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n -I ' - mi 1 " THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL. WILMINGTON, N. C. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, I860. Manufactures vs. Agriculture. In a lato number we alluded to a late in political economy, "that all nations must be poor and weak who relied on their ex ports of produce and raw material to a dis tant market," and that 41 manufacturing na tions grow rich." But wo expressed the opinion that this law was only trn9 with certain modifications ; these modifications are to be found in race, natural advanta ges, emigration and the like differences among nations, which make one pursuit more profitable than another to the parti cular nation or people to whom the law is to be applied. With such qualification we may safely avow our faith in this law. Upon the first clause of the above political max im, we referred to the Southern and West ern States of America as furnishing ample proof that transportation to a distant mar ket would always lessen the profits of the producer to tho extent of the price of trans portation; and that the greater tho dis tance to market, the greater must to ex pense be. Ilencc the Southern and West ern planters and farmers had remained poor, while the sterile region of New Eng land, by employing their capital in manu facturing, had been steadily growing rich, and we cited some proofs of this. We shall now take up the second section Of this economic law, viz : " that manu facturing nations grow rich." Terhaps no country furnishes such irrefutable testi mony of this truth as Great Britain ; and here again we must have reference to tho modifying circumstance of race, to which we before alluded, for we are devout be lievers in tho superior qualities of the Anglo Saxon race ; their foresight, their prudence, their love of home of order of patient labor, has enabled them to erect a system of government, in which the rights of all classes are better protected than in any European government ; and the virtues we have alluded to, have alone continued to them the protection of their rights amid the most terrific convulsions in the other governments of Europe. Perhaps their in sular .situation may also have contri buted ranch to their defense against the Rtormy agitations which from time to time have unsettled and overthrown the Continental systems of Government. Whatever theso qualifying circumstances may be worth, in forming our estimate of this law of political economy, it is certain that in wealth and power Great Britain exceeds not only all the present powers of Europe, but Borne, "in her pride of place" as mistress of tho world, cannot be com pared to her. There must be a reason for this ; :for Great Britain was not always thus great and powerful. It has only been within the last century and a half that she has so got the start of this majestic world" as to "bear the palm alone," For, as we shall see by a comparison with other na tions, 'Franco alone approaches her in annual products. We take tho true secrets of her success to be, first, that all her exports are in the form of manufactured articles, and most generally theso arc in tho shape which will best bear transportation ; and second, that every article manufactured by a British hand is protected against competi tion. She is the greatest exporter of manufac tures in the world. She is also the richest country in the world. Theso facts are es tablished by the statistics of Europe. We find them laid down in Hunt's Magazine, a work of high character. Now, these facts have an intimate relation. Is it not the relation between cause and effect ? Great Britain exports annually six hun dred millions of dollars worth of manufac tured goods, of which one hundred millions are sent into the United States. France exports annually about three hundred and seventy millions dollars worth of manufactured gooiJs. She is next to Great Britain in export, and next to her in wealth ; and here again the facts bear such, relation to each other as may be called that between cause and consequence. Now, what do the United States export ? or, rather, what did they before the war ? About three hundred and forty millions of dollars worth of all things, and only thirty millions dollars worth of manufactured goods III If manufactures are so clearly the source of national wealth, does it not behoove the Southern States to attempt the erection of factories, both of cotton and wool ? Are the Southern States not better situated for the first than any other part of America ? Are they not as well situated for the manufacture of wool as any other part of the United States ? Without iccalih we shall never have political consideration or protection extended to any of our rights ; politicians may theoriso ou the sources of national wealth till doom's day, but they will never be able to reason away these stubborn facts, " that the wealthiest nations are those employed in manufactures," and ' that the poorest and weakest are such as are exclusively engaged in agricultural pur suits," To our Patrons. All bills due this office are now being made out, and will be presented for pay ment within a few days. We trust our patrons will bear this in mind and be pre pared to handover their resrective amounts when their bills are presented. "Short settlements make long friends." Wo need the money due us. Th Howard Amendment General Sickle' Order. A private telegram from Baleigh, dated the 13th insL, informs us that " the Legis lature rejected the Howard amendment to day. There was one vote in the Senate and nine in the House of Commons in fa vor of it The Legislature hasauthorized Governor Worth and two Commissioners to proceed to Washington in regard to Gen. Sickles' order relative tt corporeal punishment, by the courts of North Carolina. The Gover nor has invited ex-Judge Ruffin and ex-Governor Swain to compose the Commission. They will all three leave Raleigh to-morrow night for Washington." Repudiation. A member of the late Convention, who exerted himself greatly to effect the repudi ation of the "war debt," as it was called, became greatly indignant at an intimation that the supporters of that measure were somewhat responsible for the evidence giv en by debtors, as a class, of a general desire to repudiate all debts. Now, notwithstand ing the indignant disclaimer to which we have referred, that measure, " the repudi ation of the war debt," first suggested, not only the practicability, but the justice and propriety of repudiating all debts. Our people could not see, and have never been able to see, why a measure which destroy ed, at one blow, millions of debts due to our banks, literary and charitable institu tions, which reduced to beggary thousands of our people, generally the most helpless among us, old persons, widows and or phans, on the allegation that those were rebel debts, should be regarded as just and expedient, whilst all other debts, in cluding those duo by the State before the war were regarded as sacred. It is true, that the measure was passed, at last, under duress, but it was openly and most zealous ly advocated before auy duress was applied. It would bebut simple justicoif some of those who advocated the repudiation of State bonds, issued during the war, should suf fer tho loss of such as they held issued bo fore the war. As it was predicted, this measuro gave a new impetus to the desire for reiiudiation by many classes of our jeople, and the agi tation has gone on increasing until at this time there avo before the Legislature now in session, according to the Raleigh Senti nel, not less than twenty bills for the "relief of the people." The S-.niinel, whilst im pliedly, if not directly, admitting the evil of all Stay Laws, seems to be pandering to this desire of private repudiation, a con summation which can never be realized, and the agitation of which will end only in bitter disappointment. But, says tho Sentinel, "The relief pro posed by the Stay Law of the Convention in this State, rather increases than allays the alarm of the people." Tray, then, what does the Sentinel propose ? If a law which gives four years from the return time before the whole debt can be collected, in creases the alarm of the people, what will decrease it ? If " honest debtors " cannot meet their liabilities within six years from the date of the surrender, when will they be able to meet them ? what law will satis fy them? We will answer No law save our repudiating all debts. This is the feel ing which the "great repudiation measure' of thelate Convention originated, and which has been fostered and kept up by dema gogues throughout the State. We propose very briefly to consider the questions Who among us are agitating the question of repudiation ? Has the Legislature the power to pass a Stay Law ? What will be the effect of such a law if passed ? In the first place, then, we deny in toto, that tho mercantile and agricultural classes favor the agitation of this question. As a general rule, they are satisfied with the Stay Law of the Convention. The agitation comes, principally, from that class who, in the days of their prosperity, lived in luxury, and never paid, or thought of paying, a debt, and who now desire to retain what is left of their property and let the creditors, who relied on their plighted faith, suffer to the last cent. It is not the mercantile class; it is not the industrious farming class, from whom this agitation comes, but it is the class, as a general rule, which we have spe cified. In the second place, there is no man in the Legislature, or out of it, who has the ability to draft a Stay Law which i ill stand the test of legal adjudication. The Consti tution of the United States expressly for bids any State to pass a law impairing the obligation of contracts. And any law which may have for its object the hindrance or delay ot creditors in collecting their debts, is prohibited by this clause in the Constitution of the United States. So, also, the Constitution reserves to Congress the power to pass "a general Bankrupt Law." So that it is not in human ingenu ity to frame a State law which can effectu ally protect from sale, under execution for debt, the property of the debtor. Every lawyer knows this to bo true, r.nd knows also that every attempt to effect such pur poses on the part of a State Legislature, is only " a mockery, a delusion and a snare." It may be asked, then, if the Stay Law of the Convention is not amenable to these objections. Tho best lawyers are clearly of tho opinion that if forced on the Su premo Court of the State, that tribunal will hold that law to be unconstitutional. But, as we said in a recent article, tho law seems to be acquiesced in as a lair compromise between the debtor and the creditor, and both the bar and the judiciary seem dis posed to let it run its course. Bat that law contains this clause, to-wit : "Bp it further ordained. That the General As sembly shall have no power to repeal alter or modify this ordinance until the third Monday of November, 1368." Tho purpose of inserting thl clause was, we are informed, that tho people might be brought to contemplate the ultimate liqui dation of indebtedness, and, accordingly, devote their energies to the accomplish ment of the task before them, that they might be assured of some fixed policy in the law, on this subject, and not be deluded by every demagogue who might think proper to take the stump with a scheme of repudiation on his own account. Such was the purpose of the clause what is its effect ? The Convention has been impliedly, and will bo fully and directly sustained by the Supreme Court, and the clause of the law we have quo ted ', effectually takes away from the Legislature all power to "repeal, alter or modify " the Stay Law of the Conven tion. We are not, indeed, prepared to say what would be the effect of doing away, al together, with, the Spring Terms of the Su preme Courts ; but we are confident in the opinion, that what the Legislature cannot do directly, it cannot do indirectly, and that any law to do away with the Spring Terms would be held void. But suppose that all these considerations are disregarded by the Legislature now in session, what will be the result ? First A total prostration of credit, both at home and abroad the greatest evil that can befall a people. Secondly. The passage of a law by the Congress of the United States, giving both the Circuit and District Courts of the United States jurisdiction over sums of one hundred dollars. And, farther, allowing a note to pass by endorsement from tho citizens of one State to that of another, for the pur pose simply of giving the United States Courts jurisdiction thereof. What then will become of any Stay Law we may pass ? It will be a mere dead let ter on the statute book. Debtors will be carried into the United States Courts, and will have reason to regret the schemes of those who are now so anxious to relieve the people ! It is needless for us to say that no one feels more keenly the misfortunes of our people than we do no one can be more anxious than we are to extend all practica ble relief. But we deem it our duty, cs editors of a public journal, to warn our people against the numberless schemes for " relief " which are now being agitated, as we feel well assured that they can end in nothing but disappointment. Springflclds." We promised in our last notice of this seat of refinement to call up from memo ry's storehouse some of the traditions of the days immediately preceding the Revo lution of " '7G " days in which tho princi ples asserted in that contest were discussed in every house. We referred to some of the guests of "Spriugfields"in these ambro sian feats names to which the muse of his tory has since given a celebrity little anti cipated in those days. There was the ele gant and accomplished lloice, subsequently a Major General in the army of the Reo- lution, and who early in the struggle ren- dered distinguished service to tlio cause at Norfolk, in expelling Lord Dunuiore from Virginia. For this service the Congress of North Carolina, then in session at Halifax, tendered him a vote of thanks, and the re ply of Gen. Howe is one of the most grace ful, modest, and yet manly bursts of true eloauence we have ever read. His social A. qualities gave a zest to every company in to which he was introduced, and the beau - nli'jrm in bia rn- J versation rarely equalled any where. , , Tne accomplished JJr. Jtv.isus, wno auuress- cda letter to Sterne, as Skondeanin. its char acter as tho walking-stick by which it was accompanied, and was tho cause of the let ter, and which was said to be so crooked and eccentric as scarcely to be able to lie still iiio crrrmml TIim "lpitpr pjiIWI forth -i Oil the ground, illt. lettel called toitll a reply from the celebrated Divine as full of humor wo will not say us any pages of Tristram Shandy, but as any of his sermons. We might name, as frequent guests at "Springfields," Drs. Lloyd and Hall, gentle men of the highest professional reputation, the Hon. Cornelius Harnett, Wm. Hill, Esquire, and Col. Wm. Dry, of Wilming ton. The two last were not only personal and intimate friends of Judge Moore, but were connexions of his oy intermarriages with members of his family. The fame of Harnett has become national, and perhaps few of the patriots of that day infused more of his own heroic spirit into the Con ventions and Congresses of which lie whs a member, and of which he was more than once the residing officer ; but the people of Cape Fear claim him as one of their brightest jewels, and, alas, martyrs of liberty. His sainted ashes repose in and fancy hears in the one of the heroic and our midst, sigh of the evening breeze the requiem of liberty over her martyr's grave. The thoughts which ere long were to fill the air of all America, were household thoughts only, in the times of which we speak. Moore and his guests often broached the doctrines which were then too bold and daring for the cautious, and too deep and enlarged for the superficial. Had tradition failed to preserve some of these closeted patriot's views, we cannot doubt that they were well and fully discussed long before they filled the columns of the "Cape Fear Mercury." Family tradition has brought down, even to our own days, the visit of Mr. Quincy, of Boston, and others, to "Springfields," when that sterling patriot came to the South to feel tho pulses of the great American heart in this rural district, and be able to report to his friends of the North, whether or not those pulses kept time with theirs on the mighty themes of the day, and his joy at rinding brothers among strangers men who were ready soon after to proclaim " the cause of Boston is the cause of all," he himself has reported in well remembered j words. These feasts, spread by genius and pat. riotism to welcome wit and worth to hos pitable halls, should have had the pen of Boswell to preserve Ueir memory. But who can doubt that amid such "high thoughts seated in hearts of courtesy," there were many which deserved perpetui ty, not less for their intrinsic excellence than the point and grace and elegance in which they were expressed. The attri tion of such minds, in such circumstances, must have produced much of that light which soon illuminated our political hem isphere. The transcendant fascinations of Moore's colloquial powers drew around him the choicest spirits of the time, and the spot which has been dignified by the residence of genius and taste, can never cease to be an object of interest; and so long as we shall hold in veneration "the Conscript Fathers " of American liberty, Spi'ingfields will be remembered with grateful interest. General Sedgewick, who has been attract ing some little attention by his movements on the Rio Grande, is a native of Louis ville. The Courier says of him : "Sodge wick was, before the war, a clerk on Main street, in this city, and was always looked on as rather 'small potatoes.' " At a regular meeting" of the New York Chamber of Commerce Thursday after neon, a memorial was read, praying Con gress to abolish the export duty on cotton. A. resolution was adopted petitioning Gov ernment to employ a squadron of naval vessels to make the necessary sea sound ings for a new cable, to connect the United States with. "France and Southern Europe. It was thought that such a line might be laid from Cape Cod to Montank Point, at a cost of $6,000,000. f BKPOBTED EXPRKSSLX fOE THE JOOBNAL. i NORTH CAROLINA LEGISLlTUREt SENATE. Tuesday, Dec. 11, 1866. ADJOURNMENT. The Senate concurred in the p oposition of the House to rau-e a committee of Conference upon the question of adjournment. Messrs. Covington and Leach were appointed on th8 part of the 8en ate. This committee had not reported at the ad journment ot the day's session, but it is under atoid th.it they have agreed to adjourn on the 24th iust., to meet on the 22d January. AMENDMENT TO TILE CONSTITUTION. Mr. Adams introduced a bill to amend tho Con stitution of the State. Referred to the Judiciary committee. The bill proposes to so amend the Constitution as to elect Justices of the .peace by the people, and to enable petty misdemeanors to be tried before a Justice of the peace without ju ry. VANCE CCA NTY. Mr. Respass introduced a bill to establish the county of Vance, to to made up from parts of Beaufort and Craven couuties. Referred to the committee on Propositions and Grievances. Many important bills were introduced and prop erly referred; also several bills of an unimportant character passed their several readings. CHATHAM RAILROAD. Mr. PaschaVs bill to declare valid an act of the General Assembly, amending the charter of the Chatham Railroad, having been favorably report ed upon by the committee on Internal Improve ments, was considered on its second reading. A most interesting debate sprung up between Mr. Avery and Mr. Jicrry, she iirst iu favor of, and the latter in opposition to, the bi!i. The question at issme being whether the aid voted to the road was repudiated by the ordinance of the Convention re pudiating the war debt of trie SState V or, iu other words, whether the road was urged and support ed as a war measure ? The bill was committed to the Judiciary committee. EXCHANGE :" STOCKS. Mr. Love's bill to repeal an ordinance of the late Convention for exchanging the stocks of the State for bonds of the State was considered ou its third reading. Messrs. Wilson and Avery ably advoca ted its passage, and Mr. Berry opposed it. Pend ing the discussion the Senate adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Tuksday, Dec. 11th. Mr. McKay, from the Judicial' Committee, re ported a bill to amend second section, chapter 58, Revised Code, entitled Mairiage." Mr. Harper, from the committee on Finance, re ported a bill to authorize the Comptroller to em ploy a clerk. people .Mr. J .owe introduced a nm tor toe reiiet 01 tno (Enacts that the General Assembly ad- j jo1!" ac a oil! to amend an act to extend 1 tho time for perfecting titles to land. On motion or air. c.raioiuol r-iucon, the House reconsidered tho vote by which was rejected on yes te day, a bili to empower the County Courts to levy taxes for the repair of public roads. Messrs. Mc(.'Umm , Cowan and Wangh suppor ted the bill. Laid on the table. Yeas GO, nays It. Mr. Pattou (by leave) introduced a bill to change the time for the met ting of the General Assembly. (Proposes that the Assembly meet biennially on 1 i the third Monday of October.) . i Mr. Kenan ; a bill of like nature find title. (Pro- ; first Monday of November.; Mr. lilack movod that the bill to prevent litiga- I tion and the ruinous sacrifice of property be made i ! the special order lor the hour of 12 to-morrow, j ! and pi occcded to explain its purport. ! ; Mr. McKay characterized this bill as repudiat ion m disguise, and suggested that it be made the special order for the 1th of July next. ! Mr. Waugh moved that the bill be referred to ! the committee on relief for the people. j W., C. A- IS. RAILROAD. ! . . . I Winlinfr tlifl oiiPsHon on thin motion Hip. lwmv 1 j arrived to take up the special order, viz : j ' A bill to enable tho Wilmington, Charlotte and ! . Kutherftjl.a liaiirimtl Company to complete its! j road, pay its debt to the state, and extend the ! road to tno lennesseo line, ou its second reading. : Messrs. Cowan and Wlsitht Id addressed the House in support of the bill. The bill passed. j The House then resumed the unfinished busi- ! ness and refused to make the bill to prevent '' litigation, Ac, the special order for to-moriow. RILLS ON THIRD READING. ; " A bill to incorporate the Kewbern 3 earn Fire Engine Company, No. 1, and bill to enhance the value of the bonds to be issued for the completion , of the Western N. C. Railroad, and other purpo- j fees, pjssed their third reading. Mr. Cowan moved to reconsider the voteby which the la.-st named bill passed its third read ing, and that the motion to reconsider lie on the i table. j This motion prevailed and prevents rcconsidcra- tion by the House at t Ho present session. ; VV., C. A. K. 1JAILKOAD. On motion of Mr. Cowan, the rules were sua-: peuded, and the ' bill to enable the Wilmington, j Charlotte r.nd Rutherford Railroad Company to complete its road, pay its debt to the State, and j extend its road to the Tennessee line," was put on its third reading. j On motion of Mr. Lowe the yeas and nays were ' ordered. The bill passed. ; Yeas. Mess a. Allen, Bea.dey, Blythc, B iwe, ! Bright , Brown, Brysou, Chadwick, Cowan, Craw-; lord, of Macon, Crawford, or' Rowan, L-argan, Ua- ! vidson, jjuinam, f.verett, roar.!, Garrett, Garrns, UrauLerry, iiarp r, Henderson r, Henderson, mm. am. ldo.dei- bv. Ilorton. of Watamra. Houston. MnfoliinMnn Jordan, Kelsey, Kenan, Kendall, Lutterloh, Mc- A-thur, McClanmiy, jlcGougan, JcKay, JcNair, iUeliae, oseiiead, jtforton, Jiurrill, I'atton, Pee bles, Perry, of Carteret, ReinhanP, Richardson, Hcoggin, Smith, of Duplin, Truil, Whiterield, Whit ley, Wilson, o Perquimans, Williams, of Jartir , Williams, of Yancej 53. Nays. Messrs. Ashworth, Autry, Bardcu, Black, Blair, Boyd, Bradsher, Carson, Clark, Clements, Farrow, Galloway, Gambril, Godwin, Gorham, Guess, Harding, Hodnett, Jones, Latham, of Washington, Lee, Lowe, May, Martin, Moore, of Hertford, Perry, of Wake, Rountree, Russ, Shel ton, Simpson, Smith, of Guilford, Stevenson, Teague, Turnbull, Vestal, Waugh, Wilson, of Forsyth, Williams, of Harnett, Williams, of Pitt, Hoinbl", York 41. Mr. Bryson moved to reconsider this vote and that the. motion to reconsider lie on the table. This motion prevailed. OX CALENDAK. A bill for the relief of the people of Chatham county was laid on the table on seeond reading. A bill to reaffirm the Charter of the irilliam ston and Tsj-boro' Railroad ; a bill to amend tho j law of evidence : a bill to incorporate the South Union manufacturing Company in Richmond county ; and a bill in relation to "working the pub lic roads, pas-ed their several readings under a suspension of the rules. The last, named bill re peals an existing law that requires persons over 13 years of age to work the public roads. A bill defining the rights of property iu captured horses and mules, and a bill for the more effectual punishment of horse stealing, were laid on the table on second reading. A bill for the beu l?t of the po;:r of the county of Bladen, passed its several readings. A bill to give married women one third interest in the real estate; of their husbands, passed second reading and, on motion of Mr. Latham, of Wash ington, was ordered to be printed and made the special order for Thursday next. The House then adjourned. S 12 NATE. Wdsesiav, Dec. 12, 18!8. ADJOL'JSMENT. Mr. Covington, from the conference committee on adjournment, reported that the committee had agreed that the Senate recede from its amendment to the House resolution on adjournment, and that the General Assembly adjourn on the 24th inst., to meet again on the 22d January. Quite a spirited debate arose upon the question of agreeing with the report. On motion of Mr. Leach, the 17th inst. was substituted for the 21th instant, and the 17th of January substituted for the 22d. On motion of Mr. Love the 17th instant was stricken out, as the dav for adjournment, and the 22d instituted. HOMESTK.UJS. Pending the further discussion of this question the special order, to-wit: Mr. Berry's bill to estab lish Freehold Homesteads for the citizens of this State, was considered. A most interesting and able debate ensued, in which Messrs. Berry, Leach, Avery, Wilson, Moore, Cunningham and Jones participated. Pending the question the Senate adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Wednesdav, Dec. 12. Messrs. Neal and Sadder th were allowed to re cord their votes in favor of the bill for the com pletion of the Wilmington, Charlotte and Ruther ford Railroad Company, passed on yesterday. Mr. Waugh, for the committee ou Propositions and Grievances, reported back the bill to pay tales jurors for service in the trial of capital cases, re commending its passage. Mr. Patton, for the Conference committee on adjournment, reported a resolution to adjourn on the 21th inst. and meet on tho 22d of January next. Concurred in. BESOLUTIONS. Mr. McNair introduced a resolution instructing an inquiry by the Judiciary committee as to the expediency of giving the appointment of flour in spectors in the town of Wilmington to the Mayor and Commissioners of said town. By Mr. Stone, a resolution instructing the Ju diciary committee to inquire into the expediency of putting all criniinala (under sentence of death) upon like footing in the matter of appeals. bills. By Mr. Kenan, a bill to amend 'sec. 11, chapter 35, Revised Code. - : v' '. By Mr. Harper, a bill to amend an act authoris ing the decretory of State to employ a clerk. By Mr. Henderson, a homestead bill. Oa motion of Mr. Cowan, a bill to amend ecc. 3d. chapter 97, Revised Code, entitled " Religious Societies," was taken up for consideration. The biil passed under a suspension of the rules. An engrossed bill to extend the time for tho reg istration of deeds, Ac, was indefinitely postponed on motion of Mr. Waugh. An engrossed bill to protect the people of Chat ham county passed its several readings. (Sus pends the collection of taxes in that county.) Mr. Woodard (by leave) introduced a resolu lntion in favor of Robert Bynum, of Wilson county. , ,r . By Mr. Baker, a bill to incorporate Rocky Mount Manufacturing Company. A bill to amend second section of chapter ootn Revised Code passed its several readings. (Re peals the provision requiring a marriage bond.) A bill to repeal second section of the Conven tion, stav law, and a bill to repeal said ordi nance in toto, were laid on the table on second reading. A bill to amend sec. 30, chapter 54 of the Re vised Code, entitled "Guardian and Ward," and a bill to make Roanoke river a lawful fence in the county of Martin, passed their several readings. A bill for the relief of administrators, execu tors, guardians, sheriffs and other persons acting iu a fiduciary capacity was pat on its second read ing. The question recurring, the bill failed to pass its second reading. A bill to authorize the rebuilding of Blount s Creek Factory, in the town of Fayetteville, passed 2d and 3d readings. A bill to amend sec. 12, chap. 113 Revised Code, passed second reading. (Proposes that widows dissenting from husband's wills shall take of their estate, as in cases of husbands' intestacy.) A bill to enable executors and administrators to pay the debts of insolvent testators and intestates pro rata, was put on its second reading. Messrs. McKav, Peebles and Dargan opposed the bill. Messrs. Granberry and Freeman advocated its passage. Mr. Whitfield moved to lay the bill on the table. Not agreed to. Mr. Hutchinson offered a substitute authorizing executors and administrators to pay debts of equal dignity pro rata. The question being on this amendment, Mr. Waugh asked a division of iho question, and the amendment was rejected, the House refusing to strike out. Mr. Latham, of Washington, moved to amend the bill by adding the following se.-tion: lie it further enae'el, That the provisions of this act shall not apply to any estate on which administra tion has been granted, or executor or executrix qualified, or to any last will and testament. Adop ted. On motion of Mr. Freeman, the billwa-j thenli.d on tho table, and the House adjourned. SENATE Thursday, Morning, Dec. 13. SUXDKY BEPOISTS FKOZtf COMMITTEES WEKE SUB MITTED. Mr. Robins, a resolution proposing to send a message to the House to raise a joint committee to make arrangements for administering the oaths of cilice to His Excellency, tho Governor. Concurred in. Subsequently the committee re ported that the Governor had asked for a post ponement of the day until the 22nd. Concurred in. KILLS. Mr. Hall, a bill to amend the charter of fhe Wilmington and Weldou Rail Road Company. Referred to the committee ou Internal Improve ments. Mr. Flail, a bill to incorporate the Yadkin and Capo Fear Canal Company. Same reference made. Mr. Adams, a resolution relative to State bonds due the Farmers' Bank. Referred to the commit tee on Finance. By the same, a resolution relative to the con stitutionality of the United States land tax. Same reference made. AMENDMENTS. On motion of Mr. Clark, the amendments made to joint resolutions on adjournment, on yesterday, were reconsidered, and the Senate concurred in tlie original report of the committees to adjourn on the 21th of December to meet again the 22d of Januaryjiext. THE HOWARD AMENDMENT. The hour for the special order baring arrived the report from the Joint Select committee on the Howard Amendment was takent up. Mr. Leach addressed the House ia favor of tho report. Mr. Harris, of Rutherford, moved to amend the resolution by striking out tho word " not " upon this amendment. Mr. Covington called for tho ayes and nays, and the amendment was lost by a vote of n-.iys i3, ayes 1. Mr. Harris alone voting for his amendment. The question arising on the adoption of the reso lution, on motion of Mr. Wiggins, the a3 s and nays were called, and the resolution was adopted by the following vote : Yeas Messrs. Avery, Adams, Battle, Barnes, Birry, Brown, Clark, Covington, Cowles, Cun ningham, Edwtrdf, Etheridge, Ferebee, Gash, Hall, Hand, Harris, of 1 ra-jklin, Hill, Johnston, Jones, Kelly, Koonce, Leach, Love, Lloyd, Mar shall, McCorkle, McLean, McRae, Moore, Paschal, Perkins, Repass. Richardson, Robins, Snead, Speed, Spencer, Thomson, Thornton, Wiggins, AVilley, Williams and Wilson 41. Nays Mr. Harris, of Rutherford 1. The question then being put on the adoption of the report, on motion of Mr. Leach, the ayes and nays were called, and the report was adopted as follows ; Yeas Messrs. Adams, Avery, Rattle, Barnes, Berry, Brown, Clark, Covington, Cowles, Cunning ham, Edwards, Etheiidge, Ferebee, Gash, Hall, Hand. Harris, of Franklin, Johnston, Jones, Kel ly, Koonce, Leach, Love, Lloyd, Marshall, McCor kle, McLean, McRae, Moore, Paschal, Perkins, Respass, Robins, Speed, Spencer, Thompson, Thornton, Wiggins, Willcv, Williams and Wilson 42. Nays Messrs. Harris, of Rutherford, and Rich ardson. On motion of Mr. Clark a message was sent to the Housd transmitting the resolution and report with a proposition to print ten copies for each member. Concurred in. A message was received from the House trans mitting a correspondence between the Governor and the military with a proposition to print, also recommending the propriety of sending Commis sioners to Washington to investigate the same, provided the Governor heads the commission, with the privilege of sending his commissioners. Con curred iu. UNFINISHED BUSINESS. The bill granting a homestead to the citizens of this State was taken up, various amendments were proposed and adopted, but before final ac tion on the bill. On motion of Mr. Cowles, the Senate adjourned until to-morrow morning at 10J o'clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Thursday, Dec. 13. Sundry reports were made from standing com mittees, which will be noticed in detail hereaf ter. VALUATION OF LANDS. By Mr. Harper; a resolution to postpone the val uation of tho lands of the State. Mr. Harper moved a suspension of the rules that tho resolution might have its second read ing. Mr. Harper thought that a valuation of the lands in 1867, as required by law, would be inexpedient owing to the unsettled condition of the labor sys tem, the fears of confiscation entertained in sonic sections, &c. Tlio valuation in 1860 was generally deemed a fair one, and if a re-valuation is had, there would doubtless be a great reduction in tho assessed val ue of lands, which would necessitate heavier tax ation. Mr. Hodnett hoped the resolution would not pass. Its passage would be unjust to the tobac co raising counties of the State. Lands in those counties were assessed by the last valuation at three or four time3 their real value owing to the high prices of tobacco. Mr. Latham, of Washington, opposed the reso lution, and adverted to the diminished value of lands in the Eastern part of tho State, owing to the destruction of fences, buildings, Ac, during the war as reasons why the re-assessment should take place. Mr. Cowan thought the resolution a good one. A certain amount of revenue must be raised in any event, and it was useless to incur the expense of a re-assessment. Mr. Patton favored the resolution for like rea sons. The rules were suspended and the resolution passed its several readings. BILLS. By Mr. Woodard, a bill to extend the corporate limits of the town of Wilson. By Mr. Hodnett, a bill to prevent and punish unlawful hunting. By Mr. Blythe, a bill to amnd the charter of the Greenville and French Broad Rail Road Compa ny. DISABLED SOLDIEBS. On motion of Mr. Waugh, the rules were sus pended and tha House proceeded to consider a resolution in favor of disabled soldiers. Author izing the payment of commutation, in lieu of ar tificial legs, in cases where the artificial limbs cannot be effectively applied. Mr. Long thought toe resolution should be amended so as to allow commutation in all cases at the option of the disabled soldiers. Mr. L. stated that in a number of cases the ar tificial limbs furnished by the State were worse than useless were mere botch-work, and cited the instance of a soldier from Stanly, who had receiv ed an ill-fitting limb, the wood and iron work of which would do no credit to common artisans. MflMrs. Dartran and Durham opposed any amendment to aUow commutation in all casea. Mr. Long desired a postponement of the subject nntil to-morrow, that ne might offer a substitute for the resolution pending. Mr. Freeman thought the option should be left to the soldiers. Many of them engaged in fann ing conld get along better without the artificial limbs than with them. The resolution passed without amendment. A message was received from the Sen a to an nouncing its concurrence in the report of the com mittee of conferen-re on the subject of adjourn ment, to wit : to adjourn on the 24th inst., and re assemble on the 22d of January next. n mniiftii of Mr. Hodnett the rules were suspended and the bill to incorporate the Yan ceyvnle and Milton Railroad Company was ta ken up. , , . . The bill was amended and passed its second and third readings. . A bill to abolish jury trials m the County Courts of Blacon county passed second and third readings under a suspension of the rules. Mr. Beasley, by leave, introduced a resolution instructing an inquiry by the committee on Propo sitions and Grievances as to the expediency of an act to prohibit the purchase of produce in the night time making it an indictable offence. Re f erred A bill to incorporate the Rocky Mount Manu facturing Company. Passed its several readings under a suspension of the rules. A Homestead bill, reported unfavorably from the Judiciary committee was laid on the table, on mo tion of Mr. Scott, on second reading. A bill to change the rules of evidence m rela tion to mortgages, deeds of trust, Ac, was laid on the table. HOWARD AMENDMENT. A message was received from the Senate trans mitting the report of the Joint committee on the constitutional amendment, and a Senato resolu tion rejecting said amendment, asking tho con currence of the House. Mr. Perry, of Carteret, moved that the report and resolution be made the special order for the hour of noon to-morrow. Not agreed to. On motion of Mr. Latham, of Craven, the rules were suspended and tho report of the committee was read. Mr. Jordan addressed the House in support of the constitutional amendment. No one re plied. On motion of Mr. Russ, the question was divi ded, and the vote was first taken upon tho adop tion of the committee's report. The report was adopted as follows : Ayes Messrs. Allen, Autry, Baker, Barden, Beasley, Black, Boyd, Bowe, Bradsher, Bright, Brown! Brvson. Carson. Chadwick, Clark, Cle ments, Cowan, Crawford, of Macon Crawford, of Rowan. Dargan, Davidson, Durham, JLverett, r ar row, Foard, Freeman, Galloway, Gambril, Gar riss, Granberry, Guess, Harding, Harper, Henuer son, Hodnett, Holderby, Hor ton, of Watauga, Uor ton, of Wilkes, Houston, Hutchison, Jones, Kel sey, Kenan. Kendall, Latham, of Craven, Latham, f Wanhington, Lee, Long, Lowe, Lutterloh, May, Martin, McArthur, McCiamniy, McGougan, Mc Kay, McNair, McRae, Morehead, Morton, Murrill, Nea!, Patton, Ptrry, of Carteret, Reiuhardt, Rich ardson, Rogers, Buss, Scott, Shelton, Smith, of Duplin, Smith, of Guilford, Stevenson, Stone, bud derth, Trull, Turnbull, Umstead, Walker, Waugh, Westmoreland, Whitley, Wilson, of Perquimans, Williams, of Harnett, Williams, of Titt, Williams, of Yancey, Womble, Woodard, York. 89. Nays. Ashworth, Blair, Blythe, Garrett, God win, Hinnant, Jenkins, of Gaston, Jenkins, of Granville, Jordan, Lyon, Rountree, Scoggin, Tea gue, Vestal, Wilson, of Forsyth 15. The resolution rejecting the Constitutional amendment was then adopted as follows : Yeas Messrs. Allen Autry, Baker, PeaBley, Black, Boyd, Bowe, Bradsher, Bright, Brown Bry son, Carson, Chadwick, Clark, Clements, Cowan, Crawford, of Macon, Crawford, of Rowan, Dargan, Davidson, Durham, Everett, Farrow, Foard, Free, man, Galloway, Gambril, Garriss, Godwin, Gran, berry. Guess, Harding, Harper, Henderson, Hod nett, Holberby, Hoiton. of Watauga, Horton, of VV likes, Houston, Hutchison, Jenkins, ofGranvule Jones, Kelsey, Kenan, Kendall, Latham, of Craven Latham, of Washington, Lee, Long, Lowe, Lyon, Lutterloh, May, Martin, McArthur, McClammy, McGougan, McKay, McNair, McRae, Morehead, Morton, Neal, ration, Perry, of Carteret, Reiu hardt, Richardson, Rogers, Rountree, Russ, Scott, Shelton, Smith, of Duplin, Smith of Guilford, Ste venson, Stone, Suddeith, Trull, Turnbull, Um stead, Vestal, Walker, Waugh, Westmoreland, Whitley, Wilson, of Perquimans, Williams, of Har nett, Williams, of Pitt. Williams, of Yxncey, Wom ble, York 1;3. Nays. Messrs. Ashworth, Blair, Blythe, Gar rett, Hinnaii", Jenkins, of Gasstou, Jordan, Scog gin, Teague, Wilson, of Forsyth 10. COMMISSIONERS TO WASHIXOTON. A message was received from His Excellency the Governor, transmitting correspondence with the military authorities, iu relation to tho military order suspending the infliction of corporeal pun ishment by the. courts of the State. On motion of Mr. Cowan this correspondence was sent to the Senate, with the following reso lution, in which the concurrence of that body was asked : liefolced, That three Conimissioiu rs be sent to Washington City to inquire into the alleged ne cessity for tho order, with a view to remove such necessity, if auy actually exists ; and if it be otherwise, to correct the misapprehensions with regard to the administration of justice in our State, which led to the supposed necessity: and Hia Excellency, the Governor, bo requested to act as the head of the Commission, and to select his associate Commissioners. Ihe House concurred iu a message from the Senate, proposing (at His Excellency's instance) tj ehange the time for tho Governor's inaugura tion, and fixing the 22nJ iest. as the day, instead of the 15th as heretofore determined. The House then adjourned. Cot nty Cot.Rr. - The case of Thos. R. Williams, charged with tho theft of a cow, committed, as it was alleged, dining the year 1SG1, was concluded on Friday. The case, although in itself not of an important nature, has excited considerable in terest in the community, from the fact that Mr. Williams, the defendant, was a man of high stand ing and respectable character in the county, and also from the fact that eminent members of the bar had been engaged iu the case, and that sever al nice points of law were discussed. The morning of yesterday was devoted to the hearing of the arguments of the counsel, the evi dence having been closed the evening previous. Hon. Sam'l J. Ptrson, counsel for the prosecution, ably argued the defendant's guilt, and brought to beivr upon this point many facta worthy of consid eration. The effort was one which evinced much ability, and gained the attention of the Court. Hon. Geo. Davis, one of the counsel for the de fense, earnestly and eloquent' appealed to the jury in behalf of his client. His argument was quite lengthy, but none the less forcible and con vincing, and undoubtedly raised a doubt in the minds of the jury of the defendant's guilt, of which doubt the prisoner received the benefit. The jury, after having rotired for a considerable length of time, returned and rendered a verdict of not guilty. No other business of interest was transacted during the day. Tlie Chicago Tunnel Completed. The last brick has been formally laid by tlio Mayor of Chicago, completing the tun nel which is to supply that city with 50,000, 000 gallons of water per day, which is an ample supply for a million inhabitants. This tunnel extends two miles and seven feet under the bottom of the lake, and is lined with brick, laid in cement, through out ; and as a specimen of civil engineer ing and mason ary, coupled with conven ience, is the foremost thing of the kind iu the world. As such, ifc is certain to be ex amined, criticised, and to produce effects upon the future that make it worth study and thought. No eloubt some of the gigan tic railway tunnels now in process of con struction are destined to surmount far greater obstacles. Indeed, tho excellent na ture of the soil, a stiff yellow clay, that can be cut like cheese, has been peculiarly fa vorable both by its uniformity and compact character, The Thames tunnel might have presented the same advantage in this re spect had the same care been taken. All the comparisons show how much nioro worthy of study and admiration is the American work than the English. The former lias been completed in about two years ; the latter, after several previous attempts and failures, occupied about twenty, and was only completeel for foot passengers in 1843, having been undertaken in 1823. The Thames tunnel was but four hundred yards long ; that at Chicago w three thousand live hundred and twenty seven yards. The Thames tunnel, while only one-ninth as long, is, of course, much greater in diameter, but it cost as many pounds sterling as the Chicago tunnel did dollars of our depreciated currency. The entire cost will be under half a millinn nf dollars, and yet it will supply a larger uiuuuni oi water ciaiiy tnan tne croton aque duct, which, afc a first cost of nhnnt ii?t ' "waw yaij- 000,000. will btidtjIv. at the lowrat ct.a era rt water, about 27,000,000 gallons, and at the aigaest oo,UW,0W. - The Case of the Confederate Gen. Pickett. The President yesterday transmitted to the House of Representatives a reply to tho resolution adopted by that honorable body on the 3d instant, requesting '-the infor mation asked for in a resolution of the House, dated 23d June last, and which re solution he has up to this time failed to an swer," as to whether any application had been made for the pardon of O. E. Pic kett, who, during the rebellion, acted as a Major General of the rebel forces ; and whether, since tho adjournment atllalcigh, North Carolina, on tho 30th of March, 180'., of the last court of inquiry, conveneel to investigate the facts attending the hanging of a number of United States soldiers for alleged desertion from the rebel army, nny further measures had been taken to bring to punishment Pickett or other persons im plicated in the transaction. In communicating the reports made up on the subject by the Secretary of War and the Attorney General, the President re moves the intimation of delay in furnish ing the information by simply stating that, instead of bearing date tho 23d of June last, the first resolution was elated the 23d of July, and was received by the Executive only four days before the termination oC the session. The report of tho Attoi-ney General states that no action has as yet been taken upon General Pickett's application for pardon, and is accompanied by all tho papers in hat oflice pertaining to that particular, branch of the inquiry. Among the le tters is one from General rickett, dated Wash ington. March 12, 18G0, in which he in forms General Grant that shortly after tho surrender of General Lee he made an appli cation for clemency to the President, ac companied by a recommendation from Gov ernor Peirpont, of Virginia. He asks Gen eral Grant's favorable consideration of his case, and such an endorsement rs would obtain from the Presielent a guaranty that he might be permitted to live unmolested in his native State, where Ii j was then en deavoring to make a subsistence for hi family, much impoverished by tho war. It has come to my knowledge (he writes) that certain evil disposed persons are :it tempting to re-open the troubles of the pasi , and embroil me fo the action taken by iiu whilst the commanding oflicer of the Con federate forces in North Carolina. I act e I simply as the General commanding the de partment. Certain men deserters from ;i North Carolina regiment, were taken with arms in their hands fighting against tin colors under which they hatl enlisted. -Charges were preferred against them, a reg ularly organized court-marti; 1 was us-sem-bled composed of officers from North Car olina, Georgia and Virginia before whom the men were tried. The evidence in the cases being perfectly unmistakable, the men being identified by cumbers of their old regimental comrades, they were found guilty, and condemneel to be hung. The sentences were approved by me, and they were duly executed, according to the cus tom of war in like cases. My action was sanctioncel by the then Confederate Gov ernment. If tho time has not arrived for tho l'.--cutivo clemency to be extentlcd to my case, (and which point I am not now pressing,) J merely wish some assurance that I will nol be disturbed in my emleavor to keep iny family from starvation, and that my parole, which was given in good faith, may protect me from the assaults of those persons desi rous of still keeping up tho war, which hits ended, in my humble opinion, forever. Appealing to you as a soldier, and feel ing confident you will appreciate ruy posi tion, I sign myself, with much esteem, your obedient servant, GKOIUIR E. PlCKCtT. Thi3 letter contains the endorsement from Gen. Grant, published by us yester day. The Secretary of War in his report states that all papers in his Department relative to Gen. Pickett's connection with the hang ing of a number of United States soldier for alleged desertions from tho insurgent forces had been communicated to tin House ia May last, in answer to a re so: a tion adopteel in tho preceding month, lb also states that General Holt advised (21st July last) General Pickett's arrest and tria 1 by the military commission then iu session in North Carolina, but in view of tho ac tion of the Supremo Court in tho case of Milligan and others, suggests that there should bo "no reason to contest the juris diction of the tribunal to whom the trial may be committed. " Jefr. Davis's lllblc. Everything connecteel with the truly no ble man who presided over the late Con federacy, says the Tuscaloosa OLscrrer, anl who now suffers in silent grandeur, mu;.t ever be interesting to the peoples of our sunny land. A friend has related to the; editor the following little story, which he gives from memory : During the prosperous days of the Con federacy, a lady of Mississippi, well-known for her piety, her talents and her tlevotion to the South, presenteel to Mr. Davis :i beautiful Bible, having on the back in golden letters, the words "To tho First President of the Confederate States." I';. on one of the blank leaves she penned tho following lines, which, if tiny did not ch tain prophecy, are, in our judgment, full of tho beauty of poetry : ; This is the Kock of Faith and Love, (), Chieftain! on it tMke thy tanu ; And He who rules tlie Powers abo, Will lead to the Promised Land ; The lied Sea wavt s that round thee r r.'.v, On either baud shall shrink away; And thou shall pass in safety o'i r, Like Moses through the dread uiray : Another Miriam then shall sing The triumphs of our chosen race; Ami honored more than bard or king, In fame thou'lt take a deathless piac ! As this beautiful Bible was probably de stroyed or lost at Richmond, we are glad to bo able to put an account of it in print. Colonel St. L-gcr (.rciiftl I. The Florida House of HepresentatiT has aelojited a report and resolutions upon the case of Colonel George St. LegerGrcii fell, a Lieutenant in the British Army, who volunteered in the Confederate cause, ui:i subsequently was placed on the stall's o Generals Bragg and Lee. Owing to a mi understanding with the Confederate War Department he resigneel, and subsequent K, while hunting on tho prairies of lllne ; , was arresteil and trieel by a military co;a missiou, for conspiring to release ConiVi erate prisoners at Camp Douglas, ami t burn Chicago. Ho was sentenced to death, but the sentence was commuted to impris onment for life at tho Dry Tortugas in Florida, where he now is. The conimit'o says that the charges are utterly ground less, auel the Colonel is a victim of perjury They say that there are about five htimln -i prisoners now at Dry Tortugas. Singular anil Serioun C'ae or MiituUcit Identity. The Alexandria (lazelie of Sat unlay la the following : During the session of the term of tie Circuit Court of this county, which elo--. -this evening, a novel case i;ccurretl. A negro named Lewis H. Harris, chaipel with committing a rape upon Mrs. Mnr taugh, living between this city and Wash ington, was ielentilied in court by that lady as the person who committed tho offence, anel woulel certainly havo been condemned had not the evidence of tho Mayor of thi-i city, who heard the confession of tho Lvk':j murderers, who were hung in Marlboro' last month, been admitteel, and who stated, on his examination, that a remarkable like Bess existed between tho man undergoing trial and the murderer Plaiter, who was executed. Tho prisoner was discharged. i
Wilmington Journal [1844-1895] (Wilmington, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Dec. 20, 1866, edition 1
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