i
i
M
:
1 -LE GI8L ATjTjS
' " HOUSE "OF COMMONS DEBATES.
REMARKS OF Me. HACKNEY, Or Chatham,
Ott the passage of ti Bfll to transfer thefcxternal
Improvement Fana to tne ramie a rrnrory.
iff. RrXaf Notwithstattding the adverse
esmrt oxhe Committee to whom this witter
wgj referred a nope. ! mis w .
Coestnittee do not disapprove of the principle
contained in the Bill now on its passage, end
which I had the hdnor of introducing, but state
" U thIr Report, that the reason they recommend
.i rejection is that another Bilk reported in the o
ther branch of thi General Assembly, embraces
" in part the provisions of ihie Bill 8ir what does
thiiBill propose t Why, sir, to transfer the In
ternal Improvement Fund of the State, to the
Public Treasury, to meet the wants and liabilities
of the State, on account of her endorsements for
the Raleigh and Gatton Rail Road. Then, sir,
iff understand the object of this Bilk it proposes
to take a Fund, set apart by Law for Jfrnal
Improves purposes, to pay the labilities of
the State on account of Internal Improvement-
Wt hate been told, in order to meet the lia
bilirite of the State, we moat resort to a jstern
of Taxation, or issue Sute Bands, payable in I860.
New, sir, our desks are loaded with printed Bills,
U carry out nrojects of this character. But, sir,
pass this Bilk and it will supercede the necessity
of any system of taxation. And, to eatahlish that
position, sir, let as come to facts and figure ;
' these will determine thj liabilities of the Sute,
' and exhibit the resources to meet the liabilities.
Sir, in the first place, the Treasurer's Report
' shows, that the Sute is liable on account of tbe
.Raleigh and Gaston Rail Road, 727,000 dollars.
Now, sir the interest on this debt is due semi
annually ; the principal part of it, to wit : 8300,
000, is oot due until the year I860, the remain
der is due in insutmenu of 30,000 dollars annu
ally. The Treasurer's Report, which lies before
me, sir, states, that if he is permitted to borrow
$68000 from the Literary Fund, there will be
only 122,000 more required to meet all the de
mands against tbe Sute for tbo next two years.
Now, sir, let us examine this fund, and see bow
4ar it will enable tbe Treasurer, tf this Bill pas
. ses, to meet the liabilities of tbe Slate. First,
then, what does this fund of Internal Improvement
' consist of? Why.sir, the Cherokee Bonds amount
to 8 175.000; and by an act of the General At
serably of 1SS4V5, the interest on the whole a
mount of these Bonds, and one-twentieth of the
- principak is to be paid on tbe 24th December, in
each and every year. Now, sir, these bonds are
perfectly good ; the sureties to them are said to
be perfectly solvent. On those bonds, there will
fall due, between the date of tbo Treasurer's last
Annual Report and the first of January, 1849, a
boot $53,000. Tbe next item, sir, of thia Fund,
is $3,000 (as I am informed by the Treasurer,.)
paid in since his report, at this Session of tho
Legislature, derived from the Buncombe Turn.
. pike Company. Another item in this account,
sir, is 711,200 dollars Stock in the Bank of Cape
Fear; and, again, there are Bonds on individuals
for loans, to the amount of $15,000, and $3,1)00
of Stock in the Buncombe Turnpike, yielding,
opon an average, for the last eight years, 10$ pr.
cent. We have, also, unsold lands in the Coun
ty of Cherokee, which the representative from
that County, (Mr. Hays,) informs me were sur
rendered to tbe Sute by the act of 18445, which
will sell for at least one hundred thousand dol
lars, besides 30,000 acres of unsold surveyed lands
m the same County, and 30,000 acres unsurvey
ed, which the County of Cherokee, as i am
credibly informed, will Uke at nine thousand
dollars, making in all, an amount sufficient,
from this fuud in the next two years, to meet
the liability of the State, up to January, 1849.
Thus -far, Mr. speaker, tbe 1511 on your
table, and the one reported from the Senate, are
'amrilar; but the provision of the Senate Bill does
not provide the ways and means, beyond the first
of January, 1849, while tbe Bill now under con
sideration will still aid the Treasury after that
period in meeting ju heavy liabilities. Let us see,
. sir; what aid this fund will afford the Treasury
from 1849 to 1851 1 I have carefully made tbe
calculation, and find that in the next two years
after '49,' ending tbe 1st of January 1851, upon
Cherokee Bonds, there will be due $34.000
From other sources, stocks, and sales of lands.
and excess of revenue, over and above the ordi
nary expenses of tbe State, 1 have no doubt will
enable na to meet all our liabilities for tbe next
four years.
Mr. Speaker, I may be asked the question by
those who favor a system of uxation, bow the
State debts are to be eventually paid? To this
I will reply, ' that we have abundant means to
meet all our liabilitiearof course, if a prudent
.Legislation is adopted. Sir, tbe Internal Im
prpvenSent fund, the items of which I have just
presented to the House, the Rail Road estimated
' at cost, (and it is believed it will command more,)
the $500,000 in Bonds due by Stockholders,
their liability under the act of 1833, all- amount
to one million two boodred thousand dollars.
This, sir, is tbe reply to the question of uxa
tion ; and I have shown from tacts and figures.
as I sat out to do, that we have near $500,000
more than our liabilities amount to. Then, 1 ask,
sir, why are our desks loaded with Bills to Ux
our people, when soon, fear from the signs of
the times, tbe uenerai government, with Folk
policy, will come down- upon us with a system of
direct Uxation, unparalleled before. Sir, it is not
to be disguised, that an sunning expenditure by
the uenerai uovernment ior ibis War, fore
shadows this result.
But, air, we are told by oar friends over tbe
way, that this Internal Improvement Fund is a
sacred one, and set apart to improve the condition
, of tbe Sute, and ought nor, therefore, to be used
V, to pay our debts. Well, sir, an easy answer to
this argument is at band." These debu which
.we are now discussing, are debts incurred by tbe
;JBUte in aid of Internal Improvements ; and I
. 'contend, sir, that this fund is the legitimate source,
ifrom whence must spring means to meet debu
.of an Internal Improvement character; and upon
this subject, sir, I wish to be distinctly under,
stood.. I am no enemy to Internal Improvement,
neither am I an opposer of the Western interests
of the Sute ; for I should be grateful, sir, if the
Sute were able to furnish that people with means
to wake roads across every mountain in tbe
Western part of North Carolioa. But, sir; I stand
Upon this floor as a guardian, humble though it
W, of the toteresu of the people of the whole
Suu ; and I believe that Legislators should, in
questions of this sort, act am prudent and wise
men do in their own individual matters of policy
in finance. By way of illustration, Mr. Speaker,
oppose an individual bad set apart a certain
amount of funds which be designed to use in
improvements upon his form, and by that system
.bad become invoked ; woo Id it bo wise and pru
'dentin him to say, T will not take this fund, set
apart for uuprovin? or farm, and nav thn r)ht..
but will keep U to nuke other improvements ! I
v'j prudent man would do it,
. f neither do I think this Hou.e will refuse to tfans
fer and use Ue Internal Improvement fanoV so
. much needed at this particular juncture, when
,fhe result of that refusal will drive as to Uxation.
Mr. Speaker, I am aware that there is a dowbk
ful influence exerted, to. operate against the paJ
esge of thia bilL I have reference, air, to th
Report of .the Committee .upcu this anWecL-!
flow. sir. it has been remarks I upon thb floo
. that the Cmnmiuee appointed l. ar 'stigato th
matter of finance, had as wuej iiencs n
sVillln such matters as other gentlemen: and
that after a report had been prepared and made to
this .House, others, not members of tbe Commit
tee, brought in prujecu of tbeir own. in opposi-
tion to tbe Committee.' , Sir, in reply to this 1
have limply to ay. that it.iav due to myself, to
sute, that no man on this floor entertains higher
respect for- the constituted authorities .of thia
House, from tbe Speaker, down to the Committee
men of every grade, than I do ; andV' sir the
Journals of this House will bear me witness, that
on subjects where the- Committees have lhe ad
nntxM rriHn bfbro them, and - wnien is
excluded from os, on account of our position on
ibis floor, I hate always made it a row, .. -r
in th; RormH, nnU. I had osrsoosl knowledge
r,h. r.. Mnnti with the subject. JJJt,
sir. upon subjects where tbe House is in posses
sion of all the evidence which can possibly come
before any Committee, it has been always my
u: ir i tnr nrivile?e. and trust will ever
be, to investigate subjecu for myself, and act ac
rarA'mrr to the honest convictions of rnv own un.
derstandinjr. : And. sir! as' to the case in noint.'
every member here has a plain statement before
mm, in me report o: ine treasurer; sua, sir, u
the doctrine is to prevail, that members of this
General Assemblv. because not on anv Commit
tee, are to sit here and ratify the edicU of Com-
mitteemeo, it is time, we snouid go nome ana
leave legislation alone to our Committee', and
save the exnense of the concern. I hooe. Mr.
Speaker, that this Bill will pass.
SPEECH or Ma. WASHINGTON, or CaAVKf,
"OS THS
BILL FOR RE-DISTRICTING THE STATE,
lie tbs House or Coxxons, Dec. 1846.
Mr. Speaker: Tbe bill now before the House
is one of no ordinary importance. It involves
questions materially affecting the political rights
of the citizen, and intimately connected with the
cause of -popular government questions, in which
the people of this country feel a deep and abiding
interest.
Tbe gent!eman from Rowan (Mr. Ellis) who
addressed the House on yesterday, spoke (he
said) in behalf of the forty thousand freemen of
this Sute opposed to the passage of this bill
Reluctant, as I always am, to engage in tbe de
bates of this body, I feel constrained to make a
few remarks in behalf of the fifty thousand free
men who demand at our bands a restoration of
their violated rights. The law now standing up
on your Statute book for tbe arrangement of Con
grcssional Districts, and which it is tbe object of
tbe present bill to repeal, is an act of flagrant
injustice to a majority of the people of this State.
In Us passage tbeir political rights were violated
and trampled upon; their wishes disregarded; and
their feelings outraged. They now demand at our
bands a redress of these grievances, and a vindica
tion of the true principles of tlie Constitution. And
shall we not obey this tbeir reasonable command
Shall we not do this simple act of justice to them,
to ourselves and to the country? "That is the
question." I hope and trurt we shall. Yes, sir,
1 confidently believe this bill will become the
law of tbe landnot because it has been thus
decreed and settled by a midnight caucus" as
gentlemen of the opposition who have addressed
ibe Hooe, have been plesseJ to intimate, but
because its passage is demanded by justice and
propriety.
Mr. Speaker, if anything had been wanting to
satisfy my mind of the conscious weakness of the
grounds assumed by our democratic friends in
their opposition to the bill, it has been furnished
by their constant appeals to prejudice and passion,
and tbeir studied effort to cast odium upon this
measure by vague allusions to a M midnight cau
cos." Sir, you and I know that all this idea of a
midnight caucus is mere fancy sketch having
its origin and existence only in the distempered
imaginations of the gentlemen themselves. If,
in making the assertion that the fate of this mea
sure has been fixed in caucus, gentlemen mean
simply to say that it Is the result of consultation
and conference among our friends,' then. sir. is
tbe assertion most true. But if, on the other
hand, they-intend to intimate that gentlemen on
thia floor had been driven by caucus dictation in
to the support of a measure which tbeir judg
ments disapprove and tbeir consciences condemn;
I feel it my duty to say here, in my place, that,
so far aa I am individually concerned, and indeed
so far as my personal knowledge extends, the as
sertion is groundless, and the charge unfounded
It is true, sir, I love my party; but tbank God ! I
love my country store; and in all questions deep
ly affecting the rights of my constituents, and vi
tally important to the best interests of the State,
I pin my faith upon no man's sleeve. I submit
to dictation from no quarter ; but with an eye
single' to the welfare of the country and the best
interests of the people, march inexorably forward
in the faithful discharge of what I believe to be
my duty.
What, Mr. Speaker, are the objections urged
against tbe passage of ibis bill? Why, sir, it is
alledged, in the first place, by the gentleman
from Rowan, (Mr. Ellis.) that we have not the
constitutional right to pass such a law.
Mr. Speaker, while I could but admire the tone
and temper of that gentleman's speech, and while
I frankly admit that he made the best of a bad
cause," and in the goodness of my heart wished
him a better one, I must be allowed to say, that
some of his positions in this part of his argument
struck me with surprise. He has done himself
injustice in the grounds which he has taken.
He is too good a lawyer not to discover, at a sin
gle glance, the feebleness and fallacy of his argu
ment on me consuiuuonai question. 1 under
stood the gentleman to contend that although,
under tbe first clause of the 4th section of tho
1st article of tbe constitution of the United States
tbe Legislatures of tbe several States bad o
riginally the power to prescii'ie tbe limes, pi -ces
and manner ef holding elections forRe.
resentatives in Congress, yet as that was subject
to such alterations and regulations as Congress
might make in relation thereto, and as Congrens
has undertaken to alter the manner of holding
such elections, the Legislature of the several
States are thereby precluded, from any further
action thereon. 1 wish, Mr. Speaker, to do tbe
gentleman from Rowan entire justice; and if I
have either misunderstood or mistated his posi
tion, I hope he will correct me. Mr. Ellis here
nodded sssent to the sutement Then, sir, let
us see if this ground is tenableif this position
can be maintained. ;
The 1st clause of the 5th section of 1st article
of the constitution of the United States is in tbe
following words : u The times, places and man
ner of holding elections Jor Senators and Repre
sentatives shall be prescribed in each State by
the Legislature thereof ; but the Congress may
at any time by law, make or alter such regula
lions, except as to the places of choosing Sena
tors." . . v.
The phraseology of this clanse of the constita
tion is somewhat peculiar. M The times, places
and manner of holding elections for Senator and
Representatives shall be prescribed in each Sute
by the Legislature thereof." By this language,
our venerated forefathers, who were jealous ol
the righu of the Slates, and who knew what they
meant, and meant what they said, intended to
provide in the first place, that the people of each
Sute should be allowed to consult their own con
venienee and wishes in relation' to the times,
places snd manner of choosing their Representa
tives to Congress; but at the same time, lert th
Lgialatures of tome of the Sutes iniUi eithei
fail to exercise this privilg, or might abuse
; m - i r at aa.taa. . i ir a n n mA nnni pl w ii ifxu iir iim. utiwww i
.i,.:. nn?vr. and ine people m inwe ou i - -r t . . . . .
their por, n renreaentation ' in accept tbe challenge and luviisTlhe comparison,
thus deprived .fTa fall JfP"1 c 'I Tho fnileman complained bitterly, bat certainly
Congress, bey took car to provide that . ,C?n. . - - iHeTh.pe of the ninth J-rint ;
gres mj -
Utkns, except as to the places of cbonin toena,
v.r. Under this provision. It is weil known-
"'"6 , . . f ljj : .
. MSftaw irMSt Ml BVSB tfaS SI IT KHf-n rPUU
1 1 hat the Legislatures of the seven,! Stat" r-
KiVed sole and eccluttce uriMliCiKHi over ino
1 iect from tne lormaiion me oovernntfai uimr ;
feet'
the year eigmeen n una re a ina iunj-rw.
Congress for the first time acted I hereon."' Some
f the States. disiardTHg the true principle;; of
tbe constitution, setting, at nought the spirit -of
our government and seeking -local pwr and
party sggrsndixement at the sacrifice uf the twst
interesu of the country, had resorted itb gen
eral ticket aviteni'; and Congress, jo counteract
this evik"nd sverf the dangerous consequences
which must have inevitably followed such a course
provided by law that earh Represent itiv in Con
gress should be elected from a single d strict.' .
In all other respects the power of. the Slates
is left untouched by the Yaw of Congress. The
gentleman from Rowan (Mr. Ell s) laid down in
another. portion of his remarks, as a well estab
Ifsbed and firmly settled principle, that the
States may exercise any power given to Con
gress and not prohibited to the States, until Con
gress shall have used the power thus given -
Now, Mr. Speaker, let us take the gentleman up.
on his own ground, and see if the power to pss
this bill is not clear and unquestionable. : The
act of Congress is in the following words : j
That in every case where a SUte is entitled to
more than one Represenutive, tbe number to which
each State shall be entitled tinder the apportionment,
shall be elected by districts composed of contiguous
territory, equal in number to the number of Repre
senUtiTes to which said Sute, may b entitled ; no
one district electing more than one Represenutive."
From an examination of this enactment, it will
be seen that Congress has not legislated at all in
relation to the timesor flacesof holding eU-ctions,
and has interfered witn the manner in which the
same should be held, only o far as to prescribe
that each Rep-esentative should be elected trom
a single district composed of contiguous territory.
But what particular counties of contiguous tern
tory shall form such districts in the severaScaies,
Congress has not undertaken to prescribe but
has left the arrangement of the districts entirely
to the State Legislatures. If such is not the
fact, and if the Legislatures of the Stales have
not this power, I should like to know by what
authority the Jaw of 1843 for the arrangement of
Congretfsiooal Districts, was pasvd. That law
was pased not only subsequently, but in obe
dience to the Uw of Congress.
But. Mr. Speaker, cau you suppose that lhe gen
tleman from Rowan (Mr. KHi) really brheve him
self that we have oot the constitutional power to puas
the Bill ? For hs has warned us in aubther part of
his speech, that if this Dill does pass, he and his
friends will repeal it and arrange the Congressional
dialricls to suit themselves wheu they get the power,
which I hope aud believe will uot be soou. Nowif,
before a member of the Legislature w allowed to lake
his seat, he is required to lake au oath to aupport lhe
eousuiutiou of the Uuiled SlaUa ; if it is uucouxtiiu
liooal now to re-dixlricl lhe State, il will be so them ;
aud would auy one suffer hiiTiawlf to believe that the
geulleinau from Rowan (Mr. Ellis) would publicly
proclaim an iutention on the part of hiawelf and his
frieuda to do au act which be believes to be uucouati
tulionalT I ahould hop uot, Sir. No oue certain
ly acquaiuted with his character and alaudiog, would
do him such injustice.
But the geulleman from Rowan (Mr. Elli) inaisU
that by the pauag of thia bill, if oot the letter, at
least the spirit of lhe coualitulinu will be violated, and
the rights of the minority put in jeopardy, if not sacri
ficed. How, I ask ? Il is said, that if the power ot the
States to leginlale on this aubject be once admitted
and recoguUvd. tbe larger States may be lempied to
abuae it, and by cornbiualioa and iraud. deprive the
smaller State of tbeir couatituiional rights aud priv
ileges. But how is thin to be fleeted f for, accord
lag to the gpuilemaus own argxrueut, Cougre r
viug altered the manner of electiug Representatives
by providing for single districts, the Stales have uo
power to enlablioh either double dimricu or the gene
ral ticket system ; aud in no other way could the
larger Stale (if they were so uup-ariouc as to devire
it) accomplish the result winch the geuteioan eem
so strongly to apptehend aud so deeply deplore.
Again, wr, it i said, if we pass thia bill, the State
of Alabama may be iuduced by the precedent to e
dixtricl that Slate, in ruch iiiaooer aa to deprive th
Whig party of the only representative wiiicb ihey now
have. Mr. Speaker, I was aatouiwbed to hoar' an
argumeul like that used on this floor. Are the tep
rexeuUtives of the freemen of North Carolina to be
deterred from doing whal is right, because the Legis
lature of some other Slate may do what u wrong I
Certainly not.
But siuee the State ef Alabama has been alluded
to, let me tell toy friend fiom Rowan that he need
give himself n uiieasiueas on that sulject. The
doiniuaot patty in that State will not dare to do any
such flagtaut act of injustice, aa he has suggenied
They learul a leason ou that vubjeet in I&4I, which
Ihey will not soou lorgel. Iu lo4U, to save the seal
in Congress of a distinguished gentleman who was
trembling iu his shoes aud whose defeat as it then
stood was inevitably cartain, bis friends in the Legis
lature abolished single districts, and en t a blinked the
geueral ticket system, bul warned by that still amall
viice to which the gentleman from Orange (Mr.
Smtlli) so feelingly alluded oo yenterday, aud which
he says is the inouilor of mua," they provided that
the law should be submitted to the people at the next
election fur members of the Legislature; and.1 sir,
such waa the indignation of the people at the outrage
which had been perpel.ated. thai with a Democratic
majority of some 10 000 in lhe Male, the bill was
rejected by a majority of nearly 15,000 votes. -,
Tbe Slate of Georgia has also been alluded to by
the geulleman from Kwau, (Mr. Illi) who seems
to auppoaa thai if this bill should become a law., the
Legislature of that gallaul Stale, eiuboideued by our
- I A k A a . a . I. a. r
example, may re-arrauge . their Cougreaciouai ; dis
tricts, so as to give the Democratic party a majority
of the representatives iu Congress 1 can aure the
gentleman that his fears are groundless, aud his anx
iety unnecessary. The Stale of Georgia hs sel au
example oo the aubject, which o her biates might do
well to imitate. At the passage of the law uf L'ou
grexs prescribing iugte districts, the geueial district
system prdvailed in ilial Slats, aud the Democratic
party adhered to it as long as they had the power.
But as soon as lhe Whigs obtained a majority, they
laid off tbe State iulo single districts wait such re
markable fairness aud
ud justice as to give to each of
the political parties four representatives , i, Congress. The gentleman from Rowan, (Mr. Ellis) insisted,
Would to God! the same generosity ud magu.,.,,,.- however, Mr. Speaker, that ?f ws are suffering a
' 7.k v?" mm ,---ieB,OCr"1?, t grievance, tbis iTnot the proper Forum fer its re
el this state in t43. 1 there would have j dres9r We sbouJd appeVrsays) to Congress
beea no necety for the introducuon of thn. bill ; do us justice. What, pellet Deocnuic members!
hen, r. there would have been no nece...ty lvr all Congress, and then ask'.Aes. to chgs the d2
Zlnn'SLni? tricts fwm which the, tiemsehes werT Sected, X
unagiue. The State, (say. he,) beiu-euiiUed to pj?? ?lT-fl?" hUfJ ?f gfnm
nine repreaentatives, the Democi.u loo four and JJ" t?hllhJ ober but this would be
gave the Wh.g. four, leaving an odd Tau lo be ap- VS??? .. fm
Jropriatedbyiomeoue; andias i immnjSr he JlP 'PW11'P drunk." I was surprised,
Ski. for th-rDemocr.lic pt, u i.kX7tSS vet "chorine avowed on this floor by the
ihooddmon? Mr speakerf 1 wi'l cwle ih" Ueman frotr .Rowan (Mr. Ellis) who claims to be
kee over the gentleman? end answer bis question bv n""2 SUt R,ghtV 1 tru8t ia God
asking another. It U this : Jf it was fair, iu ld-13 , DC.Tcr colme.wbJen PP1 of North Carolina,
Tor our democratic frieuda iu a minority ol 4000 ,or2eU.n8 wat " U her sovereign chAracter
vote to take lo themselves five representatives civ- f?r8ett,n8 is &eir own dignity, will he wil
ing the Whigs but four, can it be very aA,tr for the- H- ?P7 to.ConSrM for the passage of any law
Whigs, now representing as ihey do a majority on wahln th fgWtfve jurisdiction of tbe 8tate. A
pomiiarvota uf uri, mkki i. i.v. .-..,.... commendable State pride forbids it: the ht int.
rire representatives aud give iheir opooueuu four?
And since the gentleman has area fat to adorn this'
mode of argument
, 1 will propeuud io faun . another
question : Jf it be, as he aavs. aa act of
lor the Whig majority here new to appropriate lo
themselves a majority of the represeutMfves iu Cou
grese. what species of tyrauny .will bo deuomiuaio
ibat, by which a Democratic minority did the same
thing in 18431' .
Mr. Speaker, my friend from Rowan (Mi. Ellis)
m th course of bU remai ka. challenged a comparinou
of the districts as arranged ui.H.r n.-
an
as proposed in tbe bill now before the House, 1
wrw imDraovniiT. oi tnc wnmvw
fo that dirict is left by ths prswot mil exaeuy h
iBlBaia uod,c rlirtiUf; mw . ;.od the guiman is.
..i from find f.ult with th ninth
district, a ivwas laid' sffby hi swn fn- od. -nd is
j now rsprrseoted by a geutlemas) for whom my inena
from ruowau voted at
Rowan voted at lb preseut Session u U. &
Senator. "''!'
.. He alluded also to tbe third district Mr. Speaker,
I will shew the gentleman a diagram of that district.
as it was arranged under tbe law of 1943.
Mere il j
f sr v -" s
Mnch laughter!
And in the language of an old nursery game. I would
ask what does il lok like It b said to- be more
like a rsgged shoe-siring than any thing else, ex leu -ding
as it does only oue coouly deep for over two
hundred miles along the Virgiuia line. Under the
hill now before the House, that district is much ahor
tened, and is made two Couutiea deep.
But, Mr. Speaker, I would call the attention of
my friend from Rowan (Mr- Rllis) more particularly
to a diagram of lit the eighth district, which I have.
Here is " tbe critter ! !
It has been said, sir, to resemble a certain species
of i-hell fish which lhe immortal Dr. Shankliu was so
solicitous to protect a few years ago. called and known
in my country aa a terrapin. But I coutess. Mr
Speaker, that I never conceived th resemblance ve
ry Mriking I have viewed il attentively, and have
come to lhe deliberate conclusion, thai it is like nothing
iu the heavens above, or in tbe earth beneath, or iu
the waters under the earth.
Look at it, Mr. Speaker,' and say if it be not
u A monster, of such hideous mein,
u That to be bated, needs but to be seen."
Sir, a distinguished Democrat once admitted in ray
presence, that tbis eighth district, ugly at it u, wus
made for the express purpose of depriving the pres
ent Speaker of this House, (Mr. Sutnly) or a seat in
Congress ; and, lest you might forget it, Mr. Speak
er, I will simply remind you, that not only was the
plan well devised, but admirably executed, and f-
I fectuallv answered the tmr..oe.nfrw..vt .1 1 ..nht
f eonnt,1 r opposed to it; and the cortH
7 1n? "at ren of ths people would con-
, PPCation, and repudiate such doc-
trine.
But, sir, it is said that we ought not to pass this
bill, because bis Excellency Crov. Graham did not
discuss the question in his canvass hut summer.
Has it then, sir. come to this? Are We to sit her
simply to record the edicts of the Executive I Is th
Legislature of Nortb Carolina' to be restricted ii
their enactments to Such topics only as the success
ful candidate for Governor may discuss before tbe
people ? If so, then there will be but little of ths;
home legislation, which" the gentleman from 'Orange
. . J - .... .
v..
3
n
-r
3
O
at
f -
- Edgecomb
J X
X-
7 -Ji
V wijj.
(Mr. Soil h) so highly commended on yesterday ; for
you know, Mr. Speaker, and the House knows, that
National polities are chiefly discussed on such &cc&
stops. Mr. Speaker,. I regard the present custom un
der which tbe Governor of -North Carolina is com
pelled to canvass the State7" for a rejection, as not
only onerous to the incumbentbut degrading pt the
office? and it sir, be is required to discuss before tbe
people ell the subjects ope which the Legislature
is to act, kis duties will be made intolerably oppres
sive.: It was my goad fortune to bear Gov. Graham
address, tbe people sereral thnes'during tle last sum
mer, and I always heard liim wha pleasure. He ac
cepted the issues which, were tendered him, manful
ly met Kis opponents, and gaUautly sustained bis po
sitions."''' " .
: A rain, sir It is nnred by the jrcntleman from
Rowan, that tbe people have not been consulted on I
tV nktaa. mnA tli oi-sfne thik kill ontrht not to
UtV wiapaa u.au, aiw-.a O
pass or, if it does pass, a provision should be made
for sabmitting it to the people for tkeir ratification,
This position of the gentleman, most; satisfy every
One, 1 mina, (Sac US IS naru run iur vujtxuvtu 10 tuis
bilL ; Two years ago, when tne xenenuary qnes-
tion waa under discussion in this TlotiBe, the gentle
man frorarRowan. in a speech able and eloquent, ex
pressed opinions diametrically opposed to those which
he has thrown out on tbe present oecssioxu- tbave
that soeech before me. and bee leave to read a sin-
gle extract therefrom: 1 ; nearly as practicable, to fairnww and justice thu
ttMr:ElUssaid he opposed the bill at present, itfwswltftnuin ,h
fa h to the vtovle. to ho acted m at the
W wrw ww-" -" " r ' ' i O - - - -
next election for members of the next -Uenerai Assembly.
He had as high regard for the opinions of the people
as any one, and when their will was known, none
wcremoreVcady to carry it intoeffect than himselfi
but tbe mode pointed out by this bill for consulting,
rr
that will, he regarded as an infringement upon our
t.. t.. ...lnrn-nMv,Mit nnon one
Constitution and laws, and a dangerous pei
f U sw.m an. Ammrw ftf All rvAa1TKTnanfL
r :..:.. .'a . a4-nMm. Mmmnn
. 'UiiKi -aa. u Liuu m xa a auiui mm usiua-Vi voay w s,smvs
u a A; e aZmm,nt.
To bis mind, tbe provUionsof this bill indicated
on tbe part of members a fearof legislative responsi-
u:i: -j - .v r w mrv.n.iKnitv
.. . . . - -. .
Ha then, insisted that the mawrityC- this floor
were oouua w wm me rep-wiuimi y s-sm.
j ... x.i " ..:v:i:-. e l.
taws u luty u.iincmu iiuctcihij vi ,uv wuumj
q aired, or the exigency of the times might demand.
i . w.i . - a-v . n MIlll.TV M
Sir, we do take the responsibility of the measure, and
' . M " ".. a. t. . - .1 I
ror weat or lor woe, are wuung to go ocioro p
pie on the question. . V- v . - -
But sir, I think the gentleman from Rowan is
mistaken as to tbe extent to which the attention of
the people baa been directed to the subject. It is
well known, that at the close of the Session of tbe
Legislnture of 1842-'3, by which the law arranging
the Congressional districts wa passed, the Whig
members of that body published an address to the
people, in which they denounced thai law as unjust
and oppressive,' and declared tbeir intention to re
peal it as soon as they bad the power to do so. Ma
ny gentlemen on this floor inform me that' the sub
ject was fully and freely discussed in their respee-
,a.a I aii ntiai rf n m n aw tda loaf KrlmmM. tlln fn-mM
i of the most prominent issues on which the elec-
is were made to torn. In my own section of the
te, while I frankly admit that but little was said
fc Zv-rV . i, l ati al
V
tiona
State, while I frankly
on the subject during the last Summer, yet you, Mr.
Speaker, will bear me witness, that in the Congres
sional canvass of 1843, :and the subsequent 1-canvass
for the Legislature in 1844, the unjust and unequal
law of 1843. for the arrangement of the Congression
al districts, constituted an important count in tbe
long indictment preferred, against the Democratic
party. And, sir, the gentleman from Rowan. In tbe
course of bis remarks, made an allusion to a certain
debate in the House of Representatives of the United
States, upon tbe resignation of a distinguished Sen
ator from tbis State, which I thought unfortunate
for himself and his friends.' Sir, what a spectacle
was there presented ! Mr. Haywood hid spent the
vigor of his youth and the prime of his manhood in
tbe service of his party. He bad labored by day
and by night, in advancing its principles and promo
ting its success. But, sir, in an unlucky hour, he is
called upon by his party to sustain a measure which
bis judgment disapproved and his conscience con-.
demncd. What did he do, sis? Did he vote against
bis party ? Na But regarding a private station,
under the circumstances, as the post of honor, he re
signed an omce second to , but few (it any) m this
Government, and. retired to private life. For. this,
sir, he was abused, vilified and calumniated bis mo
tives assailed, and bis integrity questioned and tbis
too, at a time and in a. place, when and where he had J
not tbe right to defend himself, tientlemen oppos
ed to him in politics, came forward and vindicated
bis motives, and attested tbe purity of his private
character, while they did not pretend to endorse bis
politics. On the same day, however, Mr. Benton-did
endorse him in the Senate, throughout, in a speech
which I would commend to the attention of my De- :
mocratic friends, for its good sense, generosity of
sentiment, ana tta excellent taste.'
But I have suffered mvself to be drawn off. Mr.
Speaker, from lhe main object for which I alluded
to that debate, which waa lo shew that express no
tice of lhe intention of the Whig to pass this bill,
was given immediately before the election last Sum
mer. Among ine apeaaera -oo that occastou. was
Mr. Dockery, of this Slate. I have a report of bis
remarks before ine. and will read a few extracts.:;
Mr Doekerysaid, " il i true there are in this
House six Democratic and three Whig Represents
lives, from the State of North Carolina. That was
by uo means to be taken as an exposition of the po
litical aentuueuts or a majority of . the people ; .the
matter wa; easily explained : ' -
The majority accidentally obtained in the "Le
gislature in IK42, aud by which Mr. Haywood waa
seut to Uie Senate, dstricted lhe State into Con
gressioual Districts. Iu doing this, that Legislature
completely gerrymandered it; the result was, six
Representatives were given to a Democratic minori
ty, and three to a Whig majority. So much for tbe
representation ou this floor, speaking tbe opinions and
sentiments of the people el' North Carolina. The
next Iegulature. which he was happy to . say ha
Had little doubt would be Whig, would remedy this
gritcMitct. into act oj injustice Ut the petple, and
mane wen a aieirtouiton oj the Uounlieo into Dis
trict; ms wuuld be just in itself and fair to the two
great parties in4o which the country was divided.
Mm. MOO a a .
it wouia be tne amy oj the largtslature to do this,
and he had f ear e that it would shrink from this
duty. A majority of the people should be-repre-seuud
on this floor by a majority of the Kenreseuta
tives, holding opiuious aud profesxiug. seutimeuls
identical with themselves" "' "
These reiuaiks were published aodv circulated
throughout the Stale ou the very eve of the elec
tion And can my friend from Kowan f . Mr. .Ellis.
gravely contend, in tbe isce of these facta, that the
people nave not been apprized ol this issue, or thai
our Democratic friends have been taken by surprise
oo the subject T 1 do uot be.it, a be will.
Mr Speaker: I ceriaiuly do not wish lossy any
Ihing on thi occasioo, calculated to wouud in tbe
slightest degree the feeliug. or any of my Detno
cnuc incuM u is loreigu from my nature lode
so, tor many or uiy wkrutesi p-rousf 'friends are
Democrats. Besides, Mr. Speaker, 4 willlak thw
occasion to repeat what J b-Ts often said bt fore
thai . I believe the groat, body ot the JJemocraUe
party to bo honestly wrong ia 'the opiuiona which
tbey entertaiu ; and I am willing to accord lo them
whal 1 claim for myself, a right to enjoy puiitical
opinions noueaiiy entertaiu. Put, air as inyseif
ana my irienda have been tauuliDgly told, Uial while
wa claim to be the law aud order parly," we are
pursuing, a deatrocuve policy ou this iW. I will
simply refer the geulleman from Uowau, ,Mr Lis)
aud the geuUemaa fitMii Orange, (Mr. SoiiihO lothe
Sute of Rhode Island, and enquire if they know to
what political party a Certain Thomas Dorr belong
ed -'-lo New Hampshire, Aikwoun. MlMissippi aud
Georgia, and ak if they remember lhe fact that the
Democratic party in each of these Stales, resisted
as long a they bad the power, the operation of the
law of Cdngreas abolthtrfg'ih general ticket sys
lem, and estoblisbiug slugve Distticts; a law -which
my friend from Kowan seems to regard as a sort 'of
strpptemental Cousiituiion au instrument loo sacred,
to be violated, too huty to be touched 1 .- -
, Mr Jepeaker. a good deal has been said in tke
course of lui deDate. upou be preseut condition nd
luture prospects of the two great political parties of
a....f-P ' tn.. t r a a ' ...
be
.HUth.l represented the Urmocraltc banner ss fl,.i
oglu triumph from Maiue'to Mexico; and, err,
joutd but thiuk how fortunate he was ia not having
eard the result of the recent electiona in
he Northern States j for, where ignoranca is bliss
.'tis fol!y4o be wbv tie was. however
k -.-I r.Jla. ataf V. il...; .1 i Cr
UtflliBil town j ih, nniirmil Imm i
rM rRroedek.) who. in meUnehol inn.. .
wo did jjunfbld- He recounted the various j 1'
and disasters of Ins party, and famished a foI,
rt of the killed and. wounded : botby
solation to his friend from Orange, he
House ih conclusion. Ibat though
"iiorm.j
mo II
party had been deieaieov was not discou-
and though overcome it was not diband?d.
corrifort, troly,- and mat have fallen upon ihe
and enthusiastic gentleman from Oraur cm. lX
Orange (Mr. S,
very moeh like a wet blanket.
II Was rpli
in the rentlemaa from Wayne, thus in j-,-.3 ?
deliebJfnt rsveris of bis friend--,v... or i
Now, Mr. Speaker, In all Uie discussion tiui
trovemy po this point. I wih to have no part 1
I declare to you and to the House, th.t : .L0r V
' nort of th menanre.'! am 'inflnaiia..j
1 - ' ' - JOl JtQ w.
by a wish to advance my party; as from a d-v
i do justice 1q a oiajority of, tbe people of the
. Many sf my, personal frieuda of both Dn4tt
urr rw. wimrw mmi. : nave aj ways said l
Woilf
voie mr no diii io re-mstnet uie state.
tvi.:-L 't;
initistiee I o'mV noliticai oooonents rn. --. l:,,
aw. uu Dm fcl,- r
sought political advantage at the sacrifice f Co
nieoce and justice. I am -far. sir. from K-i;..H
thai tho bill oqw before the House is D,rf. . "t
Jhat tho bill oow before the House, is perfect
fair belie viMg." as 1 boneetly'do. that it anprnaei.'
. sir believing, as 1 honestly do. that it anDf.,i'
I a aC" II a
"7 coruiai mpjwn. , ror, r npeaK.r. i
long enongh in
this WorU ls t..r tl... "
expect to have
things exactly as we
- waB I II B l was ....
. , -.i.i- . ... . vsi
mVJT I ?x "W"1 Pa con,pr,.
LuSi P,,IMS1
the beajtng property in the institutions of the ai.
. snd wijicii aione can preserve tbem, isto U fJl
! oono tnn xiroug iraiw tne law, not
1. -1 :. i - k l l
.
phyaicij
t wree -and violence, but in the conservative infl,' I
1 mot oal. forbearance
.the breast of every I,
i with seutinients of pea
I a - a s il " . : ts a . ori s
ana uoerai pnnciplM. u
law-maker in the land Jf
peaee and good will tov... l'
f fellow mau. and then, and not till then, ;
.. :. ,
violfj(
' f -I j- "".' vrr imrn noun.
, m and true patrtotrm become the diii,.-,,L,.: ?
the diKiiupui.i,;,,.
characteristic or every en eo or the Staia thtl
will every variety of soil and climate and scfnn -:
and every diversity of taste, interest and pursuit, idj'j.
each another cord to bind together a contented aj
happy people. ' ; ' t - ,
- ' " i
esssasasss'ti , ' I . . eag-faassegsa i
TATE OP 'KURT A CA KOLIN A. Cbts4,I
3 Out Tr.-oeri!or Court of Law and tqum
KaU Term, 1846. I
' '"' t Redding Hstby and others, v
... . ,, , . .. vs. ' E
' urittn Haitev.
Petition for Sale of Lands. W
It appearing to tbe satisfaction ol the ("ourt. tbti !t
the Detendani, Drittou Ha ley. is not an inhabiting
.CL.. -1...
I is iberrfore ordrred, that pijbiicaiio.
x- mad inihe Ksteigb Kegieier lor six we. Iu.
r . .
tiivi
( r 7 ' .
; u
tbe seal Blittoo Hailey,to be and appear bt-:
tbe Honorable Judge of our Muierir ourta'
mw anu buiiy. iv do neiu tor ine cuiitj ol ttni.
bam, at the .Court House in I'iitfborough.on tbe :1k
Monday in March next, then and theie to pteail,in.
war or demur to the Pnitton ot the Plainttfisr thi;
frame will.be taken pro confesso and beard ex jarte
W itness. Josepb Ramsey- leik and Ma-ier oT,
said l:ouri. at Office, the 3rd Monday in Septrmbcr,;
A. D.. 1846. - fc-
JOSEPH RAMSEY, C. M. E.
Pr. Adv. 05 69 - 99 6w T
, t'. -'.l . 1. . f a.. ;
CfTATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.-Cht.uii?
fcf . CouirnL-r Soperior Coort of JUaw, rail Irrm r
1846.
Hannah Mr bane
Allen Mebane,
Petition for Divorce. ,; j
It appearing to the satisfaction of the Court llin;
Allen Mebaoe is not an iobabilaat of this State : hi
is ordered by the Court that Publication be made ia!
j the Raleigh Register and North Carolina Staudard,!
: published iu Raieigh, for Uie space of three Muuthi,
notuymg tna saie ietenaaut to appear at the urn
Superior Court of Law to be held for ibe Couutj of
Chatham at the Court House in Pittsborough on lhe?
third Monday in March next, then aud there to plwj -answer
or demur o the said Petition, otherwise tin
same will .be taken pro confesso and heard ex parte.
. . Witness. John I hompeou Clerk of our said t u.
at office the third Monday iu September A. D. 1.45.
' '. JOHN THOaMPiNON. C. S. C.
VT Standard ropy; , '(Pradv. 8) 97 3m
fOTATB; OF N OKTH A ROLl. ACs t ax 1
Q.CJovxti Court ; i.f Pleas and Quarter Sesiuni,
November Term. 1846."; '''T' i I
Sophia 5 A Mriilge. Parson Ahlridge and wife Elizabeth,
Bala tin Mt Vay and wife Lydia, Margaret Moun,
V illiamMoser and wife Mary, . . .
;'' -.4 r '
t$tli4non Fx and George Fox. Executors of Ma
Fox, dee'd," and in Iheir own riant. David- tot,
David tot, r
;hiemaa ni T
rife Sopiiii, I
John Fox. Jacob Fox, Uhuiian High
wife Polly, Leonard Uigbtrman and w
Balaar Isley ami wife Catharine, and fleurv Une I
Petition for Account mn4 ': Settlemtnt, and for
, . Legacies. -V . - 'fr
it appearing to the eaiidactin-af the Court, (hit
tne D. feiMlant. Betsey Lane, is not att-inbabitant f
this Stale : It is iberelore odcred, ttsst pubucaiioi
be made in the, Raleigh Register for six weeks, notilj-'
ing tbe said Betsey lane. to be and appear beliirribi
Worshipful J notice of our Court f Pleas and Quir
tar Sesshsjis. to he held for.4.atb.ttn County at tbe
Court House in Pntsbora', ott the 2nd Monday in I
retiruary next. , then and there to plead, answer r
demur toihe Plaintifis Petrtion.or xhm ssme will bs
taken as coi.fessed and heard exparfe ts l h r.
Witoess. Natbaa fA - ? tednianj. Clerk f
Court, at Office, tbe 2nd Monday in November, A.
D . 1848 2. , - t j, N. A. SI EDMAN. lerk.
Pr..Adv-f5 .62 j . .-ii.i uM.- 99 6
(glTATE OF NOUTH CAROLINA Okpwv
kan9 'CoCntv. tii Equity. Fall Term, A. D. 1846.
lyudoua Lipsey,-vs. Isaac 1J. Lipsey, eU al.
. y -Petition for Dtvorcei
-' In this case it being made appear 10 the satinfaclios
of lb Cotirt; thai a stiSpofina aadsJias subpo.ua had
regumrly issued as directed by la w, to the defeudaut,
tasae'la upsay, cointnandihg hat appearance in ths
Court, to plead ar aoawer te the peitlawer's peiitron,
aud thai a copy of tpa alureaaHt vubporea had bees
left at tho last plate af abode of lbs said defendant,
Isaac D Lipsey ,4n this State more than fifteen dyi
before the day of the retara of each of sard subposDia
prodamaiioii was therefore made by the aberdf, t
lite door of tbo Court. House, for Ibe said deJeadsB t,
Isaac O Lipsey. to appearand answer as eowmsS'
dedby tba said subpoiuas ; and the said deleudaot,
Isaac IX Lipoey being so called, jmade default. 1 ;
ibereforewdered that (be clerk, cause notice of tli
pendeucy of. tbis petit loll to be.pubiisbed iu the Ne-
berntau aud Jfaleigii Register for three moulbs, tnl
lhatai the next lerm at? issue be submit lad to a Jurj ,
40 ascertain the worth of Ilia material ct" chared
iH ibe petitioner's petutoa. AViloeas, Joseph Al. French,
Cierk and Mailer in fcuity, for the County of Urn 1
low.-, JOSKPH At FttrCH, C. Al &
Dec 22. 1846 vtPr. Adv. $dj . IU4 3
ATE OF -KORTH JgAKOLWA--1.6-
mi to.iTi--.ln U.a l ourt of Equilv. M
tot an account and setikmvtil of the Estate of tb
Isie btward H dt,tleed, .i - ".. ?-
WiUum Hillrf Evan HamihoA and" wifo Catbsnn.
Daet Monua and wife, heady Everilt Hill. Ptte
. Hill. and. John Hilt, b bis Uuardian, Marj Hill.
.'-t.4.4;i-.r. imXHyvs, f, ".
Joseph C- Lee. Administrator on the Pstats of &1
- ward Hill tSnffio.Taj lor and wife . Elizabeth awl
r -Roderick -HiiL-'
In this Casr.it is Voofed thatjpuilicstion be mad
lo "I t w ka in the, Kaleull Jifgisier, commsndmf
0e aaid Ufiffio Taylor and wilo Elizabeth to sppr
at t be next.Te. m of ibis lnVi ia i bm -. held for tM
Jaunty of Kbtiesoti.'at tbe Court House in Luoibsr-
.., iyos lounn Mondsy m Msrcn next, tnen ano
there to plead fof, answer or demur, or the asms will
be Ukm prrr cunfesso and beard cx parte as 10 tbeffl.
Wittiest Ureteral V. K bodes. Uteri and f Mastef
in.our Couriof Equity, at Office, this 29th Decv-
i ., ' "m. ''-. Iiliilt ,7T. . nnrmnu n .. V
'4
..'-
1.
5
.1