Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-12-30
Mr., Ldckey was in favor Of the amend

IL
most nelement seaaon of the year in the
Western portion of the State, &c. -.
- he was glad to see that the Republicans
1 OF the House met tho question IN a proper
spirit. He had not been influenced by
any partisan feeling when. Ae introduced
this blti. He had not offered it to further
any party seheIne. He offered the bill
because tho condition and Necessities of
| the people demanded it. A Convention
was the only means by which the people
| could hope to obtain that speedy relief
which their cmbarrs ;ed condition inner
! Rtiyely demanded. Ho was In daily re-
"elpt OF letters urging that the Ileri4lature
| at once pass Convention bin, as that was
the only way in which the people could
| possibly obtain that immediate relief which
their distressed and burdened condition
made necessary.
Mr.. Lyon favored the amendment.
Mr. Nicholson opposed the amendment.
He said the people had had ample time to
consider the question of Convention" or
''no Convention" His people were almost
unanimous for the passage Of bill like
this. In regard to postponement he did
not see what advantage the adoption of
such q resolution would produce. la
March the faTmors were generally very
busy attending to their farms, and could
Ill afford to give the time necessarily ex-
pended in going to the polls, but in the
month Of February they had more leisure
time TO attend An election, Gs II did not
interfere with their pursuits.
Mr. McAfe0 said he was III favor of a
Convention. His people ask and demand
a Convention as soon as possible, and he
believed the people of the State are anX-
iou5 for Convention because they feel
that they cannot get relief any other way
except through Convention. The Leg
islatnre may cut dowu salaries and fees,
bu6 that is only drop i'll the bucket
Every effort at real and substantial relief
offered by the Legislature falls stiil-born
because the Constitution stands in the
way. Our hands are bound, and we ca |
on the people to allow us, through O Con-
ventiOn, to relieve them and US.
The Legislature cannot, except by
q two-thiIds vote, call q Conven,
ton. but the Legislature can au-
thorize and give the people way by
which their wishes can be known and ex
pressed, and then the Convention will be
called in accordance with law by the peo-
pie, and restricted by the people-they,
themselves, having the authority to limit
and restrict the power of their servants or
delegates. For the further reason that his
people wished to get back to the old land
marks with the change in accordance with
the Constitution of the United States and
the reconstruction measures, he asked for
a Convention at once.
Mr.. Jarvis said that as g great difference
OF opinion existed upon this question of
the time Of holding the election, he would,
to compromise the matter, move to amend
the amendment by placing the election on
the lst Thursday in March.
Mr.. Harris, of Guilford, accepted the
amendment, and the amendment as amend
ed was adopted.
The 1st and "a sections of the bill were
then adopted.
In section three Mr.. Harris, of Guilford,
moved to change the "10th of March "
to the ''20th of March" Applies to the
time of counting the ballots cast in the
election iQ the presence of the Governor,
Treasurer and Secretary Of State.
Mr.. Jarvis moved to amend the amend
ment by inserting The "24th of March, :"
which was carried, and the amendment as
amended was adopted.
The Reporter cannot report many of
tho amendments offered go as to mako
them inteligible to the reader, without
giving the bill in full, and that being in
possible, they are omitted.
In section 3, line 10, Mr.. Dunham
moved to strike out the "first Monday,
and insert "third Monday" IApplies to
the assembling of the Convention Car
ried
Sections and were then adopted
In section 5, Mr.. Harris, of Franklin,
moved an amendment, which in effect did
away with the provision that oil voters
should vote in the precinct in which they
resided lest.
The section was then adopted.
Sections 6. z, s and 8 were adopted.
In section 10, MIR. Waring moved to in
sert in line 10, after the word "State," the
words ''except i'll this particular only, that
| the Convention shall Incorporate clause
in said Constitution recognizing and de
claring that the doctrine laid down and
| the decision mado Ill the 63d volume, page
431. n. G. Supreme Court Reports. in the
| CASE of Sarah Hill rs. Tobias Kessler, tc
| be the true and final decision of the ques
| t.on.
The decision al1irms tho constitution
| Ality and legality of the homestead pro
visions, applying to old as we'll as new
| debts.
/ Mr.. Waring, in an ablo and forcible
| speech, advocated the adoption Of hi'
! amendment. He urged the importance O.
| putting the question of the provision o!
the homestead, both MS regards old ant
new debts, beyond all question or caviI
He wanted the bill passed with this pro
vision In it III order that the State nigh
have Judiciary that would for ell time
tics and privileges Of the homestead.
vote on the amendment, by acclama
ton, was had, and the Speaker being uu
able to decide, had division.
The amendment was. carried with tht
majority of the Republican members pres
ent abstaining from voting one way or tn
other.
Page, col. Rep, moved to reconsider
saying that be had voted with the MAORI
| ty and had right to make the motion.
Mr.. Strudwick, DEM, moved to lay tn
| motion to reconsider on the table carried
| Mr.. Ashe moved to strike out the wore
Rebellion" and insert the word War -
carried.
Mr.. Anderson offered aa amepdmen
| that the Convention should have no powe
to interfere with the provisions of articl
5, section 5, of the Constitution in regarC
to lending the States credit to unfnishe
Railroads
Mr.. Jarvis opposed the amendment
saying that under this clause of the Con
| stitutiiOn a crraafar mart Of tho tpor, hi