The weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1869-18??, 1870-12-28
SENATE. -
MONDAY, Dec. 10, 1870.

The Senate met at 10 o'clock.
PRAYER by Senator Norment.
President in the Chair.
Journal of Saturday read and approved,
Mr.. Merrimon called attention to the fact
that his vote on the 18th was correctly re-
corded in the Clerks report, but incorrectly
reported by US.
Bill for the relief of the Sheriff of Watauga
was taken up and passed its several read
ings without opposition Yeas 80, nays
none.
Mr.. Norment from the Conference Com
mittee, reported that the Committee recon-
mend concurrence in House bill on per diem
and mileage. The Senate refused to concur,
ayes IL, nays 26. .
nj Mr. Gilmer moved the appointment of an
other committee.
Pending action. the Convention bill was
taken up.
Mr.. Odds said he was opposed to this bill
upon Constitutional grounds. The Constitu
tion knows of but two modes OF amendment,
one is by Convention which in its very ma
ture is unrestricted. The other is by legisla-
tive action to be submitted to the people.
This Constitutional provision is evaded in
this bill. He was opposed to it because it
was introduced in dangerous times, whcE
the people are excited and fearful of revolu-
ton. He was opposed to it because OF the
enormity of its details.
Mr. Lehman disagreed from the Senator
from Wake. He objected to the bill not for
the reasons urged, but because he considered
it untimely and unnecessary.
Mr. Robbins of Rowan thought the time
too short. Show would be knee deep in the
mountains, and the people could not get to
the polls Besides that the people needed
more time for ieiiberation. and he moved to
insert March. Withdrawn.
Mr.. Brogden gave full and luminous ex-
position of the bill, of the motives which
led to it, of the history OF the party which
fathers it, and of the disastrous results which
will follow its passage.
The previous question having been Or
dered, and the question being on the pas
sage of the bill on its third reading,
The chair considered that it would take
a two thirds vote to pass the bill, and sub
mitted that question as preliminary.
The letter of the Constitution requiring
two-thirds majority to call Convention, as
many Senators as are of opinion that bare
majority can authorize the people to call a
Convention will make it known by saying
aye; as many as of the contrary opinion will
say no.
The Senate voted that it required only a
majority vote.
Those voting in the affirmative are-Messrs.
Adams, Albright, Cook, Council, Cowles,
Crowell, Currie, Dargan, Femming, Gilmer,
Graham, Jones, Linney, Love, Mauney Nc
Clammy, Merrimon, Morehead, Murphy Rob
bins, of Davidson, Robbins, of Rowan. Skin
ner, Speed, Troy, Waddell, Warren, White
sides and Worth-28. f-t
Those voting in the negative are-Messrs.
Barnett, Beasey, Bethany, Brogden, Eppes,
Flythe, HymaH, King, Lehman, McCotter,
Moore, Price-12
The Senate decided adversely to the opin-
OF the Chair, and the President having con
scientious objections to giving his official
sanction to what he deemed an unconstitu-
tional act, called to the chair Mr.. Warren,
who had no scruples on this question The
vote on the final passage of the bill was then
taken and stood thus:
Those who voted in the affirmative are:
Messrs. Adams, Albright, Battle, Cook,
Council, Crowell, Dargan, Fleming, Gilmer,
Graham, Jones. Ledbetter, Linney, Love,
Mauney, McCIammy, Merrimon, Murphy,
Norment, Robbins, of Davidson, Robbins, of
Rowan, Skinner, Speed, Troy, Waddell,
Warren, Whitesdes, Worth--28
Those voting in the negative are:
Messrs. Barnett, Beasley, Bellamy, Brog-
den, Cowles. Eppes, Flythe, Hyman, King,
Lehman, McCotter, Moore. Morehead, Price
-15.
Adjourned till TIN. f