Wilmington journal., 1875-02-05
SENATE.
THIRTY-EIGHTH DAY.
JANUARY 27. 1875.

Mr.. Busbee, petition from certain
citizens of Johnston county, praying
that certain portions of that county be
transferred to and form part of Wake
county. Petition with accompanying
bill referred
On motion of Mr.. Morehead, the
bill to provide for two additional
terms of the Superior Court for Neck
ienburg county, was taken up and
passed its third reading.
On motion of Mr.. Bell, the bill to
amend the charter of the city of New
bern, appointing an auditing commit
tee for that city, was taken up.
Tucker, colored, said the majority
OF the citizens of Newborn did not
want this bill passed.
Mr.. Bel said the tax-psying citizens
of Newbern wanted this bill to protect
them against the mai administration
of the financial affairs of that city at
the hands of those who only give
| straw bonds, leaving the city at the
mercy of those who are in no way re-
sponsible for their conduct. Newbern
was q nest of Radical corruption-we
we're nursing a New Orleans in our
midst, and the honest people only
asked an honest auditing committee in
order that their finances nay be saved
from this corrupting influence. He
was surprised to find any Republican
on this floor who had the audacity to
defend the action of the corrupt Off
cials who had ruined and impoyerish-
ed that city.
The bill passed its second reading,
and being placed upon its third read
ing,
Mr.. Cantwell opposed it's passage.
He conteuded that the General AS
sembly had no right to interfere with
the local government of Newbern or
any other place III the State. There
We're other remedies, legal ones. Let
Convention be called and the govern
meut of the counties vested where it
belonged, III the hands of Magistrates
elected by the Legislature.
Mr.. Mills asked If the counties in
the State stood in the same relation to
the State as the State did to the Fed
eral Government?
Mr.. Cantwell stated that in certain
cases, and this was one of them; the
General Assembly had no right to in
terfere with the local government of
corporations and counties.
Mr.. Waring asked if the Legislature
was not here to answer grievances
upon petition
Mr.. Cantwell said there were coun-
ty officers who could be punished for
failure to perform their duty, and this
was the redress.
Mr.. French asked if the Senator
could find in the Constitution of the
Federal Government any feature show
ing that the United States was not the
creature instead Of the creator.
MIR. Csntwell proceeded to answer,
saying in the course of his remarks
that in demanding a new Constitution
for this State, he did not ask the con-
sent of any party or parties.
Mr.. Morehead stated the gentleman
need not be afraid. "A telegram had
been received by a member of the
House of Representatives from Presi-
dent Grant. saying he had no idea of
Interfering In our affairs.
MFR. Kerr asked the Senator from
New Hanover if he did not think the
General Assembly had a right to in
teriere III the control of corporate
towns when, in 1868, he was appointed
Judicial officer for the city of Will
mington?
We did not hear Mr.. CantwelPs re-
ply to this query.
Inc Dill passed 1CS Ln1rQ re6QlnS Dy
a vote of "a to 9, strict party vote.
Mr.. Morehead's bill, for the relief of
disabled Confederate soldiers from
North Carolina. relieving them from
taxation in certain cases, was consid-
cred.
Mr.. Morehead explained the pro-
visions of the bill.
The bill was discussed by Messrs.
Kerr, Linney and Morehead as to its
constitutionality.
Mr. Parrish offered an amendment
enlargiDg the provisions of the bill n
favor of this class of citizens. He did
not doubt its constitutionality. Adop-
ted.
The bill was put upon its third read
ing and lost by vote of 19 to 26.
Mr.. French moved that the bill to
amend the charter of the city of Will
mington be made the special order for
to- morrow at IL o'clock. Adopted.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIV