Year: 1865

The following is the bill introduced in the House
Of Commons on Friday last by Mr.. Smith, proVid-
ing for calling Convention of the people of this
State -


A Bill to call a Convention of the People.


WHEREAS, In the judgement of this General As.
sembly, the present condition of the country de-
mands that the sovereign people of this State
should assemble in Convention to effect if possible
an honorable termination Of the present war And
whereas, on matters Of such grave import, this
General Assembly is reluctant to adopt any policy
without first asceI tanning the sense Of the people,
in whom all sovereignty resides:


SECTION l. Be it enacted 6y the General Assem-
bly, Of the State Of North Carolina and it is hereby
enacted by the authority of the same, That upon
the passage of this act the Governor of the State,
be and he is hereby required to issue proclAma-
tion commanding the sheriS Of the respective
ties in the State to open the polls at the several
precincts in said counties on 18th day of February
a. d. 1865, where and when all persons qualified
to vote for members OF the General Assembly may
vote for or against State Convention, those who
wish Convention, voting with written or print
ed ticket Convention" and those who do not wish
a Convention, voting in the same way mo Conven-
ton; also to open separate polls at the said time
and places for the election of delegates to the Con-
vention to be assembled on such times are here
matter provided; said polls to be superintended by
inspectors appointed by the Sheriff. with the advice
of three justices of the Peace of the respective
counties, who shall be sworn according to the pro-
visions Of section 8, chaper 50 of Revised Code.


Sec 2. Be IL further enacted, That it shall be
the duty of the Sherffs to make out duplicate state
ments of their polls in their respective Counties On
the question of Convention and no Convention,
sworn to before the clerk Of the County Court,
copy of which shall be deposited in said clerks
office and the other copy transmitted to the Gov
ernor Of the State at Raleigh, under the rules
and regulations and under the same penalties
prescribed in the case Of the returns of the vote
for electors of President and Vice President Of the
Confederate States, as are now prescribed by law
Immediately after said election


Sec. 8. Be it further enacted, That it shall be
the duty of the Governor, as soon he shall have
received the returns of the SherifS in the presence
of the Secretary of State, Public Treasurer and
Comptroller, to compare the number Of votes cast
for and against q convention; and if it shall appear
that majority of the votes poled are in favor Of
convention, he shall forthwith issue proclamation
in such manner as he may think proper, summon
ing the delegates elected to said convention as afore-
said to convene iI Raleigh, on the End Monday in
March A. D. 1855, and if q majority of the votes
polled are against q convention the Governor shall
in like manner issue proclamation of that fact
and in that the assembling Of the said delegates
elected aforesaid under this act is hereby declar
ed to be illegal and of no effect


Sec. 4. BE II further enacted, That the election
for delegates aforesaid shall be held and conduct
ed in the same manner as elections for members of
the General Assembly and the vote shall be count
ed and the scrolls compared and certificates issued
in the same manner as prescribed by law for mem.
bers of the House of Commons.
Sec. 8. Be IL further enacted, That if q vacancy
shall occur by death, resignation or removal from
the State or by the refusal to of any person
elected delegate aforesaid the presiding officer
of the Convention shall issue his writ to the sheriff
of the county in which such vacancy may have oc-
Cured after such notice as the Convention may
order, to open poll to fill such vacancy, under the
same rules and regulations herenbefore prescrIb
ed for the election Of delegates


Sec. 6. Be it further enacted, That the said Con-
vention shall consist Of one hundred and twenty
delegates and each county shall be entitled to the
same number of delegates members of the House
of Commons under the last apportionment.


SEC. z. Be it further enacted That this act shall
be in force from and after its ratification.