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We may find space in future issues to refer more at length to the doings of this Rebel Conclave.

RELIEF FOR THE PEOPLE!

The Rebel Convention recently in session in this City passed the following among other resolutions:

"Resolved, That the distressed and impoverished condition of our people earnestly demands the speediest and wisest measures of relief that the Legislature can devise."

If the people are distressed and impoverished——as they certainly are——it is the result of the conduct of these very men. They plunged the people in war, and held them in it to the last moment, causing the destruction of many millions of property and the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives. When the end came these men professed to submit; but, though the clash of arms ceased, they continued as rebellious in their conduct as ever. By preventing reconstruction up to the present moment they have added immensely to the distress among the people. They are responsible from first to last for all the distresses now among the people of North-Carolina. They profess to sympathize with the people in these distresses, and what relief do they propose? Why, that the Rebel "Legislature" shall grant relief! They want "the Legislature" to assemble and devise some plan for relief!

The people have asked for bread, and they have given them a stone; they have asked for a fish, and they have offered them a serpent.

This is a wicked mockery. These Rebel leaders know that the Rebel Legislature will never assemble any more, and yet they point the people to "the Legislature" of relief.

Let the people know these things.——When anyone asks what the so-called Conservative party proposes to do for the relief of the people, let the people know that they are mocked by being pointed to a dead Legislature.
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Gov. Vance scourged this people with bayonets at his back. Even if "the revulsion" should come, he and his friends would find it impossible to scourge them again, with the bayonets at their back. "Bottom rail is on top," Governor. The Republicans will tie you so tight that you won't be able hereafter to hurt either them or yourself. The "dragon" of secession——"that old serpent, which is the Devil," has been chained, and "will go out no more" to deceive and scourge the people. No more offices for your set, Governor. Let them go to work. There are millions of rail cuts in this State that need splitting. What the State needs now is hard labor. Let all the great big lazy secessionists go to work; and let the people alone about office, and thus by hard work make an honest living. By thus retrieving their own fortunes they will at the same time aid in building up the country they have rained.

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Letters of the Standard:

In the columns of the "Sentinel" of Sept. 30th, 1867, appeared a communication over my signature in which reference was made to Wm. F. Henderson, "Agent of the Freedmen's Bureau," having filed the "iron-clad oath" with exceptions, etc. and that at the time I doubted the correctness of this statement, as also the legality of the tranaction.

I now desire to state that I have given the matter above referred to, through examination, and find that the exceptions therein specified were acceptable, and considered perfectly legal on the part of the Unites States Government, and that as far as Mr. Henderson is concerned in the transaction, the forethought manifested by him in filing those exceptions were timely and honorable, and in my opinion, are worthy of commendation, rather than disapprobation.

I make this correction in justice to Col. Henderson, as I am averse to doing injustice to any individual.

I have the honor to be,
Very respectfully,
Your obdt. servant,
JOHN T. CRAMER.

Also the following from a late number of the Sentinel, which does justice to Col. Henderson in relation to a charge maliciously and falsely made against him. "Truth is omnipotent, and public justice certain." No public man in the State has been more bitterly assailed than Col. Henderson. Conscious of his integrity, he has borne these assaults like a man, and instead of having injured him they have but endeared him the more to his Republican friends.

W. F. HENDERSON OF DAVIDSON.——Sometime in the month of October last, we stated in the Sentinel, as an item of news, furnished us by a responsible gentleman who had been attendance at the Superior Court of Davidson County, that during the term, W. F. Henderson, of that County, had been indicted, by the Grand Jury, for stealing a mule. At that time we had no doubt of the correctness of the indictment, and that the prosecution would be just and proper; otherwise we should not have published the item.

We now take pleasure in saying, that, from the facts presented to our consideration, on yesterday, by Mr. Henderson, and corroborated by D. Loftin, Esq., the former if not the present, Sheriff of Davidson, we believe Mr. Henderson to have been maliciously and falsely accused in this instance. It appears that one Henry Dorr, of Davidson, had a mule stolen from him, by a white mad named Jeremiah Glover, of Rowan, in 1865 or '66; that in 1866 said Glover was arrested, through the agency of Henderson, to whose brother he had sold the mule, was indicted in Davidson Court, and was convicted in the Superior Court of Forsythe, whither he had removed the case, and was punished according to law. Henderson alleges that this same Dorr, because of personal spite, was the person who caused his presentment for the same offence for which Glover had been convicted, before the Grand Jury at the late fall term in Davidson.
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The Bankrupt Law of the United States, with general orders and terms, is the title of a book edited by Avery and Hobbs, of Boston.

The merit of the book is, that it takes the statute as it stands and arranges the notes and references so as to present the leading cases under their appropriate heads.

The act is divided into sections; each section is preceded by abstracts of the contents and followed by explanatory notes and adjudged cases. It is one of the most convenient books of references we have seen.

Published by Little, Brown & Co.

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The question being on its adoption, Mr. King of Lenoir moved to lay it on the table.

Mr. Jones of Washington, said this was a case of cruelty and required action.

Mr. Tourgee was opposed on principle to granting divorces by legislation. But this was a case of hardship and he would make no resistance.

Mr. Cox agreed with Mr. Tourgee.

Mr. Grant of Northampton, knew nothing of the case and declined voting.

Mr. Hood wished to hear the merits of the case.

Mr. Moore knew all about the matter, and was opposed to tabling the ordinance.

Mr. Graham, of Orange, desired to have the merits of the case explained.

The vote was then taken as follows:

FOR:——Messrs. Abbott, Aydlott, Barnes, Bradley, Bryan, Carey, Candler, Chillson, Dickey, Duckworth, Durham, Forkner, French, of Bladen, French, of Chowan, Fullings, Gahagan, Garland, George, Grant, of Wayne, Hay, Heaton, Hobbs, Hodnett, Hoffler, Hollowell, Holt, Ing, Jones, of Caldwell, King, of Lincoln, King, of Lenoir, Kinney, Lee, Lennon, Logan, May, Mayo, Marler, McDonald, of Moore, Newsom, Petree, Pool, Ray, Renfrow, Rhodes, Rose, Stilwell, Sweet, Teague, Tourgee, Trogden, Tucker, Williams of Sampson.

AGAINST——Messrs. Andrews, Baker, Blume, Congleton, Cox, Daniel, Dowd, Eppes, Etheridge, French, of Rockingham, Galloway, Glover, Graham, of Montgomery, Graham, of Orange, Gunter, Hare, Harris, of Wake, Harris, of Franklin, Hayes, of Robeson, Hayes, of Halifax, Highsmith, Hood, Hyman, Jones, of Washington, McCubbins, Merritt, McDonald, of Chatham, Moore, Morton, Nance, Nicholson, Patrick, Parker, Parks, Peterson, Pierson, Ragland, Read, Rich, Rodman, Sanderlin, Taylor, Turner, Watts, Welker, Williams, of Wake, Williamson.——Yeas 51. Nays 49.

Laid on the table.

Mr. Forkner moved to reconsider the vote of the W.C. & R.R. Co. ordinance.

Mr. French, of Bladen, moved to lay the motion on the table, when

The yeas and nays were called for by Mr. Teague, and the vote stood as follows:

FOR——Messrs. Abbott, Andrews, Aydlott, Baker, Blume, Bryan, Carey, Carter, Cherry, Chillson, Daniel, Dickey, Dowd, Durham, Ellis, Eppes, Etheridge, Fisher, French, of Bladen, French, of Rockingham, Fullings, Galloway, Graham, of Orange, Grant, of Wayne, Gunter, Harris, of Wake, Hayes, of Robeson, Hayes, of Halifax, Highsmith, Hobbs, Hoffler, Hollowell, Holt, Hood, Hyman, Ing, Jones, of Caldwell, King, of Lincoln, Kinney, Laflin, Lee, Legg, Lennon, Logan, Long, Mann, Marler, McDubbins, Merritt, McDonald, of Chatham, McDonald, of Moore, Mullican, Murphy, Nance, Newsom, Patrick, Parks, Ragland, Ray, Rhodes, Rich, Rose, Stillwell, Tucker, Watts, Williams, of Sampson, and Williamson——67.

AGAINST——Messrs. Barnes, Bradley, Candler, Congleton, Cox, Duckworth, Forkner, Gabagan, Garland, George, Glover, Graham, of Montgomery, Grant, of Northampton, Gully, Hare, Heaton, Hodnett, Jones, of Washington, King, of Lenoir, Moore, Nicholson, Parker, Petree, Peterson, Pierson, Pool, Read, Rentrow, Rodman, Sanderlin, Sweet, Taylor, Teague, Tourgee, Trogden, Turner, and Williams of Wake——40.

The President announced the following conmittee, in accordance with a resolution in relation to removal of disability of those who are in accord with the reconstruction acts:  Messrs. Nicholson, King, of Lenoir, Hay, Tourgee, Hood, Forkner, Jones, of Caldwell, and Gabagan.

CALENDAR.

Mr. Jones, of Caldwell, an ordinance in relation to ordinance in relation to ordinances or resolutions contemplating expenses besides per diem and mileage.

The ordinance was referred to the committee on rules with instructions to report a rule in accordance with its provisions.

Mr. Welker's ordinance, in relation to distillation of grain, after discussion was referred to the committee of three to confer with Gen. Canby.

On motion of Mr. Abbott, the Secretary was ordered to make out a list of delegates, and number of miles traveled by each; he state that the money for mileage was ready.

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since that time, misfortunes had come in the ordinary course of nature.

What is the nature of relief? He was surprised at the divergency of opinion.——The delegate from Orange proposes to amend and re-enact the ordinance of '65. Substantially it was the proposition of the committee——except, one-tenth was payable the first year, and one-fifth, the next, and one-half the next, and the balance the next year. This gives four years, while the committee proposes ten——to be paid in instalments of the tenth. At the same time the delegate says that he desires compromises between debtor and creditor, while he gives the later every inducement not to compromise. No less time than ten years would compel compromises.

Now the delegate from Guilford looks to a retrospective homestead for relief. He too placed a great value on the homestead provision of the constitution. But it should be a provision that was of a secure nature, else it would give way and afford no relief.

Mr. Tourgee——I do not object to further relief - but hold that when the new State's constitutional relations are perfected, such measures will fall through. Therefore I desire a retrospective homestead.

Mr. Rodman——the gentleman thinks about the relief ordinance, just as I do concerning the proposed homestead provision.

He favored a liberal homestead, but feared that no such law could protect the people. It would be a snare and a lure.

Then here is the bankrupt law. That says a man shall have $500 and such a homestead as the law of the State allowed in 1864. Of course, it would not apply to a homestead granted in 1868. Nor would our Courts respect it. Then if the Convention refuse to pass the ordinance and rely on a homestead provision, the people will be fatally deceived. The plan proposed it seemed to him, would also be universally acceptable. It was not class legislation——it was not repudiation, but a measure imperiously demanded. He hoped the Convention would view it as he did.

Mr. Congleton——Does the ordinance operate in behalf of railroads and other corporations?

Mr. Rodman——yes, sir.

Mr. Graham, of Orange, said admitting the reconstruction acts to be constitutional lie doubted the power of this Convention to pass a stay-law. But if distress is so great, let some measure be recommended to Gen. Canby with the request that he enforce it.——Gaston had been quoted as to the power of the Convention of '35 was restricted, not by the act of the Legislature, but the confirmation of that act by the people. And so in this instance of the acts of Congress.——If the Convention went out side the letter of the law, it was a self-constituted body.

Gentlemen said this was a State out of the Union. Now it was a State in the Union and could pass no law that any other State could not pass. The proposition of the committee plainly ties up the Courts, and then there is a constitutional section following that they shall have no jurisdiction save over a tenth of any old debts. This is a deliberate insult to the people——a hard, merciless, grasping proposal. We have heard creditors called shylocks, &c., but this proposition excels their cruelty. It is the price of the constitution; 'if you vote for it, you will be relieved of the payment of all but a tenth of your debts annually.' Should such a proposition emanate from the party of great moral ideas? Should such a party take advantage of the necessities of the people.——He believed this Convention had too high a respect for the people to do that after all.

His ordinance conferred all the relief asked for. At Spring term, the creditor would pay down one-tenth and have until next Spring term to pay the fifth. Or he could confess judgment and have until the Fall term to pay. In all suits, row pending, the same course would have to be pursued, even when a tenth has already been paid. And if any defendant did not wish to confess judgment, he could put in his please and the suit proceed as is 1860 - no judgment could then be obtained until the Fall term. Besides he believed that old debts ought to be compromised. Therefore, there was a provision that any debtor might pay 50 per 

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Mr. Tourgee said at the proper time he would offer the following amendment:

That no execution or other final process for any suit commenced except in case of laborer's wages or fraud, shall issue until 30 days after the election; and officers having such process are hereby commanded to stay proceedings and return to the Court.

This would relieve the people, he said, and exercise no deleterious influence as had been alleged concerning his colleague's amendment.

Mr. Abbott said that personally he would like to have this whole matter set aside, but claims come in from all quarters, and in Western N.C. suits were in progress which are creating great distress. He was willing to give the people temporary relief, and although he entered on this question reluctantly would vote for it. At any rate, if the matter could be settled, he would vote for the ordinance of the committee and the amendment of Mr. Tourgee. It may be that many poor men, who are about to see their earnings go under the auctioneer's hammer and pass away forever, may be given time and their property eventually saved by money thus earned and paid.

Mr. Welker said as the amendment of his colleagues substantially covered the grounds of his, he would withdraw it. He had not introduced the amendment to embarrass the Convention or endanger the commercial interests of the State. He called for final action.

Mr. Fullings had heard no proposition for the relief of the honest creditor. And this Convention proposes to pass laws to keep one neighbor from paying another for a debt due for corn or meat? Or here is a man owning thousands of acres of land——he will not pay the poor mechanic or laborer the few dollars honestly earned. Or the rich man's son, with cigar and walking cane, upheld in his refusal to pay the merchant for hss clothes. He knew what he said to be true. Stay-laws and repudiation laws wipe away the mechanic's earnings. He had labored and acquired something, and owed debts which he intended to pay, but these stay-laws prevented him from collecting what was due him. The debtor may convey his property, and snap his finger in the creditor's face. Let the Convention consider well before it took this leap.

Mr. Newsom said he was not personally interested in this matter, but if the delegate who had just spoken had represented his constituents and not himself, he would have spoken otherwise.

Mr. King, of Lincoln, said there was a law of the State invalidating sales of property, which did not bring three-fourths of its value. There was no reason why this stay-law should pass. It gave relief to the rascal, but did not assist the honest man. He had never heard of any letter calling for relief since he came here. There was the homestead law, the bankrupt law, Genera Canby's order, and what more protection did the people wish? He hoped the honest men of the Convention would vote these stay-laws down.

Mr. Galloway said he was in favor of relief. The people of New Hanover were in debt but he had seen no letter from them. All he desired for the constitution was that it should be equal and just in its provisions, and he did not ask for a relief provision in it. The Republican party took no steps backwards. But with justice and humanity as its motto, he would never vote to repudiate honest debt. All the debts for slaves since '63 and all debts contracted to aid the rebellion might go and should go forever, but his right arm would forget its cunning and his tongue would cleave to the roof of his mouth, before he would deprive any man of honest living. He had heard no cry for that from the poor white man or the colored man. In New Hanover a window and her children would be beggared by repudiation. He could never vote for it. Give the people time and it is all they ask. But let this Convention frame its constitution. The colored man has all to lose or all to gain. Give him equal rights and relieve the poor. He stood forth to the world as a non-repudiator. Let the rich man place his lands in the market and he would find purchasers. Relieve the

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[[page cut off]] whose present condition is equally deplorable and equally the result of the war; and that it also opens the door to unlimited fraud, we respectfully protest against this action of the Convention, and ask that this protest be spread upon the journal.

Messrs. Ing, Congelton and McDonald, of Chatham, also appended their names to the protest.

Mr. Ray presented a petition from Eliza C. Wagner, praying for a divorce. Referred.

Mr. Abbott, from the finance committee reported unfavorably to the resolution to negotiate a loan of $10,000; unfavorably to an ordinance in relation to the liabilities of banks; without recommendation upon a resolution requesting a loan of three millions from Congress; and favorably upon a resolution to raise a loan of $500 for contingent expenses.

Mr. Abbott announced that bills for contingent expenses properly avouched, would be cashed at the 1st National Bank.

From the finance committee, by Mr. Abbott, an ordinance to levy a tax for the expenses of the Convention.

He said this ordinance provided for a tax of 1-20th of 1 per cent., on property now taxed——real estate being valued as in 1868.

Mr Tourgee said the ordinance should be so amended as to include all the personal property of the State, as well as that now taxed by State laws. The act of Congress was explicit.

Mr. Abbott said if property not now taxed by the revenue law of the State, was included, trouble and confusion would ensue. A new assessment would have to be had.
Mr. Tourgee said he could not vote for the ordinance as it stood.

Mr. King, of Lenoir, restarted the argument of the chairman of the committee, and said he hoped the Convention would sustain the committee. He called for the yeas and nays:

FOR--Abbott, Andrews, Ashley, Aydlott, Baker, Barnes, Blume, Bradley, Bryan, Carey, Carter, Candler, Cherry, Chilson, Colgrove, Congelton, Dickey, Duckworth, Eppes, Etheridge, Fisher, Forkner, Franklin, French, of Chowan, Fullings, Gabagan, Galloway, Garland, George, Graham, of Montgomery, Grand, of Wayne, Grant, of Northampton, Guly, Gunter, Harris, of Wake, Harris of Franklin, Hayes, of Robeson, Hayes of Halifax, Heaton, Highsmith, Hobbs, Hoffler, Holloweb, Hood, Hyman, Ing, Jones, of Caldwell, Jones, of Washington, King, of Lincoln, King, of Lenoir, Kinney, Laflin, Lee, Legg, Logan, Mann, May, Mayo, McCabbins, McDonald, of Chatham, McDonald, of Moore, Morton, Mullican, Murphy, Nance, Nicholson, Patrick, Parker, Parks, Petree, Pierson, Pool, Ragland, Ray, Read, Renfrow, Rhodes, Rich, Rodman, Rose, Smith, Stilwell, Taylor, Teague, Tucker, Watts, Williams, of Wake, Williamson.

AGAINST.——Durham, Ellis, Graham, of Orange, Holt, Lennon, Merrit, Moore, Peterson, Sanderlin, Tourgee, Turner, Welker, Williams of Sampson.

Mr. Tourgee said that for the reason before states and because this Convention could not make the provisional officers servants of the body, twice since informed it could not be done, he voted no.

Mr. McDonald of Chatham, asked when the tax was collectable?

Mr. Abbott——When the ordinary taxes are collected.

The ordinance was passed——yeas 92, nays 13.

Mr. Jones, of Washington, a report from the committee on corporations other than municipal, which was ordered to be printed.

Mr. King, of Lenoir, a resolution suspending the 16th rule, which was adopted.

Mr. Ragland, a resolution instructing the committee to confer with Gen. Canby to ask him to stay executions on ruinous debts.

Mr. R asked for a suspension of the rules. Agreed to.

Mr. Jones, of Washington, said the matter was settled yesterday. If new debts were stayed, the laboring men of the country would be at the mercy of harpies and shylocks, of whom so much was said. The matter of relief was decided yesterday.

Mr. McDonald, of Chatham, pressed a vote on the resolution. He desired the fullest relief for the people. There were ten or fif- 

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The resolution of Mr. Rich, amendatory on rule 12, was withdrawn.

A resolution by Mr. McDonald, of Chatham, for relief of debtors, was referred on motion of Mr. Gunter to the relief committee.

The resolution of Mr. Laflin, in relation to State bonds outstanding, was laid over until the 6th section of the bill of rights was taken up.

A resolution by Mr. Read in favor of two daily sessions——at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., was adopted.

A resolution by Mr. Parker on the same subject was tabled.

A resolution by Mr. Ellis, in relation to the unconstitutionality of the reconstruction acts.

Mr. Ellis addressed the Convention at some length. [Published hereafter.]

The resolutions were tabled.

The report of the Executive Committee on the first article of the Constitution, was then taken up.

The question recurred on the motion to amend section 1, by striking out two and inserting three years, Mr. Jones, of Washington having the floor.

Mr. Jones, of Wash., moved to amend by striking out three and inserting four.

Mr. Laflin seconded.

Mr. Jones said that he respected long continued customs as much as any one, but a change that was an advantage should be made. He did not believe that frequent elections always promoted the stability of republican government, because of the fierceness of party wrath. At least the Superintendent of Public Instruction should hold over four years, that he might be able to accomplish something substantial. Experience had taught us that officers for a short term began to electioneer for re-election, and thus neglected their duties. The public interest was neglected. Besides, the Republican party needed such a term of years to establish itself firmly. It was not too long for the great work of organizing new ideas and to give the people time to consider and to approve. A party is being organized inimical to this great party, and it behooved the members of it to decide wisely, for the future perhaps depended upon their action to-day.

Mr. Jones, of Caldwell, hoped the amendment would be voted down. He favored the clause as reported, and believed it would be acceptable to the people. It was a wise compromise.

On the amendment of the delegate from Washington,

Mr. Forkner called the yeas and nays as follows:

FOR.——Messrs. Andrews, Ashley, Blume, Bryan, Carey, Carter, Cherry, Chillson, Colgrove, Congleton, Dickey, Duckworth, Eppes, Ehteridge, Fisher, Franklin, French, of Bladen, French, of Rockingham, French, of Chowan, Fullings, Gahngan, Galloway, Garland, Graham, of Montgomery, Grant, of Northampton, Gully, Harris, of Wake, Harris, of Franklin, Hayes, of Robeson, Hayes, of Halifax, Henton, Highsmith, Hood, Hyman, Ing, Jones, of Washington, Kinney, Laflin, Lee, Legg, Logan, Mann, May, Mayo, Moore, Murphy, Nance, Nicholson, Patrick, Parker, Parks, Pierson, Pool, Ragland, Rengrow, Rhodes, Rodman, Rose, Sweet, Taylor, Tourgee, Williamson.

AGAINST.——Messrs. Aydlott, Barnes, Bradlev, Cox, Ellis, Forkner, George, Graham, of Orange, Gunter, Hobbs, Hodnett, Hoffler, Hollowell, Jones, of Caldwell, King, of Lenoir, Long, Marler, McCubbins, Merritt, McDonald of Chatham, McDonald, of Moore, Morton, Mullican, Newsom, Petrce, Ray, Read, Sanderlin, Smith, Stilwell, Teague, Trogden, Tucker, Turner, Welker, Williams, of Sampson, Williams of Wake.

Ayes 62. Nays 36.

The amendment was agreed to, verbally altered and adopted.

The 2d section was read and adopted,

The 3d section was read and

Mr. Tourgee moved to strike out "execute" and insert "perform." Agreed to.

The section was adopted.

The 4th section was read, and

On motion of Mr. Forkner, amended so as to require the Governor to swear to support the Constitution and laws of the United States and State.

He said that now-a-days, officials made a