Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-12-17
SPECIAL ORDER,
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
FRIDAY, Dec. 10, 1869.
BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
FRIDAY, Dec. 10, 1869
BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS.
by Nh. Vestal A resolution to raise q
Joint committee to call on the Treasurer
and ascertain facts in regard to the dispo-
sltlon Of State bonds issued by him to
railroad Companies, &c. The resolution
lies over.
BY Mr.. Malone A resolution for . select
committee to inspect the Auditors report
Lies over
By Mr.. Ellington A bill to repeal GER
tain sections of chapter y Revised Code.
Referred.
On motion of Mr.. Malone, the rules
were suspended, and his resolution for a
committee ON the Auditors report taken
up.
Mr.. Graham moved its reference to the
Finance Committee.
Considerable debate arose on this mo-
ton.
Mr. Sinclair opposed the reference, be
cause it looked like Sinking investigation
of money affairs He wished to see the
/ $40, coo contingencies" accounted for.
The motion to refer was rejected, yeas
q, nays 50, and the resolution was
adopted.
On motion of John Williamson, colored,
the rules were suspended, and his bill,
which declared a poll tax above s. illegal,
was taken up, the question being on the
Finance Committees substitute.
Mr.. Harris, Of Franklin, opposed the
substitute, and declared the present sys-
tenn Of taxation oppressive upon the peo-
pie.
Williamson accepted the substitute.
Mr.. Pou favored the measure, because it
was but carrying out the express declara
ton Of the Constitution.
Mr.. Malone opposed the act, because it
was an attempt to make the Legislature
construe the Constitutions question
which comes in the province of the Judi
ciary. The policy OF the act, he thought
was bad, it created confusion. The Su-
preme Court has decided that special tax
for special purposes may exceed the equa-
ton
Mr.. Durham offered an amendment, that
the State and county taxes combined (both
general and specially shall never hereafter
exceed s. on $500 in value of the taxable
property of the State.
Messrs. Seymour, Downing, Leary, JUS
tice, Stilley, Sinclair and Vest opposed the
amendment in remarks more or less
lengthy.
Mr.. Hodnett favored it, because pledges
were given by the Republicans that the
poll tax should not exceed 50, and the
same pledge was given that property tax
should not exceed &c. on the 800 worth.
These pledges had secured the adoption of
the Constitution; but they had been bro
ken in regard to property.
Mr.. Moore, of Chowan, opposed the
amendment and favored the substitute,
and made quite lengthy speech in its fa-
vor.
NJ Ctou,oo,,r ooIlof3 tlo ,,ro,,;o,,, oroe
ton, which was sustained, and the amend
ment lost; yeas Z, nays Sd.
Mr.. Sinclair, (Hepublican) here arose to
question of privilege.
He was reported in the Standard as Join.
ing Mr.. French in minority report against
his own resolution in reference to raising
Committee to manage the investigation
before the Committee of the Whole The
facts were that Mr.. French had assured
him (Sinclair) that he (French) had no in
tention TO press his bill until the Commit
tee of the Whole had proven failure in
eliciting facts, then he (Sinclair) agreed to
support Mr.. French's bill because he (Sin-
Clair was determined to probe this matter
to the bottom, &C., &c.
It will be remembered when the debate
occurred here on Monday last, the name
of Colonel Cowan was mentioned in q man
ner which he (Sinclair) considered as i'm
pugning thai gentleman's honesty he
(Sinclair) promptly resented the indignity
and both Mr.. Ingram and Mr.. Downing
courteously disclaimed any intention of
rejecting upon Colonel Cowan. Strange
to say, however. that the Wilmington Post
carefully copies the debate so far as it re-
fleets upon Colonel Cowan, and as care
fully excludes all that was said in that gen.
tleman's vindication. Such conduct he
(Sinclair) denounced as most Infamous and
here in his seat denounced it as such.-
Where carpet-bagism develops itself in de-
strCying the reputation of our honest and
best men it should be frowned down and
kicked over the State lines.
Regular business resumed.
The question required on the substitute
of the Finance Committee.
The substance of this substitute is that
it is the intention of the constitution to
limit the combined taxes, both general and
special, for State and county purposes, to
50 on the poll, and forbids the laying a
greater tax than that, and requires the re-
funding to the counties, the excess of that
amount already collected.
The bill then passed the second reading,
yeas 60, nays 30.
The bill then passed the third reading
under suspension of the rules.
The House then adjourned.
SENATE.
SATURDAY, Dec. II, 1869.
Mr.. White, from the Committee on Edu-
cation, reported back the bill to incorpor
ate the Wilson Collegiate Seminary for
lo1;oc on1 rooonoman6o6 tho fol-