Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-04-08

| the original House bill, and which, it ap-
| pears from the endorsement. was intro
lduced in the House on the Sd OF April,
1869, bat that figure had been blotted
Tout partially and the figure 3 written over
lit It's Enforcement also shows that 1t
ipassed its second and third readings on the
Isame day. There is also endorsed on 1t,
+" engrossed April 9th, 1869" signed With
1.-The initials of Mr.. Hort las is testified by
Mr. Hinnant,) who was Engrossing Clerk
pro tenn.
/ The title of the bill as endorsed on the
back. is 81 bill to amend an act ratified
the 18th of January, 1862" That on the
Inside is an act to amend an act to incor-
porate the Western North Carolina Rail
road Company, ratified the 18th of Febru-
arz. 1855, and Of all acts amendatory there
off, The bill has endorsed upon it Mr..
Gating's name as the introducer. No en-
crossed bill can be found.
The enrolled bill in the Office of the Sec
Iretar7 Of State is apparently correct, is
signed by the Speaker of the House and
by the President pro tenn Of the Senate,
MIR Winstead,) and bears date April 9th,
1869. On the back is the certificate of
Drs. Beall and Murphy on the part of the
Senate and of Messrs. Hinnant, Hawkins
and White of the House, that it is correct
~ enrolled.
The printed journal of the House shows
that bill WAS introduced in the House on
April 3D. at the morning session, by MIR.
Gatling entitled, A bill to amend an act
ratified the Goth of January 1862" but it
also appears from the printed laws OF 1868
go, that two acts were ratified January
goth 1869.
of the rules, this bill so entitled, passed its
second and third readings, see pages 536
and 542 House journal.
The Senate journal, both printed and
manuscript, shows that bill was received
in the Senate on the 9Th of April one day
before it purperts to have been engrossed
| in the House, bearing now the title, 'fBill
explanatory of an act ratified January 29;h,
1862"
On the next day, April 9th, the same day
of it's supposed engrOssment in the House,
| it passed its second and third readings in
the Senate without the yeas and nays being
recorded on it's third reading or any mo-
ton of the rules being suspended to per-
NIT it to pass without this fornality, see
pages 664 and 665 Senate journal.
In the afternoon session of the same day
| 18th of April, 1862 the Journal shows that
the President pro tenn. signed IAN act to
amend an act to incorporate the Western
North Carolina Railroad Company, ratified
10Th February, 1866, and of all other acts
amendatory thereof see Senate journal,
pages 675, 676.
MIR. Calling testifies that the original
bill is in his handwriting he did not pre-
pare the bill and does not know who did !;
is not certain, but thinks Col. Tate brought
the bill to his attention understood it as
q party measure to defeat the efforts of
Governor Caldwell to get an office on the
Road. It was designed to get the bill
through the House in such a way as not to
attract attention to its contents by the
title. It was introduced, placed on the
Calendar and passed it's several readings
the same day. Ii any money was used to
procure it's passage it is not known TO him;
knows nothing of it after its passage III
the house.
Gen. bingham testifes that he did not
know anything about the bill, when Or by
whom it was introduced or when passed.
In fact he did not know it had been passed
or ever been introduced until after the ad-
journment of the Legislature. If any
money was paid to procure its introduce
ton or passage, he did not know it. That
he was consulted confdentially by one
person with reference to some bill relating
to the subject embraced in the bill, and
that he wac esnanially requested TO cons1d-
er the application as a confidential one be-
tween client and his attorney. Such in
formation as was confded to him in that
he did not feel at liberty to dis |
close, nor even to mention the name of the
applicant.
DR.. Murphy testifes that it is his recol-
lection that he read and examined the bill
in connection with some one Of the COM .
mittee. It did not attract hi attention;
knew nothing of the bill before it came
before him; that it had been agreed on in .
committee that if bill was signed by two
Of its members the others would sign on
heir recommendation.
MIR. Hinnant testities that he signed the
enrolled bill; that some one (does not re-
collect who) brought the bill! to his seat,
insisted that it must be signed so as to !.
have it introduced in the Senate before
as 1t was necessary that it
be passed before some railroad meeting
took place. That Gov. Caldwell was anx-
lous for its passage. Signed it without
seeing the original bill, but objected to
doing SO.
S. Med. Tate testifes that he thinks
Gen. Littlefed showed him the bill. That
he recommended some slight changes.
Spoke to DIR. Ellis about introducing it.
It was thought the bill could be carried
through irregularly, and then said that he
would have nothing to do with it, Never
paid any member Of the General Assem-
oily, either with money or with moneys
worth, to get it passed, nor lever offered
anything, either By lnslnuatlon or other
wise. No money had been paid with his
to any one for the purpose OF
passing the bill.
Gen. Littleield testifies that believing
he stockholders had been wronged he had
he bill introduced, believing that She Dem
,crats would vote for it. He had Mr.. Cat
ing to introduce it. Intended that it
mould be passed at the close of the ses-
ion, when bills were passed only by read
ng the title. It was intended to keep the
of the bill concealed under its til
lie. Recommended that il be ratified be-
ore the return of Gov. Caldwell. No
of any manipulation of it; no
with the engrossing clerk or
my one else respecting it. Saw the Speak
II of the House sign it in the room of the ]
,apitol keeper. Does not know the hand [
writing of the House bill. Handed the
oill to Mr.. Calling to introduce it. Not
>pa ~ro~1 oF &r.T7kh in <hG ropork haf Gil