General StssemMy.
Abstract of such of the proceedings of the Legisla
ture as we consider interesting to our readers.
SENATE.
Thursday, Dec. 21.
Mr. Dnbson presented a bill, to amend
On act passed at the present session, en
titled an act to vest the rijht of electing
Clerks of the Superior and Count Courts
in the several counties within this State,
i n the free white men thereof. Read the
first time.
Mr. Spaight, a bill to amend an act,
passed in the year 1329, to provide for a
division of negroes and other chattel
property .held in common. Read the
first time.
The bill to reduce the salary of the
Supreme Court Judges passed its second
reading uves 35, noes 19.
Mr. Bailey, in behalf of himself as the rv ns lo tj,(, eXnediencv of repealing that
minority of the joint select committee on j SC(:tjon 0f lnc revenue act of 1822, which
the part of the Senate, to whom was re-! jmposcs rt lax (,f 200 on exchange ofii
ferred certain documents transmitted by &c rqK)rte(l that it is inexpedient to
his Excellency the Governor of South j ;,;i,jsMl0 ou luo subject at this time.
Carolina to the Governor of this State, I Concurred in.
presented a counter report to that madej The bill having for its object an in
by the majority of the committee; which ; ljrcusc of tj1(J SMry 0f ,l0 Superintcn
was read, laid on the table, and ordered Li.,,,. nc nnv,ir lvnrk. was read the sec-
a tie. Mr. Hall moved, an amendment
which was negatived, the object of which
was to pronounce affirmatively that the
Tariff is unconstitutional, instead of as
serting as the Resolutions do, that the
Legislature believe such to be the opinion
ufa majority of the people of this State.
A vote was then taken separately on the
resolutions, which were unanimously a
dopted, with the exception of that sub
mitted by Mr. Wilson, which appears a
bove, and that which denounces Nullifica
tion. The first was reje ctcd, 30 to 27;
and the latter was adapted 48 to 10.
(Mr. Wilson in the affirmative. Those
who voted in the negative were Messrs.
Bailey, Bell, Carson, Fnison, Hussay,
Lindsay, Matthews, Montgomery of Hert
ford, Stedman anil Wellborn.)
Monday, ost.
Mr. Wilson, from the committee of
finance, to whom was referred an enqui
gard
gainst
to be printed.
The resolutions reported by the joint
select committee on the South Carolina
documents, were considered in commit
tee of the whole, amended, read the sec
one time and passed aves 47, navs 7.
Friday, 2?'th.
Mr. Wilson from the joint select com
mittee to whom was referred a commu
nication of the Public Treasurer with rc-
to the prosecutions of actions a-
the sureties of the late Public
Treasurer; made a report thereon, ac
companied by a resolution authorising
the Public Treasurer Jo make such dis
position of the suits now pending against
the sureties of the late Public Treasurer,
as the counsel employed on behalf of the
State shall advise. Which was read and
ordered to be engrossed.
A message was received from the II.
of Commons, proposing that the two
Houses adjourn without delay, on Satur
day, the 5th January next; which was a
greed to ayes 50, noes 7.
The bill to reduce the salary of the
Judges of the Supreme Court of North
Carolina, (from 82,500 lo 82,000,) was
read the third time and ordered to be en
grossed ayes 3G, nays 22. (Mr. Wilson
in the negative.)
Saturday, 29th.
Mr. Hinton presented a bill more ef
fectually to preserve the purity of elec
tions, and to protect the liberty of the ci
tizens of this State. Rejected.
Mr. Hawkins from the committee on
military affairs, made an unfavorable re
port on the petition of a company of vol
unteers commanded by Capt. J. R. Lloyd.
Concurred in.
Mr. Leake, from the committee on in
ternal improvements, reported a bill pro
viding for an increase of pay lo the Su
perintendent of public works. Read the
first time.
The resolutions relative to the docu
ments from South Carolina, were taken
up for their third reading. .Mr. Wilson
moved to amend the resolutions by in
serting between the 5th and 0th, the fol
lowing: :
Viiereas, by the 5th article of the Constitu
tion of the United States, it is provided that on
the "application of two-thirds of the several
States, Congress shall call a Convention for pro
posing amendments thereto." And whereas, it
is the opinion of the General Assembly, that the
said Constitution needs several amendments, re
straining and restricting the powers of Congress,
and prescribing some tribunal to decide upon
matters wherein the said Constitution and the
Constitutions and rights of the States may be
brought into question; Therefore:
Resolved, That this General Assembly does
hereby make an application to the Congress of
the United States, t0 calt-a Convention of the
several States to propose amendments to the Con
stitution of the United States.
Resolved, f urther, That the General Assem
bly request that the Legislatures of the several
States will make to Congress a similar applica
tion, that the Constitution of the United States
may be so amended as to restore peace and har
mony to the Confederacy, prevent a dissolution
of the Union, and perpetuate the blessings of lib
erty to us and posterity.
This amendment was carried by the
casting vote of the Speaker, there being
;tid time and rejeeted.
The Resolution requesting the State of
South Carolina to suspend the execution
of her Ordinance, Sec. was read the third
time. Mr. Seawell moved to strike out
the words, "to give lime to the present or
next Congress of the United States to act
upon the subject of the Tariff" which
was agreed to. The resolution then
parsed its third reading, and was ordered
to be engrossed, 50 to 3. The dissenti
ents were Messrs. Askew, Bailey and
Hinton.
Tuesday, Jan. 1.
The Senate took up the bill to erect a
new county in the west, out of a part of
Buncombe. It was amended so as to
rend, "out of parts of Burke and Bun
combe, and was then rej -cted, 25 to 29.
(.Mr. Wilson in the negative.)
Wednesday, 2d.
Mr. Montgomery, of Orange, present
ed a bill to establish a Bank, with a capi
tal of $1,500,000, to be owned exclusive
ly by the State; which passed its first
reading.
iiolsi: or commons.
Thursday, Dec. 27.
On motion of Mr. Pearson, the Public
Treasurer and the Attorney General wore
instructed to take? necessary proceedings
for the purpose of ascertaining by a de
cision of the Supreme Court, whether
the Cape Fear and Ncwbern Banks, in
paying the tax required bylaw out of the
profits of said Banks before dividends
are declared, have acted in pursuance of
the proper construction of that part of
their charters, which enacts that a tax of
one per cent, shall be levied upon all the
stockholders, &c and whether the pro
per construction of their charters does
not require that dividends should be first
declared and that the tax should then be
retained out of the dividends of the indi
vidual stockholders, so that the tax may
be paid by the individual stockholders,
and not by the Bank.
Mr. Craige presented a resolution to
instruct the judiciary committee to en
quire into the expediency of so amending
the criminal laws o( this Slate, that no
person should be compelled to pay the
costs accruing Irom the attendance of
witnesses necessary to his defence in any
.i i i i it
prusucuuou, wnenever no snail oe ac
quitted of the charge or charges prefer
red against him; and that they further en
quire into the expediency of making the
prosecutor pay costs; which was read
and rejected.
The House then took up the engross
ed bill to establish the Bank of North Ca
rolina, which after undergoing sundry
amendments, passed the second readm",
C4 to CI. (M essrs. Little and Potts in
the negative.)
Friday, 23.
Mr. Pe arson called up for considera
tion the bill to provide for taking the
votes of the people for or against certain
amendments to the Constitution, when on
his motion, the said bill was laid on the
table until the 3d Monday of Nov. nest.
Received from the Governor a commu
nication, enclosing resolutions recently
adopted by the Legislature of Pennsylva
nia relative to the Union, and forwarded
by the Governor of that State.
A large number of bills were read the
second time.
Saturday, 29th.
Mr. .McQueen presented a resolution,
returning the thanks of the Legislature
to Col. Isaac T. Avery, of Burke, for his
proposed generous donation to the State,
of certain valuable English authorities.
Read, and referred to the Library com
mittee. The bill making an appropriation for
public roads throughout the State, was
read and indefinitely postponed.
The engrossed bill to reduce the sala
rics of the Supreme Court Judges, was
received from the Senate and read the
first time. Mr. Shepard moved that it be
rejected, which was negatived, 72 to 45.
(Messrs. Little & Potts in the negative.)
Monday, 31st.
Mr. Eccles, from the judiciary com
mittee, to whom the subject had been re
ferred, reported a bill to amend the 10th
section of the act of 1741, for the better
observance of the Lord's day. Read
the first time.
Mr. E. from the same committee re
ported a bill to render the laud of a de
ceased debtor liable for the costs where
the plea of fully administered has been
found in favor of his executor or adminis
trator. Mr. E. from the same committee, made
an adverse report, which was concurred
in, on the resolution instructing them to
enquire into the propriety of so amend
ing the laws relative to executors, &c. as
to require them in all cases of insolvent
estates to make rateable payment of all
claims against the estate of their testator.
Tuesday, Jan. 1.
The principal part of the sitting was
spent in committee of the whole, on the
bill to establish the Bank of North Caro
lina. A protracted debate ensued, in
which Messrs. Shepard, Henry, Outlaw,
L. Thompson, Barringer and Pearson
opposed, and Messrs. Daniel, O'Brien,
Mangum and Guthrie advocated its pas
sage. The bill was reported to the
House with sundry amendments, and be
ing read the third time, was rejected
yeas 5i3, nays G5. (Messrs. Little and
Potts in the negative.)
Wednesday, 2d.
Mr. Davidson, from the select commit
tee on the affairs of the Chcrokees, re
ported a bill providing for the extension
of the jurisdiction of the State over the
Cherokee territory, not inconsistent with
treaties and the Constitution and laws of
the United States; which was read the
first lime and passed. Mr. Edmondston,
on behalf of the minority, presented a
counter report; which was read and laid
on the table.
entertained of Its becoming a law this session
The House refused to consider yeas 65, nay"3
106 a resolution offered by Mr. Adams, re
questing the President to lay before the HouSe
copies of his Proclamation, and of the proceed,
ings of the South Carolina Convention. The In.
telligencer thinks this decision indicates nothin
more than an indisposition to have the subject
debated at present.
Resignation of Vice President Calhoun.
The Halifax Advocate of Thursday last, says:
"The Hon. John C. Calhoun arrived in our t0Vn
on Monday evening last, on his way to Vash.
ton. We learned from him that he had forward
ed his resignation as Vice President, and that he
will take his seat, the present session of Congress
as United States Senator." The Advocate extols
the distinguished services of Mr. Calhoun, and
adds: "The citizens of the town generally, as.
sembled at the Hotel to testify to our distinguish,
ed visitor, their respect for his talents and hi
public services, and a committer were appointed
to offer him a dinner, which we regret his public
duties would not permit him to accept."
From the subjoined correspondence, which we
copy from the Raleigh Constitutionalist, it ap
pears that a public dinner was also tendered to
Mr. Calhoun at that place: '
Raleigh, December 50th, 1832.
Hon. John (J. Calhoun.
Sir The undersigned, a committee on
behalf of a number of your fellow citizen?,
who admire your character and feel grate-
ful for the services which in various sta-
lions you nave rendered your country,
respectfully solicit your company at a
public dinner at Mr. Guion's Hotel, at
such time as may suit your convenience.
D. Outlaw,
J. Li. Bailey,
L. Thompson, Com'tec.
S. T. Sawyer, j
W. L. Long, J
Raleigh, December 30th, 1832.
Gentlemen: I have been honor
ed by your note of this date, inviting
me in behalf of a number of my fellow ci
tizens, to purtake of a public dinner, at
such time as it may suit my conveni
ence, which I greatly regret that it is not
in my power to accept.
J have been unavoidably prevented
from reaching Washington as early as
my duty required; and, as great as is my
desire to meet the wishes of my friends
in Raleigh, it must yield to that sense of
duly which, in the present interesting
and critical condition of our country, im
pels me to my post with the least possi
ble delay.
For the kind terms in which you have
communicated the invitation, you will
will please to accept of my sincere and
grateful acknowledgment.
With great respect, I am, &c. &c.
J. C. CALHOUN.
TUESDAY, JANUARY S, 1S33.
Republican Meeting Postponed. In conse
quence of the inclemency of the weather, but
few persons came to town yesterday, to attend
the proposed meeting "to take into consideration
u,.. uw vpimuw iciauvK iu me existing
difficulties between the State authorities and the
General Government" and it being desirable
that a general attendance should be had, we were
requested to state that the meeting will be held
at the Court House in this place on Saturday
next, and that the citizens of the County -ene-rally
are respectfully invited to attend. &
Congress. The two Houses have as yet per
fected but little business. The holidays beine
now gone by, we may anticipate that the Re
ports of the various committees will speedily be
made, and expeditiously disposed of. The
House of Representatives have before them the
new Tariff bill, from the committee of ways and
means, which essentially reduces the duty ou
protected articlesbut little hopes, however are
Raleigh, Jan. 4.
Legislature. To-morrow (Saturday)
has been fixed on by a vote of both Hou
ses, for the adjournment of the Legisla
ture, sine die. We have no idea, howev
er, that the labors of the session will be
brought to a close by that time. Indeed,
so early a termination is totally impracti
cable with a due regard for the public
interest. We find on examination, that
only eight or nine bills of a public cha
racter have yet been passed, out of the
large number which have been presented
to the notice of the Legislature. Of
course, many still remain to be acted on,
involving important principles..
Rail road Surveijs.TG Board of
Internal Improvements has made its Re
port to the Legislature, covering the Re
ports of Mr. Rawle of his survevs of the
Central and Yadkin Rail roads, which
we will take an opportunity hereafter of
presenting to our reudors. We confess
ourselves disappointed at the result which
Mr. R. has come to in his estimation of
the expense of constructing a Rail road
between this city (Raleigh) and Beaufort.
The citizens of Raleigh have just com
pleted an Experimental Rail wav from
the city to a stone quarry in the vicinity,
which will not cost more than 2,500 a
mile, and we had believed that the coun
try through which the Central Road
would pass is fully as favorable for such a
purpose as that between this city and
stone quarry, yet Mr. R.'s estimate is
upwards of S5.U00 a mile. The expense
of constructing the proposed Yadkia
Rail road, is estimated at between 8 and
9,000 a mile. And we presume had