Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1875-03-26
CORRs.~Pos DENCE
YAfBoRuUGH HoUsR, J
Raleigh, March l7th, 1875,

To-day has Witnessed The con8un-
nation by the Legislature of the
earnest labors and hopes of THE JorH-
NAL for the last seven months. Look
ing back over the long, ond at one
time. almost hopeless contest, it is
with DO little pride thst [ was able to
be preseEst to-day In the Hall OF Rep
ressntstiTas and he ALI eye witness 20
the II Glment of our joint isbors. -
Many we're the hearty greetings l re-
colred III behaif Of myself and my at
sent cu-l<burer, when the speaker for
rnaliv anuceznced that the bill! calling
C1n7 .ution had passed and was or
deIed - ne enrolled.
SO: ms bcfu:e the hour the Hall
began ~ tie crowded with visitors. -
Many Of the fairest ladies of the city
thrOugcd tie galleries, md the lObbies
were crowded to- nvelfowing. Promp:
!y Il; IL O'Clock, the Senator's entered
the Hail, tElat body having adjourned
10 witness the scene. Not even a
casual visitor could fail to have been
! img mgrcssed with the anxiety and con
oerE which was stamped upon the
/ brDws or the mem bers. It Was evl
dent that all were cogniLant of the In
! p aTce Of the Legislation which was
az 70 claim their attention.
A. IL o'clock, the Speaker announc-
ed the special order. The Clerk read
| the bill in & clear, loud voice, anI
although every listener was perfectly
| familiar with its provisions, the most
ANXIOUS silence was observed during
| the reading Tie voice Of the Clerk
had hardly died away, before
aImost every Republican WAS upon
the floor seek ing recognition. One after
another gave notice OF amendments.
fearing that they might be cut off
under the operation of the previous
questi"o But the friends OF the bill
La3 nc disposition to prevent debate,
aid, upon motion OF Nr. Oaksmlth,
five mILuies we're allowed to each to
explain his vote, after tine call OF the
roll had been ordered
Nr. Wheeler, Repubiican, from For
sy the, offered 3 large number OF
amendments, which were voted down.
Neasrs Nebsne and Means announced
on nehsH of the Democrats thai
amendments should ROW be offered n
a supplemented bin, as SO many Sena-
tors lG7 left, that to permit amend
ments in the House would defeat the
measure
Mr. Csndler, Republican,, of Bun
combs, offered another batch Of amend !
mente, which lie supported in foic.- /
bic .peech. He announced that if his
amendments we're adopted he would
support the bill,
Messrs Duia, Eorment, Munden.
Hughes and Lloyd. plain and co]ored !.
Republicans. in turn proposed amend ,
msnts. but each was defeated. TIE
Republicans having spoken and offered !
amendments to their hearts content,
Mr.. Moripg, OF Chatham, moved the
previous question. which was ordered.
The attention Of the vast crowd,
which had wandered dnrirg the die
cussiou, was again riveted 10 the pro
csedirgs. All was doubt and nncer-
taiutv. The friends of the bill feared
that the absence OF Messrs. Jetton Of
Mecklenburg and Mofit OF Randolph.
wouid hazard Its passage, as tneli
votes would necessarily be counted III
the negative. Messrs- Blythe and
Iriyet,, Republicans, were absent.
The latter would probably vote for the
bill. as lie Lad been instructed TO do
so. One hundred and fourteen mem
ocrs only responded to their names,
and eighty Of these must vote i'll the
affirmative TO secure the passage of
the bill.
Speaker Robinson called attention
10 rule Of the House which only
gave I: ''>eaker vote in case of
tie, exc L electjous. In this case
ha claimed right to vote as one OF
the Representatives of the people, and
! directed tho Clerk TO call his name.
| IL responded aye in a distinct voice,
which was greeted with applause.
When Mr Atwater, of Orange, was
, called, be announced that Dot h he and
his c.!league hao been opposed to
Corvention, bat their own views and
those OF their constituents, he felt as
sIlred, hnd unGel gone change. He
voted aye. Mr.. Bsrnhardt, of Cald
well. WAS the first Democrat to vote
ray. THIS surprised the friends Of
the b;N, as hey were not prepared fer
it Mr. Belts, of Cleveland, was the
second Democrat to vote in the mega
tive Mr.. Caudler, Republican, Of
Buucumbe, failed to respond. MIR
Est1Dan, Of Wilson, whs the th'r,!
Dolnocsat to vote il tue negative. He
was without instructions, but he be
Iieved lis constituents were opposed
TO the call. and, as au honest repre-
sentative, lie mast vote nay. Messrs.
Foote, of Wilkes, and Gleno. of Yad-
kin, did pCE respond.
Mr ;riffin, OF Nash, voted in the
negative. being the fourth Democrat.
He lid not believe the mea sure was
expedient, >n3 bis people we're unpre
pared for it. Feeling his responsible
, ,ty and duly sensible Of the muenvia
bic po-itio,l hts vs. placed ii he must
,ot- against the bill.
Mr.. Hammer, of Chatham, announced
in behalf Of himself and Mr.. Moring
bis colleague, that they had uniformly
opposed the call of Convention. bu
:. their recent visit home had sho.I
them that their constituents were nov
favorable, to the bill aud they wonlt
vote in the affirmative. Messrs. Hur
, =. lev of MONTGOMERY, and JrSsup, o