Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1875-03-26


to exercise that patience with which
they had borne the evils Of the presen
Constitution SO long. He thought Ii,
could see the light breaking in The
east, and soon We would be able II
cali an unrestricted Convention. Blu
while he had opposed this measure h,
was willing to abide by the decision 81
t~o-thirds OF his party friends. AM
when they spoke be would cast aside
. Lls ptlsonal preferences. What was
: he 10 stand up here aud resist the viii
Of the great Democratic party. He
voted aye amidst the ioudest spplause
, Mr. Means, OF Cabarrus, was proud
u record his name in the affirmative
It wae the proudest vote Of his life.
/ Mr.. Mendenhail. Of Gli!ford, did nui
/ respond to his name.
| Mr.. Mitchell, of franklin, had op
! posed the bill, but be had no apolo-
gies for voting for il. His party need
ed his vote anu he cheerfully gave it.
When Mr.. Richardson, ,of Columbus
responded aye, he vas greeted with
applause. He had been one of the
most efficient and determined oppo-
nents ofthe bill. The ditiuct,ess WITH
which lie voted WAS an eloquent al =
nouncement Of the motives which
prompted his course.
Meesrs. Page aud Stevenson, OF
Wake, briefly stated the reasons wEict,
had led thens to change their opinions
aud each voted for the bill, Mr.. Ste.
yenson had not seen the necessity of
the call, and Lad believed that we
would hazard too much. We had bet
ter bear the ills we had than to fly TO
those we knew not Of He trusted
that the God who ruled the universe
would so direct the action OF the Gen-
eral Assembly in this matter as it
would rebound to the honor, glory
and grandeur Of North Carolina.
The affirmative vote of MIR. Stowe,
Of CASTOR, who had been persistent IN
his opposition, called forth the hearty
piaudits, Of his friends. A truer man
or a mere faithful representative does
not live
AS the call progressed she Demo
Gratis continued TO vote aye. until the
name of Mr.. Walker, Of Tyrell, was
called. He voted nay making the
eighth Democrat.
When the Clerk had completed the
roll, but seventy votes were recorded
in the affirmative, ten less than the
vote necessary. to pass the bill. The
most intense excitement no now,prsvailed.
The friends and oppoaents of the bill
were active The hustle was siienced by
the eavel of the Spt aker. The Clerks
we're busy summing up the vote.
painful silence pervaded the ball. Was
the measure indeed lost Slowly Mr.
McIver, of Moore, rose and addressed
the Speaker. The silence WAS broken,
aud happily, too. There was no mis-
taAiHs biz i--.-.>ti-,n- so piainly writ
ten over his honest and Determined
face. He said that be had been heart
lily opposed to the call OF a CONVEX
ton, and Il majority Of his constitu-
ents supported him in that opposition
The matter was left to his own Iudg
ment. He felt now that it was useless
and would be hurtful to hold out
longer IL his opposition. He was as
good Conservative as any gentlem an
upon that floor, aud desired as much
to uphold and support the organiza
ton of that party. There could be no
complaint upsn the part Of the anti
Conventionists of the manner in which
they had been treated by those favor
ing Convention. First, they had ob
tanned majority, then twO-thirds.
then three-fourths, and to-day they
had shown that uine-tenths were in
favor OF the bill He had 90 idea at
this juncture Of abandoning his party
osganization, on the heels of the pas-
sage OF the Civil Rights bill. and join
the Republicans. He changed his
vote 10 the affirmative. The hall re-
sounded with applause in response to
this announcement.
Messrs. Jussup, Of Cumberland
Walker, of Tyrell, and Branhardt, OF
Caldwell, promptly followed this ex-
amplerand we're greeted with mani
festations of approval.
Mr. Norment, of Robeson, called
upon the gentleman from Guiiford,
| (Mr. Aerdenhall) TO record his vote.
Mr.. NJ. would have been glad not tC
have voted o. this question. de did
| not see how he could vote for tbs
| measure, and would not be deferred
from doing his duty by the part,
lash. He had usually approved th,
acts Of that party with which be haG
| generally acted, but upon this qrLf
| ton he could not. He voted III t!.t
| negative.
Nj. Hu, ley, of Montgomery, nov
announced a change of hls vote brief.
but pointedly.
Mr.. Griffin, of Nash, in a speech
of much feeling and ability, placed
himself in line with his party.
The record now showed that seven
ty-six members had voted for the bill
and four more were necessary. A Ion;
aud anxious silence again prevailed
and all was confusion. The Clerk
were busy correcting their record. az:
the fate of the bill Was still uncertain
Minutes seemed hours so great wa
the anxiety in regard TO the result
The vote of Mr. Foote, Of Wilkes
broke in as relief. and in speech c
marked ability assigned the reason
for recording his vote in favor of th
bill. He, too, was greeted with al
plause by the friends of the measure
+ , Mr.. Eatman, of Wilson, rose calml |,
aad said he knew the great respons
, , hil;ty resting upon him. He prOl