Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-01-24

RALEIGH, Jan, 90, 1878.

up and proceeded with. In Il few
days, doubtless, the result OF the
study and deliberations and consulta-
tons of the members of the various
committees upon the great leading
questions now before the
General Assembly will be made
There was quite little excitement
and ringing of fire bells, &C., here on
Friday night, caused by a burning
chimney in the Capitol Building.
There was no damage done, however,
and the matter would not be worth
mentioning but for a good thing some
sleepy-headed man got off in connec-
ton with it. The aforesaid man, when
walked and asked to go to the Capitol
and help put out the fire, refused
fatty, saying, as he turned over for
another snooze, "Confound it, let me
alone. 1t is nothing in the world but
Caldwell and Kemp Battle trying to
smoke out old man McIver." When
it is remembered that this came right
uponthe heelso Mr.. McIver' refusalto
vacate his office, which is i'll the Capt.
toll Building, on the demand of MIR.
Battle, the joke will be appreciated.
Tt will be remembered that the seat
of MADISON, sitting colored Repre-
sentative from Edgecombe county,
has been contested. On Saturday the
committee on Privileges and Elections
reported adversely to his claim. The
turning point in this ease was about as
follows MADISON WAS citizen OF
Edpecombe at some time during the
wear 1871 about December in that
year he went to Beaufort county, and
there taught school for two terms of
four months each {; prior to the August
election, held in the year 1871, upon
| the Convention question, he was duly
| registered i'll Beaufort county, after
taking the oaths required by law. On
| election day lie voted in Beaufort
county
| To rebut this evidence, going to
show Il change Of domicil, MADISON
made affidavit that II was never his in
tention to abandon his domicil IN
| Edgccombe that he was ouly tempo
rarily solourninG in Beaufort that he
had left his effects liz TarbOro, &c.
and that he registered and voted under
Il misrepresentation Of the law and OF
his rights i'll the premises, &c. The
committee were of opinion that about
the best evidence that could be given
of dOmicil was the. act Of taking the
oatls required by law Of Il citizen of 4
county prior to his registration in tina!
county, the act OF registration ami the
act of voting. Ii would, indeed, be ::
curious thing ii :: man should he
allowed to make out his title to Il seat
i'll the Legislature by proving that he
took Il solemn oath contrary to law.
and that he registered and voted un'
lawfully If the report OF the com
mittee shall be concurred in, Il new
election will be ordered.
Governor Caldwell has sent III an
other characteristic message-charac
teristic at least in its cool, IInblushins
impudence and wonderful insolence
The Governor does not hesitate to lee
ture the Legislature Us if its member
were parcel of truant, idle schOO
boys, and he was their pedagogue.-
How Senators and Representatives cal
submit to such treatment, is one O
the many strange things caily witnessed
in these strange times. However tina
may be, on Saturday Governor Cald
well sent Il message to the Senate call
ing the attention of the Legislature t.
the fact that his recommendations il
regard to the State debt had not beer
! needed thus far, and telling them tina
he did not approve of the g do nothing
policy - Failing to have his wishe
complied with when put i'll the shap
of suggestions, His Excellency, tn
doughty Governor of North Carolina
goes bow-shot further, and impu
IDENTIFY presumes to send to the Legis
latrlre a regular bill formally drawn III
and entitled can act to restore TIL
credit of the State y
What the next step OF this might
Governor viii be, no sane or sensibl
man will venture to predict. 1t ma
be safely asserted, we think, that neve
before, at least since colonial days, di
any Governor OF North Carolina hay
the assurance to attempt, officially, t
present to the Legislature fOr it
action, 4 bill formally drawn up. Th
Governor is not a member of the Legis
lature, and has not shadow even of
right, to introduce bill. The atteml
thus to influence their action is pa
pable and fragrant abuse of his const
tutional right to recommend to thei
consideration such measures rs h
shall deem nxpedient."
It is one thing for q Governor
recommend measures TO the considers
ton of the Legislature: II is anothe
and quite different thing for hipa +
usurp the Legislative function and pre-
pare and introduce bills.
1t is possible, however, that we ma
do injustice to Governor Caldwell i
supposing he is conscious of being S
habituaily insolent IN his official inter
course with the Legislative branch {
the government; it may be that hi
conduct proceeds from ignoranc
rather tben from willful insolence
Indeed, so many Of his acts proceed $
manifestly from ignorance of the Cor
stitution and laws of the Safe tha
many charitably disposed people al
tribute thereto, also, the tenor an
tone as we'll as much Of the matter c
his messages. That man who is
graduate of the University, q lawye
by profession and practice, legislato