Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-12-30

I Mr., Odds obtained the t1OOf, anu EpOk
| for one hour and forty five minutes, in OPP
position to the bill principally on th
ground Of its being Unconstitutional ant
! of expediency.
Mr. Lehman followed. in a short expla
nation as to change in his position, which
was adverse to the one he occupied
several days ago, and conceded that The
bill was constitutional and that the Lpgis
lature had the right TO call a restricted
convention, though he was opposed to the
bill on the ground of expediency.
mr.. Brogden followed in opposition &c
the bill, he obtained the floor Is minutes
before o'clock and relinquished it at 3.
o'clock.
Mr.. Jones obtained the floor aud said
Mr.. President, am about to call the
previous question upon the final passage
of this bill, and L apologize to the Senate
for not having done SO at Il O'Clock as
gave notice on Saturday last [ would do
have not myself addressed tho Senate
Up IN this bill for the reason that / DO.
lieved the opinions of Senators were long
since matured on this subject. My only
solicitude has been that the minority Oil
this floor should have the fullest oppor-
tnnIty 10 discuss the merits Of measure
OF SO much imp ortancc 70 the State. think
they viii admit that they havo had this
opportunity, and Will say for most of
them that they have LOT abused our c0ur-
tesy nCr the privileges accorded them by
tEe rules Of the Senate. Some, however,
Of those who have last spoken seem 70 in
calable OF approaching n courtesy aud
have SO grossly abused both their privileges
oII the patience OF the Senat3 IN haran-
CUES expressly intcndcl to consume it's
lime, that | now call the previous question
esd shai not on any account withdraw the
cali.
he President, Mr.. Caldwell, said be
fore putting the question to the Senate lie
deolred to call their attention to Article
-, section l, of the Constitution OF tae
State, which reads as follows, to Wit:
mo Convention tf the people shall be
caled by he General Assembly unless BIZ
the concurrence Of tWo.thIrd8 Of all the
moDbers 6f each House Of tho Genoral AS
sanlLIy.'
Ihs Preside. ut stated that he under
stood tlat 1t was tie purpose Of tho Gen
esa: Assembly to submit tie question upon
r majority vote, he Was Of the opinion that
II required tw0-thiEd vote, but would sub
nit he question to the Senate, and if it
decided that q bare maj ority only was
necessary. he would retire from the chair
and invite some Senator to preside until
the question was disposed Of.
The President then submitted the ques-
ton il the following form, to wit
As many as are Of the opinion that
can pass this bill, Will, when your
names are called, answer in the affirmative,
and those Of a contrary opinion, will an
swer il the negative, and the question was
decided in the affirmative. Yeas IS, nays
IL.
The President retired from the Chair
AID invited the Senator from Beaufort
Mr.. WARREN to preside.
TIE question boir8 on the passage of
the bill, numerous explanations Of votes
were given, to wit
Mr. Cowies, in explanation of his vote,
said In the canvass last summer which
resulted in his election as Senator from
the Both Dietrict, he did not foresee the
Importance and necessity of Convention
Of the people at SO early q period as this
bill proposed. He desired TO avoid, even
by implication, the semblance of recrear-
oy 40 the pledges male l1i~ 4'nIIut4tnonny.
for this reason, he should, in exact con
formity with those pledges, vote no. .
But should the bill pass, he would exert
his humble influence to the utmost to Sc
cure the call Of the Convention by ma
jority OF the voters CT the State. Believing
q Convention Ct the people absolutely ne
ceseary, and re only speedy and efficient
remedy for the ills which now afflict and
Cypress the people and the Treasury.
Mr. Currie said be occupied similar
position to that Of the Senator from Yad
kin, and should therefore vote no.
Mr.. Gilmer said that in the campaign in
August last, it was not made q question
whether We ought to submit IL to tie people
10 sag whether they want Convention to
amend the Constitution. It was charged
oy his opponents that it WAS the purpose
If the Conservative Ddrty 10 call Conven-
r. a ho Ti(
Of the coIored man to vote, 10 prescribe
property qualifications for voters and other
terrible things. These IN Just charges he
denied and still denied. But the demands
# the people Of the State as demanded by
OH this floor, and the constant
Obstacles Of the present Constitution salts
led him Of the immediate necessity Of
amendments to the organic law. Believing
therefore,, that with all these facts, all
hese demands of the people, all this threat
med ruin by taxation OF his people, he
would vote that they be allowed to decide |
or themselves these important questions, |
md therefore, should vote aye.
Mr. Graham said that he entertained |
~ doubt as to the power of the General /
sSsembly TO submit the question TO the |
people of North Carolina as to whether or
lot they will call a Convention. He |
should cheerfully vote for the bill, and in |
LONG SO, carry out the wishes of his CON
as they feel that change is
needed IN our present form Of govern
nent and, as SO much had been said here
Gbout hwlessness, he thought the best
way to prevent it would be to place fear
ess men in the Judiciary, who command
he respect and confidence of the people,
He would have preferred an open and nm
restricted Convention, but as he could not
get that he should vote for this measure.
Mr.. Love said he entertained no doubts
Is to the constitutiona!ity of the measure,
1ut he desired to amend the bill in
certain particular which would have coin
,ided with his views and with the wishes
If his constituents if it could have been
Idopted, yet he was in favor of Conven-
ion and sho0ld support this measure as
he best he could get.
Mr.. McClammy said that he came here
ully impressed with the necessity for
Convention. He believed then and did so
ret, that the delegate to Convention of
he people of North Carolina would not
interfere with any of those sectinns in the