Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1875-03-19
CORR ESPONDENCE
YARBoRouaH HOUSE, I
Ratsiah. March 10th, 1875;

Dear Journal
As the session approaches its end
there is a great rush to hurry through
bills. Both Houses hold two sessions |
daily; and the work Of the Committees
having nearly concluded, the calendar
claims entire attention. During the
past few days many bills of more or
less importance have been enacted
into laws.
Yesterday there was some excite
meut attending the introduction into
the Senate by Mr.. Bell, of Carteret,
of bill prohibiting
THE CHANGE OF GUAGR
by any railroad already incorporated
and establishing State guage. This
bill was intended to checkmate the re-
cent decision of the Supreme Court
allowing the Richmond and Danville
Railroad to change the guage of the
North Carolina Railroad. The infor-
nation here was that on Saturday
very large force was employed in the
word of changing the guage between
Greensboro and Charlotte, and by
working night and day it would be
completed some time on Monday
The haste with which the bill was
passed seemed to indicate that there
| was q race between the Legislature
| and the railroad, in which, as now
| learn. the former was successful, as
| the work has not been finished until
t ,-day, even if it is now completed
The act was ratified before 9 o'clock
last evening. I do not know what
effect the legislation will have, but
suppose it will be matter for the
Courts, Anyhow it will stop the
change OF guage at Greensboro, and
consequently will effectually cut the
North Carolina Railroad in two at that
point. This will still more complicate
the situation, but believe it will be
even better thus than to have the
guage changed to Goldsboro, for tiier
the country from both ends OF this
great State road would be drained into
Richmond.
The speech of Senator Bell on this
subject was very able He is an &C
complished speaker, and faithful
and energetic public servant. Mr.
Oaksmith, the representative from
Carteret was very active and .fficien
in getting the bill through the House
It will be a matter of great interest t
see what will result from the passag
of the bill.
The question of greatest interes
now is whether the House will pass
rHB CONVENTION BILL.
Indeed this engrosses the attent;o
of all A very few Democrats u
hold ont in opposition to the measure
and as there are only eighty two in til
: House, counting one or two Indepent
r ents, who have acted entil ely with ii
party, three or four Democrats ca
defeat the bill. unless some Republ
t cans vote for it.
d An interesting question has sprur
u up as to the number Of votes require
to pass the bill in the House. M
6 Ballard, of Gates, having died, al
: Mr.. Thorne, of Warren, having bee
expelled, there are really only OF
= hundred aud eighteen members of Il
House. The Constitution dcclar'
that no Convention of the people shn
O be called by the General Assemb
# unless by the concurrence of tw
: thirds Of all the members of eat
House of the General Assembly.
- may be of consequence wht tlIer
~ takes seventy nine or eighty votes
pass the bill.
- THE CHANCES OF PASSING THE BILL
= are very uncertain. Seventy-five
seventy six members are known
j. favor it. This leaves seven or eiGl
,r Democrats doubtful or openly oppose
O My own opinion is that unless one
II two friends Of the measure are abse
e it will pass. I do not believe tn
a few men. and some of them as goo
?, and faithful representatives as consti
" uency ever had, will take upon ther
& selves the fearful responsibility of d
Il. featiDg the almost unanimous wish
1t of the party; nor do / believe that 81
j. Conservative people of any conn
q would Justify their representative
le such a course, however much -th,
% may be opposed to the policy of hol
n ing Convention. Whether it be GOO
j. or bad policy to call a Convention,
e will certainly be very bad policy +,
II a few men to units with Republican
II to defeat their own party in a measu
s. of such great State Importance.
70 NO one, unless he has visited IL
i Capital, can form any idea of the faitl
n full labors of the friends of Conventic
r in both Houses. 1t is probably t
l. soon to speak of the representative
# for the result of their labors is yet
IS be seen. But in the Senate the GOO
,. work has brought fourth its legtima
i fruit. and so far as that body is col
q cerned, the Convention has been Gale,
g Among the Senators the most active an
s most persistent friend of Convention
y has been
IL COL. ". POSTER FRENCH,
the accomplished Senator from Rob
. son. From the first day of the sessio
to the passage of the bill he has bee
earnest and active, and no one b.
y contributed more than he to secure th
final result. Our city is greatly il
debted to him for the interest he hs
;, always manifested in our welfare an
" the legislation he has secured for us
We owe him debt of gratitude whie
= will be hard to repay.
l have found
SENATOR KERR.
. OF Sampson, on the Convention hi
| and questions of local ip,rorto,oo r