The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1869-02-10
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
MONDAY, February 1, 1869.

MONDAY, February 1, 1869.
The House met at 10 o'clock.
The SPEAKER in the Chair.
Prayer by Rev Mr. Long of Chatham.
The Journal of Saturday was read and
approved.
Mr.. DowNING moved to suspend rule II.
which prescribes who shall be admitted to
the floor of the House.
Mr.. RENFRow favored the motion.
Mr.. Hicks said he offered the resolution
requiring the enforcement of that rule be-
cause the House had been greatly annoyed
by noise, so that many members could not
understand the questions voted upon.
The motion did not prevail
Message from the Senate transmitted
communication from the Justices of the Su-
preme Court, which was read as follows:
SUPREME COURT RooMs
Raleigh, Feb. LIST, 1869.
2 To The Hon. 7. R. CALDWELL. Lieut. Governor,
&c, and The Hon. J. W. HOLDEN, SPEAKER
SOS &c, &e,
l have the honor to acknowledge the receipt
OF your letter, with the accompanying resolu-
tions OF the General 3gAssemply requesting the
Supreme Court TIVE its decision in regard to
the vohdity OF tho homestead exemption against
debts contracted prior to the ratification of the
Constitution.
With every disposition tocomply with any re-
quest OF the honorable bodies over which you
preside, the view which the Justices OF the
Court take of their constitutional duties forbids
them from doing SO in this instance. The func-
tions of the Court are restricted to cases before
it. We are not at libertp to prejudge.
In the contested eecsion between Waddel vs.
Berry, the Judges OF the Court, on the request
of the Senate, after much hesitation, expressed
anopinion, in regard to the qualification of
yoters-that, however, is the only instance in
which it was ever done; and it was put on the
ground that the question could not come before
the Court in judicial form. The questions set
out in the resolutions, under consi, Grafton not
only may, but in all probability will come be.
fore US for decision.
Respectfully,
Yours, &c.
R. NJ. PEARSON.
MIR. INGRAM moved suspension of the
rules to take up his resolution in relation to
evening sessions. He said the House was
sadly behind in its work, and it seemed to
him attempts had been made by faction
or factions to retard the progress of business
He would make no specific charges, but
for some reason business had been retarded
The rules were suspended, and after vari
Gus amendments debate was cut of by the
SPECIAL ORDER.
Bill to incorporate the Littleton Manu-
featuring Company.
81. On motion of Mr.. RENFRow sections :
and 8 were stricken out. Several minor
amendments were made, and the bill passed
third reading.
Indefinite leave Of absence was granted
Mr.. Argo. and brief leave to Messrs. Barnes
and Armstrong.
BY leave, Mr. PRICE withdrew his resolu.
al ton in relation to the Public Treasurer.
Mr.. MCMILLAN, by leave, introduced a bill
concerning inspectors for the city of vii
mington- Referred to the Committee OF
Private Bills, with Instructions to report to
morrow morning.
Mr.. VEsTAL introduced bill authorizing
the Northwestern North Carolina r. r. Co
to receive lands for subscriptions in the cap
ital stock of the company.
Mr. Price introduced concurrent reso
luton to instruct the Public Treasurer t.
pay members of the General Assembly iron
the 22d of December, 1858.
Bill for the protection Of poor debtors wa