Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-01-22
From the Raleigh Sentinel.
OF NORTH CAROLINA
SENATE.
FRIDAY, Jan. Is. 1860.
PETITION,

4
PETITIONS.
A. n. Galloway, (colored,) presented a
petition from certain citizens of New
| Hanover county in reference 10 the ap-
| pointment of Inspectors. Referred to the
Committee on Propositions and Griev.
ances. .s
Mr.. Scott presented petition from GER
tain citizens of Duplin county, proposing
an amendment to the report of the Com.
missioners of said county ....
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES. .
Mr.. Martindale. from the Committee on
Internal improvements, reported favorably
on bill to incorporate the GAINESVILLE and
Washington Railroad and Lumber Com.
pany.
Mr.. Winstead, from the Committee on
the Judiciary, to whom was referred bill
to encourage guardians and wards to invest
in the public stock of the State, reported
adversely, as no other legislation on this
subject is necessary.
Mr.. Welker, from the Special Commit
tee appointed to investigate the purchase
of the site for the Penitentiary, presented
report covering II pages of foolscap,
with the deeds of said purchase.
On motion of Mr.. Sweet, The report with
the accompanying documents was ordered
to be printed.
Mr.. Lassiter asked if the parties had not
agreed to reform the deeds and to make
them with full cOnvenant as understood
by the original Commit
Mr.. Welker said that many propositions
had been made, coupled with conditions
that the Committee could not accept, and
were apparently made for the purpose of
delaying the Committee.
Mr. Martindale asked If proposition
had not been made TO the Committee to
take back portion Of the purchase and
return the $780, 900 in bonds.
Mr.. Welker said such IL proposition had
been made, but with such conditions that
the Committee felt they had 10 authority
to accept.
Mr.. Davis asked if the Committee had
not had proposition submitted to them
in writing, by D. j. Pryne, wherein he
agreed that Committee might be appoint
ed by the Senate, Or any other body, to
say what the present location of the Peni-
tertiary is worth, together with the water
power, and whatever they valued the site
at, deduct from the 500, 900, and he would
| pay in State bonds the remainder and that
he was now ready to deposit $4,000 in
State bonds for the fulflment Of the con
tract
Mr.. Loye said there was such PROPOSE
ton made, but, when thoroughly investi-
gated, it was coupled with conditions that
| the Committee could not consider.
Mr.. WeIker said he would state further,
that the said D. J. Pryne had no right or
title whatever to the tract of land intended
for the site Of the Penitentiary, it having
been conveyed to the State by the Deep
River Company.
Nh. Lindsey said he had 10 doubt that
propositions to take back the land and re-
turn the 100000 in bonds to the State
would be made, but it mast be considered
| that We are dealing with shrewd business
men, and they have other objects in view.
They, by showing their willingness to take
| back the land. desire to create the impress
sion that 1t Is more valuable than it really
| is, thinking the agents acting for the State
may desire to retain Ii, or that the impress
| sion may go abroad.
Mr.. Robbins said that his position was
we'll known in relation to this purchase. -
| He was pleased with the report of the COM
mittee, which shows conclusively that the
charge he had made on former occasion,
that there was considerable deceit and
wrong done, that the committee had been
deceived, was true. But he did not see the
necessity of being very particular in regard
to further developments. II the State could
get back the 800, 900 in bonds which she
has paid o;,t, and if such proposition was
made he should favor its acceptance, and
that would settle the whole question, and
the Legislature would have it their power
to proceed with the erecting of the Peni-
| Tertiary III compliance with the provisions
of the Constitution.
Mr. Osborne said the committee were
convinced that there were other localities
in that vicinity which, in their Judgment,
would be more suitable for the erection of
a Penitent iary than the site at Lockville,
! and if that is true he, for one, would op-
pose the ratification of the purchase of the
site at LockVille. + proposition is made,
and he understood there would be. he can
Gel both deeds and returns the 800, 900 in
bonds, he would favor it.
Mr.. Welker said he would call the atten-
ton of the Senate to the fact that pro-
| vision in the deed required the Peni-
Tertiary to be built at that point, or the
State will forfeit all claim to the pur-
chase.
Mr.. Love said that he had been at Deep
River but short time when he was in
formed that the parties (Pryne & Co..
would take back the 5000 acre tract and
return to the State the $1,000 in bonds
prouided we would arbitrate, by competent
engineers, the value of the Lockviile site
and pay to D. J. Pryne. out of the $780,
600, the estimated value Of the same. We
refused to do this, because the site had
been offered 10 the State gratuitously,
and the estimated value of the property
might reach $4,000 or $4,000. We we're
opposed to placing ourselves in such po-
sition that property, which cost the State
nothing, could be made to cost this
amount. He did not like 10 be personal,
but thong ht this man Pryne has made
enough 4; he has been acting as go
betUeen. On the 9th of November he
(Pryne) bought of Heck & Co. the States
property on Deep River and Cape Fear
River for $56, 900, and On the satne day or
the day after, sold it to @. T.. Harris for
500, 900 in State bonds-thus realizing
$44, 900 and when he made this contract
with Harris he Pryne) had no title to the
property, either legal or equitable, when
members of the original committee must
have known that Heck & Co. were in the
market offering this property for sale. We
were willing to cancel both deeds upon the
surrender of the 100000 in bonds, and
re-contract for the Lockville site, which
proposition they did not accept. The site
selecta6 wa o0nsidar innIi h1a The SIR