Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-12-03

l ~.
That some time in 1862, he purchased a
couple of 81 900 bonds from Director of
the W. G. & r. r. r., at a prenainna Of fire
per cent That said bonds were issued
under an act to secure the completion OF
said road, the 10Th day Of February 1861.
The petitioner states further that some
tine during the same year he purchased
from the State of n. c., five bonds Of
81 900 each, issued under an act to pro-
vide ways and means for supplying the
Treasury, issued the Goth of December,
1866. He asks the Legislature to consider
this subject, and give him what is right
in the premises.
INTRODUCTION OF BILLS.
By Mr.. Respass: A bill requiring the old
Banks of the State to receive their own
bills in payment of judgments obtained By
said banks, placed on Calendar.
The President ratified an act fixing the
per diem and mileage of the officers and
members of the General Assembly, the
same as the two preceding sessions.
| Mr.. Forkner moved reconsideration of
the vote by which an act to investigate the
affairs of the several Railroad Companies
passed its second reading on yesterday
The motion prevailed
He then moved to reconsider the vote
| by which the Governors Commission to
Investigate was stricken out and the duty
assigned to the Superintendent of Public
Works, and it was agreed to.
| Mr.. Etheridge moved that the bill be
| referred to the special committee to be
composed of three Senators.
Mr.. Jones, of Mecklenburg, expressed
his surprise at the course of the OppOSl-
ton party and of those personally interes-
ted in the Investigation, in attempting to
avoid or stave off full and fair investiga-
ton of this whole matter, he thought that
it came with very bad grace from those
who represent these roads to favor such
action, when he saw that the only proper
course for the Senate to have pursued
would be voted down. He favored the
next best that lie could get, that the mat
ter shall be referred to the Superinten-
dent of Public Works, but this was not his
choice, and if the gentlemen against whom
these charges are made are innocent and
wish to clear their skirts they should in
sist, yea, demand q legislative investiga-
ton, and the least their friends could have
done would have been to have let the bill
remain in the form it passed on yesterday.
Something had been said in reference to
the necessity of this investigation. He
heard Il prominent member of the Republic
can party assert IN a public speech, only Il
few nights ago, that the people were alarm
ed, there were rumOrs af1Oat and they
were almost universal that there was mis-
appropriation of the funds placed in the
hands of certain parties to construct these
roads and that they (''the pcople'') deman
ded an investigation, WAS this not sufficient
evidence to induce the Senate to go Into
an investigation. Then why Is tins inves-
tigation pressed with such persistency i'll
one direction. If it does nothing wors, it
will have direct tendency to arouse the
suspicious OF the Public more fully against
those who are directly interested.
MIR. Smith said the charges Of corruption
had not reached his ears until he arrived
here, and the Senator from Oraugt bad IL
troduced the resolutions. He reco!ected
that the opposition party had at the last
session opposed all these appropriations,
and hal predicted that this state Of affairs
would come to pass. He was ia favor Of
going On and pay no attention to such
charges, when they come from such a
source.
Mr. Murphy said hc was tired Of hear
ing party brought into every matter for
the consideration Of the Senate The Sen
ator from Wilkes had asserted that the Con-
sentative party was alone responsible for
or had brought these cuarges into the Sen
ate. There bad been four propositions
made to investigate This subject, one Of
them introduced 10y Conservative and
three by the hepuOlican party. SO the
charge that the Conservatives had alone
introduced measures for the investigation
Of this subject YVES not true He thought |
it was time to stop such foolishness, and
the men who made these charges were old |
enough and ought to have sense enough !
to know better.
Mr.. Beau said, every Senator haL indi-
Gated by voting for this bill Or some other
of the various propositions, that an inves-
tigatiOn was necessary. The only differ
ence was as to the mode. The present bill
on yesterday was adopted by a vote al
most unanimous, and now we are surprised
with move to undo orr work of Yester--
day. He thought Legislative Committee
would insure fair and speedy investiga-
ton, and this mode would be much better
than to have Committee appointed by
the Governor, or better than to cucumber
the Superintendent of Public Works with
it.
Because a Senator prefers that the SD
perlntendent should Investigate this case
the Senator from Granville charges that il +
is democratic partizan move. Was not
the superintendent elected by the Repub-
lican party by vote equal 30 that of the .
the party as the Governor Does not the |
Senator have confidence in him as a Re
publican Now since Republicans and
Democrats almost unanimously placed this
investigation in his hands, how can the /
Senator denounce the measure as Demo !
cratic and partizan ?
Although he preferred Legislative Com
mittee appointed by the President of the
Senate, yet as that had failed, he had |
voted for the Superintendent and now if
this motion to reconsider prevails, he
would again move for Legislative Com
mittee, because there are points in this bill
not specified in the enumerated duties of |
the superintendent.
Mr.. Lindsay said he desired to make on
ly few remarks before the vote was Ia
ken. There had been plain and simple |
resolution to investigate the affairs of only
one road, introduced by Mr.. Graham, with
surprise and establishment he saw it voted
down and another similar to the first, by
Mr.. Welker, that was also voted down, and
on yesterday, by the unanimity of action
in the Senate he thought the question had !
been disposed of, not suiting the views of