Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-01-20

Alter DEBATE the ameQuMeHI WIS re-
jectcd. Question on the resolution was
put and passed.
Adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
TUESDAY. Jan. II.
The Clerk read the resignation of L. +.
Parrett, member from Lenoir.
On motion of Mr.. Johnston, of Duu.
combe, the rules were suspended and the
bill to suppress secret political societies IL
this State, was taken up.
The following is the bill
SECTION l. Tile General assembly Of
North Carolina, dO enact. That if any per
son shall join, or in any way connect him
self or herself, with any secret political
organization, society or association OF
whatever name or character, the person or
persons SO offending shall, for every such
offence, be deemed guilty of misdemeanor,
and upon conviction therefor be fined not
less than ten nor more than one hundred
dollars, or imprisoned, or both, at the di.-
erection of the Judge of the Court.
SEC. .. That if any person or persons
shall aid, assist or be present at the i.nsti
tuting, organizing, or forming any secret
political organization, association or sOcI-
ETY. of any name or character whatever, the
person or persons so offending shall be
deemed guilty Of q misdear1eanor and upon
conviction therefor, shOlI be fined not less
than ten nor more THIN one hundred dol
lars, or imprisonment, or both, at the dis
cretion of the Judge of the Court.
Sec. ). That If any person or persons
shall knowingly permit any secret political
organization, association or society of any
name or character whatsoever, to Assem-
BILE, organize or be instituted on any pre-
misses, or in any house or building belong
ing TO- or in his or her or their possession
the. person or persons 50 offending shall DO
deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon
conviction, shall be fined not less than ten
nor more than one hundred dollars, or i'm
prisoned, or both, at the discretion of the
Judge of the Court.
Sec 4. That this act shall be in force
from and after its ratification
Mr.. Justice moved to amend by adding
after the words ''secret POLITICAL" the
words cor military"
Mr.. Martin hoped no opposition would
be offered either to the bill or the amend
ment, though he thought the word ''secret
covered the whole ground. He was OPP
posed to all secret political societies, &c.
He thought nearly all the trouble which
we had suffered, arose frome those socie-
ties. &c.
Mr.. Johnston. of Buncombe, said he in
troduced the bill from no party feeling.
He agreed that these secret societies Were
the bane of our country. He hoped to
see this bill pass by unanimous vote Of
the House.
Mr.. Phillips did not think that legisla
ton would effect anything in this matter.
Was not q caucus q secret political organi-
/ zatiOn? He would not vote for bill which
would bring political caucus within the
| purview of such law as this bill contem-
plates Some of the noblest revolutions hal
their origin in secret societies.
! Mr.. Johnston accepted Mr. Justice q
amendment.
Mr.. Kelsey moved to insert the words
s'oath-bound" before the word ''organiza-
! tion;" accepted.
! Mr.. Justice moved to add the following
as an additional section:
That if any persons shall be seen in any
public place, road or highway, or at or
about the building or house of any person
with disguise upon their faces, heads OF
bodies, it shall be deemed prin1u fdcie evl
dence of the the guilt of all such persons.
Mr.. Jones, of Caldwell, opposed the
amendment. There was already a law,
amply sufficient. upon the subject. Hc
opposed the amendment upon the ground
of its uselessness bad English and non
sense generally. The gentleman (Mr Jus
tice) seemed, Judging from the multiplici-
ty Of his Ku-KIux harangues, to be mono
maniac upon the subject of DISCUSSES IL
would actually tremble at the sight of
little boy dressed for masquerade ball.
II he was allowed to have his way our
statute books would be mass Of laws de-
voted solely to facial decorations.
The amendment was put to a vote AMI
adopted by vote of yeas AZ, nays 80.
Mr., Ashe thought the bill struck of the
liberty Of the citizens. He would vote
against the bill.
Mr.. Jordan said that history show
plainly that all legislation on these mat
tiers is palpable nonsense. Public opin-
ion would have to condemn these trouble
some societies before legislation could
have any effect. All such laws would on
ly trouble the courts, embarras the people
and burden the statute books. He had
never been a member ofany secret society,
save that Of the Temperance and a Liter
arv Society at College, nor could he ever
be induced to join one. Any person who
should mask himself at a masquerade ball,
Thespian performance, Tablaux &C.. would
subject himself to the penalties of this bills
He should oppose the bill.
Mr.. Hill moved to refer the bill to the
Committee on Judiciary. He did not like
the bill; he thought public opinion and
the press of the country should frown
| down such unlawful societies, &C.
Mr.. Crawford said he did not like the
| bill for good many reasons. The gen
i tleman from Rutherford, (Mr. Jusiice) in
his half dozen speeches on this bill, harp
ed exclusive upon outrages committed or
colored people, but never uttered q word IN
regard to the barn and house burner.
In his county (Rowan) he had never heard IL
word of secret political organizations for
self protection until thousands of dollars
of property had been ruthlessly destroyed
by the torch of the incendiary. He was
not member of any secret organization
nor did he believe in them, but this bill
and amendments did not accomplish the
object sought to be obtained.
The motion to refer was put to vote
and adopted