Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-03-11
From the Raleigh sentnos
PROCEEDINGS Of TI.5 LEGISLATURE

BY A. H. GaiIoaay, COL, from certain
citizens Of Iincbln township in the county
of New Hanover. Protesting against di-
vision of said county, Referred.
BILLS INTRODUCED.
By MIR. Smith of Wilkes: Resolution to
resoind the resolution appointing the in
vestigating committee composed of Messrs.,
Phillips, Bragg and Scott. The preamble
says the committee was appointed in oppo-
sition to the expressed views of Senators,
and without precedent.
Mr. Graham moved that the e. Senate, do
not entertain the resolution. . $3.50
The President said he desired to make q
statement before further proceedings were
gonesinto. The preamble of the resolu-
ton asserted what was not SO. It was not
true that the President of the Senate made
the appointment without precedent. He
had information that the committee would
be ready to make report in a few days,
consequently the expenditures incurred by
the investigation could not amount 20
much over what had already been expend-
ed or incurred, and ruled that the motion
of the Senator from Orange was in order.
Mr.. Robbins said the motion was pro-
per one. The Senate could not receive o
resolution which was an attack on It's pre-
siding officer. He thought the appoint
mittee was composed of high toned, hon.
orable gentlemen-men of strict integrity;
men who would do right under all circum-
stances; and the President Of the Senate
will tie sustained by ali honest men III ris
ing above the partisan, instead OF having
his motives impugned, as this resolution
proposes to do.
Mr.. Welker (Republicap) said he was
not certain but that the resolutions were
out of order, as similar proposition was
voted down on yesterday. He thought
the objections to this Committee came
rather too late in tho day. At first he was
transcribed his powers i'll going outside
of the Senate to appoint the Committee,
but upon reflection be was now ready to
sustain the Chair in the action, and hearth
lyapproved of his selection. He believed
the Committee was composed of honorable
gentlemen, who would do their duty
honestly and fearlessly. He could not see
the necessity for interfering with them
now, they are at work. He hoped the
friends o. the resolution would anticipate
the report before it is made, fearing that
something wrong will be exposed and
thinking to cover it up by abollshing the
Committee.
MIR. Love said he hoped the resolution
would not be received by the Senate. Ii
the proposition had been made in the
earlier part OF the session when he intro
duced the resolution to raise the Commit
tee, probably he might have voted for it;
because at that time he felt that the origi-
nal design of the resolution was about to
be thWarted by the appointment of the
Chair, he felt, at the time, that the Chair
was governed by party feeling in refusing
to put him MIR. Love- the introduccr of
the resolutions on the Committee, conse-
quentiy he was chafed at the seeming re-
buke Of the Chair; but he was now glad to
have the opportunity to explain this mat
ter and thank the President of the Senate
for making the appointment he did. He was
proud to say that that officer, in making
the appointment, did SO with an eye single
to the interests of the State, and that
party prejudice did not influence him. He
fully endorsed the appointment and did
not think better Committee could have
been selected. The object of the resolu-
ton was to suppress what the people Of
the State desired to know, and the Senate
should refuse to entertain it.
Mr.. Smith, of Wilkes, (Rep.) said when
he introduced the resolution 1t was not his
intention to reflect upon the President of
the body. But be (the President) knew
himself that there were a number of Sena-
tors who were disappointed at the appoint
ment he made, and that the appointment
was made contrary TO their wishes. The
committee had been appointed some time,
and he could not see the reason why they
have not reported before or why they do
not report. The Legislature expected to
adjourn soon, probably in a few days, and
it was not their intention to adjourn and
leave that committee at work in their alb |
sence Littlefeld and Swepson had been
here for week and were ready to make a
report or to go before the committee, yet
they were not summoned. Swepson had |
seen proper to go away, he did not know |
the cause, but the Republican swindler, |
Gas he is called,) Littleteld, is still here
holding his ground; he wanted to know if |
the Committee was to sit until Swepson |
returned. It should not be allowed to do |
so. It should be abolished at once.
Mr.. Lindsay (Republican) said he could |
not CLEAN from the remarks of the Senator |
from Wilkes what was really his object, as |
Hamlet said to the ghost ''thou CONTEST in |
such a questionable shape J. will speak to |
thee" He supposed the object desired to |
be attained by the adoption of the resolu-
ton, was to cover up the fraud and corrup-
lion which had been practiced upon the |
honest and unsuspecting people of North |
Carolina. He was not surprised that the |
Senator was opposed to the Committee
md wanted to abolish it. But the people |
If North Carolina had some rights which
heir servants, the Senate should respect;t
hey demand this Investigation; the people
If my district who pay more tax in one
rear than that Of the Senator from Wilkes
u probably five, demand it, and they will
lot be satisfied until il is thorough in
He was astounded that such
proposition should be made in the Sen
tie of North Carolina. He had kept his
opinion in reference to these matters to
himself. But it was a notable fact, that
When the men who are suspected most of
being implicated in these dishonest tran
'actions arrive in Raleigh, as soon as they
get here there is hue and cry to abolish
his committee. Now they begin to inves-
igate, it must be abolished. Why is it
10? Need tell the Senate No it is
lot necessary, because there is an answer
o that question in the breast of each Sena-
or. In addition to all this there is clause
n the resolution 'impugning the motives