-
gested some weeks since by this paper,
and though subsequent reflection raised
| doubts in our mind as to its constitution
ality we hope it may be found possible to
carry it out. Dir. Graham has doubtless
acted after mature consideration and con-
Mr.. Graham also introduced the following
resolutions, which embraced another part
Of the plan suggested by us:
1. That o committee Of three persons
shall be appointed, whose duty it shall be
to ascertain and report.
2. What amount of bonds have been is
sued by the Treasurer of the Western
North Carolina Railroad Company, or any
officer Of the same, under appropriations
made by this Legislature ut the sessions
Of 1S68-69
8. Tho names Of all persons to whom
the said bonds were delivered by the
Treasurer aforesaid, and tho actual cash
value received for the same.
I. What amount Of money received I'M
der the said appropriations from the sale
the construction Of said Western North
Carolina Railroad.
5. Whether any Of said bonds have been
used for any other purpose than the con-
struction Of said road if SO, for what
purpose, by whom, an} to what amount.
Resot0ed further, Thu n said committee
shall have power to send III parson5 and papers
as Will best aid in this investigation.
Senator Robbins, Of Rowan, introduced
a resolution to tighten the burdens Of the
people by fixing the per diem fer this sos-
sion at 81 per day, aud the mileage at ten
cents.
Mr.. Graham, after some eloquent and
appropriats remarks, introduced suitable
resolutions on the death Of Senator Os-
borne
Eulogiea upon his life and character were
also delivered by Messrs. Las8iter, Jones
and Hayes.
In the House 1Ir. Veatnl also introduced
q resolution to reduce the per diem Of
me;abers to four dollars per day; also q
resolution requesting our Senators and
Representatives in Congress to use their
influence to have tie tax on brandy re-
pealed.
Mr.. Malone--a resolution for bill to
modify the existing law allowing stationary
10 certain officers.
NIr. Ar9o bill compelling the return
Of certain bonds to the Treasury
J. Il. Harris, Of Wake, bill 80 author
ize the Governor to call out the militia
to suppress outrages committed by parties
in disguise.
Bills were introduced by Messrs. Malone.
Leary aud Price to amend certain chapters
e Tie Code Of UiVii Procedure.
The resolutions il relation to the public
debt Of tho State were made the specia.
order fer Friday.
In the House appropriate honOr8 were
a3D paid TO the memory OF Judge Osborne.
Thursday being Thanksgiving there was
10 meeting.
On Friday in tho Senate, hIr. Graham
introduced bill to secure the return to
the Public Treasury the bonds issued to
the Chatham Railroad declared illegal by
the Supreme Court. Several other bills
Of no public interest were introduced
The resolution Of Mr.. Graham intro
dlced on Wednesday, proposing to raise
joint Committee to investigate and re-
port the amount Of bonds Issued by the
". n. G. Railroad, &c, came up. Mr..
Graham spoke ia favor of their adoption;
Mr. Walker, Of Guilford, was in favor of
their adoption, but wanted them amended
SO AS to include oil the railroads.
Mr.. Jones, Of Columbus, could not see
the necessity Of such an investigation. 1t
was a stab at the Republican party.
Mr.. Sweet moved to postpone their fur
ther consideration until Tuesday. Adop-
ted,
Mr.. Sweet introduced a resolution re-
guessing the Supreme Court to give their
construction OF the Constitution in refer
ence to the tenure q Office of the present
Members Of tho General Assembly.
Considerable debate sprung mp on this
resolution.
Messrs. Robbins, Graham and Beall OPP
posed the resolution on the ground that
they did not believe the Supreme Conrt or
any other body except the Legislative !
branch Of the government had anything to !
do with the question. They hoped the !
Legislature would not attempt to shrink |
from their duties and impose it upon
others. It was clear to their minds that
they had been elected for only two years,
and the people that elected them were of |
the same opinion.
Mossrs. Sweet and Lindsay stated that
they were Of the opinion that they were
elected for two years but preferred refer |
ence of the matter to the Supreme Court |
TO avoid further difficulty.
Mr.. Welker said it was lis private opin-
ion from his reading Of the Constitution !
that this General Assembly were elected |
for four years, yet he was willing to abide |
by the decision OF the Supreme Court, aud |
preferred its reference to the Court, |
thought it would end all further Difficult |
ties IN the matter.
Mr.. Wilson offered substitute decIar-
ing the term of the present General AS
sembly at an end after the 1st Thursday
in August 1870.
Mr.. Hayes moved to adjourn, which was
lost. Ages II, nays q.
Mr.. Jones, of Wake, opposed the sub
stitute, and favored the original resolu-
ton.
Mr.. Bethany called for the previous ques-
ton, which WAS sustained.
The question recurring on the adoption
Of the substitute it was defeated. Ayes
IS, nays 90.
YEAs-Messrs. Barnes, BeaIl, Beasley, Brog-
len, COOk, Graham, Jones, of Mecklenburg, Lind
say, Long. Love, Mason, Melchor, Richardson,
Respass, R6bbins Shoffner. Winstead and Vii
son.
NAYs-Mas8rs. Beeman, Bellamy. Burns,
Blythe, Davie, Etherdge, Eppes, Forkner, Har-
:ington, Lyman, Jones, Of Columbus. Jones, of
Wake, L2ssi'er, Dartindale, Moore, of Yancey,
Smith, Stephens Sweet, Welker and White.