Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-02-04
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIV
WEDNESDAY, Jan 26

WEDNESDAY, Jan 70.
Mr.. Justice arose to q question in re-
gard to the attack on him by the Stan
dard, the allegations LIE pronounced as
false and cowardly. During his remarks
he said that the Standard III doing the
State printing was charging enormously
aud was perpetrating o BVindle upon the
people, SC, Sc. lie denounced Little
field and his partisans in bitter terms, and
charged that they were bringing disgrace
upon the Republican party.
On motion Of Mr.. Justice, the rules
were suspended and the following resolu-
tions introduced by himself on yesterday,
was taken up: Whereas there appears in
the pubic laws of 1868-'69 an act to au-
thorize His Excellency the Governor to
appoint Il State Printer; and, whereas,
the members Of this House never intend
ed to pass any such act, therefore
ReSOlced, That we regard the appoint
ment of NJ. S. Littlefeld as State Printer
and Binder as creating monopoly con-
trary to the true meaning and intention OF
the constitution.
Resoloed, That NJ s. Littlefield be and
he is hereby respectfully requested TO re-
sign as State Printer and Binder, to the
end that this General Assembly may pro-
vide for the State printing and binding
on the best and cheapest plan.
Mr.. Justice said he introduced the reso-
luton from the pnrest motives. 1t was
well known that the act ae 1t appears pub
lished in the Public Laws of 1868G9 was
not such law as this House intended to
pass, &c.
He was authorized to say that the State
printing could be done for much less, and
the binding done for just one-half of what
the present State Printer now charges the
State
He regarded the act referred to as vio-
lating the Constitution by creating a mo-
nopoly, &c.
He could not as an honest man and Re-
publican endorse the conduct of M. s..
Iittlefeld, and called upon members as
representatives of the people to examine
this matter thoroughly, and then as guar
dians of the peoples interest to act as
their cOnsciences directed.
Mr.. Sinclair opposed the resolution, and
made remarks in defense of the course of
Nj. S. Litltefield, &C., &c. He (Mr. S. }
said that the handful of Conservative mem
bers had succeeded in demoralizing the
Republican party in this House, with its
| two-third ma ority. He charged that these
measures aimed at certain parties were in
au2urated for the purpose of having some
| influence in the coming elections. 1t look
and he thought the party should now
l
it's friends and supporters, &c.
Mr.. Smith, or Martin, moved to make
the matter special order for Monday at II
o'clock, but if vote was forced to-day he
should be compelled to vote for the resolu-
ton.
| Mr.. Ingram supported the resolution.
| During his remarks he said that while this
House was engaged in making huge ap
preparations, General Littlefeld and Latin
| o1r
Guilty in finding them, but now these gen
tlemen were making themselves exceeding
ly scarce, and he (Mr. Ingram) thought
that the State printing had been misman
aged as we'll as Railroad bonds, and he
| thought the circumstances surrounding
this matter as we'll as Railroad matters
went to prove there had been foul play
&c. He opposed the motion to postpone
Harris of Wake, COL, spoke in opposi
tion to the resolution.
Mr.. Hinnant, Chairman Of Committed
on Enrollment), arose to question o1
privilege. His attention being called tC
a law giving the Governor the power tt
appoint State Printer he went immedi
ately to the Secretary's office and exam
ined the enrolled bills on examination
found the enrolled bill properly endorsed
with his genuine signature, he then mad'
a search for the engrossed bill and failed
had passed the Senate on the 9th of April
1869, and had been properly endorsed, bu
there was no endorsement to show that /
had been sent to the House at any time
&c. The flow of business at the close o
last session was the cause of the Commit
tee on Enrolled Bills not having examined
the original bill as they should have done
&c.
Mr.. Smith, of Martin, withdrew his nc
tion to postpone.
Harris, of Wake, COL, offered D substi
tute raising special committee of three
consisting of Messrs. Justice, Ames an
Argo, to investigate any alleged misman
agement of the affairs of the Office.
} Mr.. Downing opposed the resolution an
charged that the introducer of it was actu
ated by motives of personal hostility, &c.
Mr. Justice denied the charge. sayin
2 that because he had the nerve and manl
/ ness to protest against the continuance (
l this swindle upon the people, the STANDARD
assisted by its pets in this House, was en-
: deavoring to frown him down. He We
actuated by no personal motive, but Lii
/ tlefield was charged all over this State ian
r out of it toy with being corrupt man, an
l guilty of stupendous frauds, and instea
4 of meeting those charges like an hone!
@ man (if he is one), boldly confronting b
v accusers and daring them to the proc
he absconds and shlrks all investigation.
The records of the Court would sho
t that he gave fictitious note for illeg
: purposes. If the Republican party e.
pected to live and thrive in this State the
= would have to throw overheard dishone
g leaders and show they intended to a.
g honestly by the people. II the Republ
:. can party required him to stife his oV
convictions of right and wrong. and el
deavored to apply the party lash when E
honest man refused to support a disho
est measure to snit the dishonest pu
poses Of a few dishonest men, then
wished to see the party die and would he
to kill it, &c. He concluded by chargi1
d that there had been serious frauds perp
o petrated in the publication of the laws.
After some further debate the substitu
e offered by Harris, of Wake, col, was p
to vote and rejected by vote of yeas 3
J. nays so. ....
Mr.. Justice called the previons questi,
If upon his resolution.
The call being sustained the resoluti,