The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1869-02-17

Manufacturing Company
Bill to incorporate international Com
mercial Company Of Norfolk, Va.
Bill to protect cattle from distempers or
other Infectious diseases
To-day being setsapart for the reception OF
bills from the Code Commission, the follow
ing was introduced
By Mr.. HrNNANT: A bill to provide for
procedure in special proceedings generally,
and inapplication for widows years support
and in dover. Referred to Judiciary COM
mittee.
Bill to amend chapter forty of Revised
Code, with amendments submitted by Code
Commission, was taken up.
The amendments were adopted, and the
bill ordered to be printed.
On motion of Mr.. INGRAM the rules were
suspended, and the bill to provide for hold
ing elections in certain towns was taken up.
The committee reported an amendment set
ting apart the second Monday in April as the
time for holding said elections
MIR. JARVIS moved to amend by inserting
the second Monday in May. Amendment
agreed to, and the bill as amended passed
second reading.
On the third reading, Mr. SINCLAIR moved
to amend so as to fix the time on the 4th
Monday in May. Adopted, and the bill
passed, and was ordered to be engrossed.
Short leaves OF absence were granted to
Messrs. Allison, Mcmillan, Grier, and Long,
of Richmond.
Mr.. SEYMOUR reported number of bills,
which were ordered to be placed on the
Calendar.
The bill to amend the law of evidence, by
permission, was Withdrawn.
Code bill : An act to declare persons of
color qualified to testify in all cases. bill
proposes to repeal the act OF the Legislature
of 1866, allowing colored persons to testify
only in cases where they are concerned.
Mr.. LEARY opposed the bill as unneces-
sary, because the Constitution Of the State
forbids any distinction on account of
color, SC.
Mr.. HARRIS, of Wake, favored the bill
The act of 1865 was but an off-shoot of the
old slave ideas, and the passage of the bill
would have the effect to relieve the Judges
OF embarrassment ON account of this statute,
and also to harmonize the law with the
present condition of public affairs.
MIR. SEYMOUR favored the bill, and said
he and Others had doubts as to whether the
present constitution abrogated the statute
of 1866; and, in order to clear up these
doubts honestly entertained, he hoped the
bill would he adopted.
Mr.. MALONE said that the Chief Justice
had remarked that colored persons could
not, according to the present law, testify in
all cases in State courts; and that a refusal
to pass this bill, or similar one, would
have the effect. under the law of Congress,
to drive all such cases out of our State
courts into the Federal courts.
Mr. SWEAT addressed the House in oppo-
sition to the bill, alleging that the adoption
of the Constitution had nulIifed Ill statutes,
in which colored persons were denied the
rights given to white men. Neither of the
words color" 'white" or 'black" were in
that instrument, but ''the people" was the
term used He commended that the passage
of this bill would in effect say that all stat
utes making distinction on account of color
as heretofore passed, still remained in force,
which was clearly in violation of the spirit
and teaching of the present Constitution.
Mr.. PoU Offered q preamble stating that
doubts existed as to the competency of col
ored persons to testify in the courts, &c.
Mr.. SEYMOUR offered substitute, which
was rejected.
Mr.. PoU's preamble was agreed to.
Mr. PRICE offered an amendment that all
sections of acts making discrimination on
account of color be repealed. Agreed to.
Mr. MALONE offered an amendment that
hereafter it shall not be lawful for co-defen-
dants in criminal cases to testify in courts
of this State, either for themselves or each
other. Agreed to.
Tho hill nc amandad noesod ito cnoond
reading -....-'.-....
The rules were suspended and the bill
passed its third reading by the following
vote: .,-
YEAs-Messrs Ames, Argo, Ashworth, Banner
Barnett, Blair Carson, Carey, Cawthorn, Dixon Down
Gilbert Gunter Harris of Franklin. Harris of Wake,
Hayes, Hendricks Hinnant, Hodin, Hudgings Ingram,
Jarvis, Justus of Henderson, Justice OF Rutherford,
Kelly of Davie Kelly OF Moore Long of Chatham Long
OF Richmond, Malone. Mayo, McCaness, McMllAn,
pa1k pS ses sn
clair Stiley Sykes Vesta Vest, Waldrop, WEIGH,
White Whitley, Williams of Sampson williamson
NAYs-Mesrs layton of TRANSATLANTIC, Durham, Glib
SON. Hawkins High Leary MOORE eoanH s.erens
ter Pr3itt Shaver smth o. nf
Mr.. SINCLAIR moved to suspend the rules
to take up bill to prescribe the power and
duty of the Governor in respect to fugitives
from Justice Agreed to-
Mr.. SINCLAIR made a statement OF the de-
plorable condition of affairs in his county.
Good citizens were in terror of their lives,
some of whom had been shot down like
dogs. and others had been robbed in the
broad open day time The same lawlessness
prevailed in some other sections of the State,
and he hoped the bill would be adopted.
The bill passed its second reading.
The Chair (Mr. FRENoH) decided that as
the bill made appropriations of money, it
would have to be read on three several days.
Mr.. SINCLAIR said that the Senate had not
SO regarded the bill, and he therefore ap-
pealed from the decision of the Chair.
The Chair was sustained.
Mr.. HARRIS of Wake, moved that the bill
be made the special order on tomorrow at
II o'clock Carried 7i42
On motion Of MIR. AMEs, the House then
adjourned till tomorrow morning at 10
o'clock lg}t 9
sja4t SENATE. q