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

Debate in tho House.

We give the Raleigh Eenhners report ir
full of the debats in the House on Wednes
day upon the bill concerning Conyepr-
tien of the people. The bill provides fer
an election for restricted. Convention
on the 10th February, 1871, end if Con.
vention be called to assemble at Raleigh
ron the first Monday in April 1871 p.
Tho following are the restrictions:
Sec. 10. That said Convention shall lave
power to consider and propose ali neces-
! e,srJ -meadme-l+s5 aud rtcrPtions to the
Constitution of tho State, (oxceptipS the
restrictions hereinafter mentioned not iu-
consistent with The Constitution of the
United States. But said Convention shall
have no power or authority whatever, to
offer or propose any amendment OF altera
ton OF, or IN anyTISe interfere with, re-
real or modify the Homestead aud per
sonal property exemptions. as proyid cd
for iii Article 10 of tie Constitution of
the State, nor shall they iii any way inter-
fere with. modify. repeal or Do any other
act to restrict, or impair the rights priv
ileGeR, "r lmmunliIc5, of any PERSON IA the
state. Di4 i, { J!,nt of race, CUIor or previous
condition, which are low guaranteed 10
him bF the 18th, ! tth and 1I3h amend.
meEts to the Constitution Cf tho United
Sites; nor SHALL :hey propose any amend
nent TO The Constitution IF the st Ito, IN
any way lmpalrIng or rfstrIclug said
rights, privileges or i'm uluuitles; nor shall
said Convention" pass any ordinance, or
propose any amendment 80 the ConstitlI-
ton OF this State which shall in anywise
provide for payment to the late slave hold
ers OF The STATE, or any other person, for
the loss sustained by them by reason of the
emaucl patton OF sad slaves; nor shall said
sard Convention pass any ordinance, or
otfer any amendment, which shall in any
wise provide for the payment of any debt,
or debts contracted i'll aid Of the late re-
bellion; nor shall said Convention pass any
ordinance, or offer any amendment which
shall in anywise provide for the infiction
of corporal punishment for criminal Of
fences; nor shall said Convention have
power to abolish the present system Of
public instruction, but to make such alter
atoms to said system, as said Convention
may deem necessary and proper; nor shall
said Convention have power TO pass any
ordnance to abolish, or in any way inter
fere with the meetings CT adjournments
Of this General Assembly nor shall said
Convention propose any amendment or
alteration requiring any property or
educational qualification for voters or
officers; nor shall said Convention change
the present ratio between the poll and
property tax, or provide for raising the
poll tax, on one pole above two dol
lars for ali Ordinary State and county,)
purposes nor shall said Convention be
allowed to pass any ordinance or ordinan
ces legislative in their character, except
such as are necessary to submit the Con-
stitution as amended to the people Of the
State for their ratification or rejection, and
provide for filling such vacancies as may
occur by reason Of any amendment or
amendments made by said Convention to
the Constitution of the State and except
ordinances IN relation to the public debt !;
nor shall said Convention have any power
to modify Or repeal that clause in the pre-
sent Constitution which provides for O
mechanics and Iaborers' lien law; nor
shall said Convention have any power to
modify or repeal those clauses in the pres
ent Constitution which provide that there
is no right TO secede, and that every citi-
zen owes paramount allegiance to the Con-
stitution and government of the United
States. ARTICLE /, sections and ).
On motion, it was agreed to consider the
bill section by section.
The first section was read, when Mr..
Harris, of Guilford, moved to amend by
striking out the 10Th of February, 1871,
as the time of holding an election for. a
Convention, and insert the 10th of March,
1871, instead.
Mr.. Tomlinson thought that Conven-
ton was needed, and he would like to
vote for some such bill, but he had pledged
himself against Convention, and there
fore he would move to postpone the bill
until the first Wednesday after the recess,
SO that gentlemen might go homo and con-
suit their constituents in regard TO this
matter. He thought the people would
sanction, by large majority, Convention
called in accordance with some such bill
as the one under consideration, if some
little time was given for them to consider
the matter.
Mr. McAfee was III favor of the bill az
it came from the Senate, and though it
might contain some inaccuracies, he would
vote for it just as it stood, without amend
meut or discussion. He was a Convention
man, and he believed the people demand
ed one. He would take the bill as it came
from the Senate.
MIR. Wilcox was opposed to postpone
ment Of the bill. The people had had
time to consider this matter. They know
well the only way in which speedy relief
could reach them was through Conven-
tiOn. True, he WAS pledged against q
Convention, but that kwas a Convention
called by the Legislature, and not against
one restricted III it's operations, and left &c
the decision Of the people. Under the
present onerous and burdensome Constitu
ton the people were taxed nearly into
| ruin, and the ship Of state was fast drift
| ing (if she had not already arrived there,
upon the breakers Of disgraceful bank
ruptcy, and if We wait for relief by legio
lative enactment, which would take three
| long years. disgrace, ruin and poverty
would overtake the State and the people
Relief must be had, and that in the mos
speedy manner. The condition Of tht
State demanded it, and the condition ot
the ruined and heavily taxed people also
demanded it.
Mr.. Harris, of franklin, Rep, favored
the motion to postpone. He know the
Constitution needed amendment, and il
time was given for consideration and con-
sultation with the people, he might vote
for the bill. This township system was
especially unsuitable to the condition oil
our people.
MIR. Tomlinson said as gentlemen
wished to discuss the full scope of the
bill, he would withdraw his motion tc
postpone.
The motion vas accordingly withdrawn