Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-02-24
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.


FRIDAY, Feb. II, 1871.
House called to order at the usual hour.
Prayer by the Rev. Mr.. Hardy of the
House.
Journal of yesterday read and approved.
Mr. Jones, OF Caldwell, from Committee
on Claims, reported upon various bills and
resolutions, all of which were appropriate
ly disposed of.
By Mr.. Lucas: A bill to fix the capital
stock of the Fairfield Canal and Turnpike
Company; referred.
Mr.. French moved to suspend the rules
and take up his bill to create the Office of
Assistant superintendent OF Public In
struction.
1.-THE bill creates the Office Office of AS
sistant Superintendent of Instruction at
salary of 81 900 srd nominate9 jas. Hood,
COL, for the office.
Mr.. French said all agreed that the
colOred people should be represented bv
this officer but as the colorcd men were
thin skinned upon inserting the word
'color ed" in the bill this nomination of
''Mr." Hood would obviate all difficulty.
Mr.. Martin said this was one-sided affair.
He agreed the colored people should have
representation in the educational system.
Yet he thought the present Superinten-
dent of Instruction was black enough in all
conscience and in principle especially
Besides he did not like the nomination of
Hood, for reference to the Auditors re-
port would show that this man had drawn
most heavily upon the Treasury, and while
spending the money of white people in
travelling over the State, had given bis
time and at&enticn to furthering the ends
of tho Radical party. While the colored
people were insisting on having represen-
tation in the educational system, the white
people had mono and would have none as
long as the present state of affairs existed,
sc.
Mr.. Robinson moved to amend by strik-
the name of Thomas A. Sykes, col ored, of
Pasquotank.
Mr.. Robinson said that Hood had made
himself Objectionable by engaging actively
in politics when oGtensbly on business
connected with education. Thomas a.
Sykes was a competent and respectable
colOred man, and one that would not pros
titute his cf1ice by making it u political ma
chine, &c.
Mr.. Broadfoot said that he would sup
port the amendment. This man Hood
came to Fayetteville at the close of the war
and stayed long enough to get office and
bad scharacter. He was very odious to
both white and colored people of that Sec
ton.
Mr. Ashe was in favor of the amend
ment.
Mr. Welch said that he understood that
the Conservative Democratic party was
pledged to economy and retrenchment,
and he thought this Office useless one,
therefore he would move to lay the bill on
the table.
motion to table was adopted by II vote of
yeas 40, nays 33.
On motion of Mr.. Robinson, the vote by
which the resolution in regard to q nation
al system of education was adopted was
rec onsidered.
Mr.. Robinson moved to postpone the
resolution indefinitely.
Messrs. Crawford, Withers and Robin
son all argued in favor of the motion
They all denounced the scheme by which
it is proposed to allow the national gov
eminent to supervise the educational sys-
tenn of the States, taxing the States for tho
expense incurred therein, &c.
Messrs. French, MADISON, COL, and LOT
tin opposed the motion to postpone.
Mr.. Houston charged that the Republi-
can party were fast developing their plans
to fasten upon this country centralized
despotism and to obliterate State lines.
He had heard this charge made upon the
AsOPAOAANttA pAA OACOAB phb I4CJ AAHA I'LL
formeIy denied it, but to-day the gentle
man from New Hanover (Mr. French) con-
fesses the charge is true. He (Mr. H.
arose to declare his condemnation of all
such schemes and to protest, in the name
of the people of the State, against any ma
tional legislation in educational or any
other matter which tends toward bringing
about this Capitalization and obliteration
of all States rights &c.
Mr.. Withers moved to lay the bill on
the table.
The yeas and nays were called and tAe
motion to table prevailed, by vote of
yeas, Sc, nays "a.
Bill to consolidate the North Carolina
Raiload Company and the Northwestern
North Carolina Railroad Company.
Mr.. Robinson moved to indefinitely post.
pone the bill.
Adjourned, without action. ....
Act To SIJSPEMn THE