North Carolina General Assembly of 1868–1869

The North Carolina General Assembly of 18681869 met in Raleigh from November 16, 1868 to April 12, 1869 with a special session from July 1, 1868 to August 24, 1868. This was the first assembly to meet after the approval of the new Constitution of North Carolina in 1868. As prescribed in this constitution, the assembly consisted of the 120 members in the North Carolina House of Representatives and 43 senators in the North Carolina Senate elected by the voters on August 6, 1868. This assembly was in control of the Republican Party and was dominated by reconstruction era politics.[1][2][3][4]

78th North Carolina General Assembly (1868–1869)
1866-1867 1869–1870
Overview
Legislative bodyNorth Carolina General Assembly
JurisdictionNorth Carolina, United States
Meeting placeRaleigh
Term1868–1869
Senate
Members43 Senators
Lieutenant Governor/President of the SenateTod Robinson Caldwell
President pro temCharles S. Winstead
ClerkT. A. Brynes
Clerk pro temWilliam M. Barrow
DoorkeeperJ. T. Ball
Party controlRepublican
House of Representatives
Members120 Delegates
SpeakerJoseph W. Holden
Speaker pro temJacob W. Bowman
ClerkJohn H. Bonner
Party controlRepublican
Sessions
1stNovember 16, 1868 – April 12, 1869
2ndJuly 1, 1868 – August 24, 1868

Changes in assembly from the North Carolina Constitution of 1868

The Constitution of North Carolina was rewritten at the North Carolina Constitutional Convention of 1868, which met in Raleigh from January 14 to March 17, 1868. In this relatively progressive document, the House of Commons was renamed the House of Representatives. The new constitution spelled out that the legislature would meet annually on the third Monday in November. The number of Senators was set as 50. There would be one or two Senators for each Districts composed of one or more counties. The boundaries of the districts would be re-evaluated in 1871 after the federal census. A state census was required every 10 years, beginning in 1875. This census would be used to re-evaluate the districts, so that an approximate equal number of residents would be included in each district. The House of Representatives was set at 120 members. Each county would have at least one representative and some counties would have up to four representatives, based on population. The population would not include non-taxed Indians or aliens. Elections would be held the first Thursday of August. The terms of the members of the house and senate would commence when elected and continue till the next election.[5][6]

The Lieutenant Governor was designated as the President of the Senate, albeit without a vote unless there was a tie vote. A President pro temp would be elected by the senators to serve in the absence of the Lieutenant Governor.[5][6]

The 1868 Constitution included provisions to establish public education for the first time, prohibit slavery, and adopt universal suffrage. It also provided for public welfare institutions for the first time: orphanages, public charities and a penitentiary.[7]

In January 1868, at the same time as the Constitutional Convention, a Black Caucus came together in Raleigh. Many of these members would be elected to the 1860 General Assembly.[8]

In April 1868, voters of North Carolina ratified the new constitution.[9]

Legislation

This assembly met in regular session from November 16, 1868 to April 12, 1869. They met in an extra session from July 1, 1868 to August 24, 1868.[4] The assembly ratified the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, as required by the United States Congress, on July 4, 1868. Ratification of the Fourteenth amendment readmitted North Carolina to the United States. This assembly also ratified the Fifteenth Amendment. In anticipation of readmission to the U.S. Congress, on June 25, 1868, the assembly elected John Pool of Elizabeth City and Joseph Carter Abbott of Wilmington to the United States Senate. The state's first public school systems, one for blacks and one for whites, was created by this assembly. Funding for the first state penitentiary, Central Prison was authorized by this legislature.[9]

Every Southern state subsidized railroads, which modernizers believed could haul the South out of isolation and poverty. Millions of dollars in bonds and subsidies were fraudulently pocketed. One ring in North Carolina spent $200,000 in bribing the legislature and obtained millions in state money for its railroads. Instead of building new track, however, it used the funds to speculate in bonds, reward friends with extravagant fees, and enjoy lavish trips to Europe.[10]

For additional details on legislation, see Legislative Documents.

Assembly membership

This was the first assembly that Blacks were represented in the assembly, including three Black senators and 18 representatives in the House of Representatives.[4]

House of Representatives members

Rep. Thomas Jordan Jarvis, Tyrrell County
Rep. John S Leary, Cumberland County
Rep. James L Robinson, Macon County

The House of Representative delegates elected a Speaker (Joseph W. Holden, William A. Moore), Clerk, Assistant Clerk (John H. Boner), Doorkeeper, and Assistant Doorkeeper. Alleghany, Clay, Mitchell, Polk, Transylvania, and Wilson counties sent delegates to the assembly for the first time.The following delegates to the House of Representatives were elected by the voters of North Carolina to represent each county and district:[2][3][4][11]

CountyNo of County
Delegates
Name
Alamance1John A. Moore
Alexander1Robert P. Matheson
Alleghany1John L. Smith
Anson1D. Ingram
Ashe1Matthew Carson
Beaufort1Hiram E. Stilley
Bertie1Parker David Robbins[note 1]
Bladen1F.W. Foster
Brunswick1B.T. Morrell
Buncombe1William Gaston Candler
Burke1John R. Sudderth
Cabarrus1John P. Gibson
Caldwell1James C. Harper[note 2]
Caldwell1W. H. Malone[note 3]
Camden1W.B. Ferebee
Carteret1Joel Henry Davis
Caswell2William Long[note 4]
Caswell2Wilson Cary[note 1][note 5]
Caswell2Philip Hodnett
Catawba1James R. Ellis
Chatham2William T. Gunter
Chatham2James B. Long
Cherokee1J.R. Simonds
Chowan1William A. Moore
Clay1John O. Hicks
Cleveland1Plato Durham
Columbus 2Daniel P. High
Craven3B.W. Morris[note 1]
Craven3Augustus S. Seymour
Craven3A. W. Stevens[note 1]
Cumberland2John S. Leary[note 1]
Cumberland2Isham Sweat[note 1]
Currituck1Thomas C. Humphries
Davidson2George Kinney
Davidson2Jabez Mendenhall
Davie1James A. Kelley
Duplin2N.E. Armstrong
Duplin2Isaac B. Kelly
Edgecombe2Henry C. Cherry[note 1]
Edgecombe2George Peck
Forsyth1John P. Vest
Franklin2James T. Harris
Franklin2John H. Williamson[note 1]
Gaston1Jonas Hoffman
Gates1John Gatling
Granville3A.A. Crawford[note 1]
Granville3Cuffie Mayo[note 1]
Granville3J. W. Ragland
Greene1Joseph Dixon
Guilford2David Hodgin
Guilford2Stephen G. Horney
Halifax3H.T.J. Hayes[note 1]
Halifax3Ivey Hutchings[note 1]
Halifax3John H. Renfrow
Harnett1Neill S. Stewart[note 6]
Harnett1B. C. Williams[note 7]
Haywood1Walter Brown[note 8]
Haywood1W. P. Welch
Henderson1W.D. Justus
Hertford1Thomas Snipes
Hyde1Tillman Farrow
Iredell2George Davidson
Iredell2T. A. Nicholson
Jackson1Joseph Keener[note 9]
Jackson1E. M. Painter[note 10]
Johnston2B.R. Hinnant
Johnston2Edward W. Pou
Jones1L.D. Wilkie
Lenoir1Wallace Ames
Lincoln1A.C. Wiswall
Macon1James L. Robinson
Madison1George W. Gahagan
Martin1Jesse J. Smith
McDowell1W.W. Gilbert
Mecklenburg2W. Grier
Mecklenburg2Robert D. Whitley
Mitchell1Jacob W. Bowman
Montgomery1George A. Graham
Moore1Abel Kelly
Nash1William W. Boddie
New Hanover3Joseph C. Abbott[note 11]
New Hanover3George Z. French
New Hanover3Llewellen G. Estes[note 12]
New Hanover3R. C. Parker[note 13]
New Hanover3John S. W. Eagles[note 1]
New Hanover3George W. Price[note 1]
Northampton2Roswell C. Parker
Northampton2John T. Reynolds
Onslow1Franklin Thompson
Orange2J.J. Allison[note 14]
Orange2Thomas M. Argo[note 15]
Orange2Frederick N. Strudwick
Pasquotank1Thomas A. Sykes[note 1]
Perquimans1Jeptha White
Person1Samuel C. Barnett
Pitt2Byron Laflin
Pitt2Richard Short
Polk1Ashbury Waldrop
Randolph 2Joel Ashworth
Randolph 2E. T. Blair
Richmond1Richmond T. Long
Robeson2Edward K. Proctor
Robeson2James Sinclair
Rockingham2Henry Barnes
Rockingham2D. S. Ellington
Rowan2Joseph Hawkins
Rowan2Isaac M. Shaver
Rutherford1James M. Justice
Sampson1John C. Williams
Stanly1Lafayette Green
Stokes1W.W. McCanless
Surry1A.L. Hendricks
Transylvania1James W. Clayton
Tyrrell1Thomas Jordan Jarvis
Union1Hugh Downing
Wake4Joseph W. Holden
Wake4Stokes D. Franklin
Wake4Fielding G. Moring
Wake4James H. Harris[note 1]
Warren 2William Cawthorn[note 1]
Warren 2Richard Falkner[note 1]
Washington1James J. Rea
Watauga1Lewis B. Banner
Wayne2John T. Person
Wayne2D. E. Smith
Wilkes1William B. Segrist
Wilson1George W. Stanton
Yadkin1J.M. Vestal
Yancey1David Proffitt

Senate members

Lieutenant Governor Tod Robinson Caldwell
Sen. Abraham Galloway
Sen. John Adams Hyman
Sen. Bedford Brown

The Lieutenant Governor, Tod Robinson Caldwell, served as President of the Senate when it was in session. The Senators elected a President pro tem (Charles S. Winstead), Clerk (T. A. Brynes), Assistant Clerk (William M. Barrow), Doorkeeper (J. T. Ball), and Assistant Doorkeeper (Francis W. Gibble). The following Senators were elected by the voters of North Carolina to represent the numbered districts:[2][3][4][12]

DistrictCountiesSenatorHome County
1Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Gates, Pasquotank, PerquimansElihu A. WhitePerquimans
1Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Gates, Pasquotank, PerquimansJoseph W. EtheridgeCurrituck
2Martin, Tyrrell, WashingtonFranklin G. MartindaleMartin
3Beaufort, HydeJ.B. RespessBeaufort
4NorthamptonWilliam BarrowNorthampton
5Bertie, HertfordJames W. BeasleyBertie
6HalifaxHenry Epps[note 1]Halifax
7EdgecombeN.B. BellamyEdgecombe
8PittW.A. CherryPitt
9Nash, WilsonJoshua BarnesWilson
10Carteret, CravenW.A. MooreCarteret
10Carteret, CravenW.H.S. SweetCraven
11Jones, LenoirD.D. ColgroveJones
12Duplin, OnslowWilliam A. AllenDuplin
13Brunswick, New HanoverAbraham H. Galloway[note 1]New Hanover
13Brunswick, New HanoverEdwin LeggBrunswick
14Bladen, ColumbusJohn W. PurdieBladen
15RobesonO.S. HayesRobeson
16Cumberland, Harnett, SampsonJames S. HarringtonHarnett
16Cumberland, Harnett, SampsonL.D. HallCumberland
17JohnstonJ.B. CookJohnston
18Greene, WayneCurtis H. BrogdenWayne
19Franklin, WakeR.I. WynneWake
19Franklin, WakeWillie D. JonesWake
20WarrenJohn Adams Hyman[note 1]Warren
21Granville, PersonCharles S. WinsteadPerson
21Granville, PersonR.W. LassiterGranville
22OrangeJosiah Turner, Jr.Orange
23ChathamSilas BurnsChatham
24CaswellBedford BrownCaswell
25RockinghamJohn M. LindsayRockingham
26Alamance, GuilfordG.W. WelkerGuilford
26Alamance, GuilfordT.M. ShoffnerAlamance
27Montgomery, RandolphJohn H. DavisMontgomery
28Moore, RichmondWilliam B. RichardsonMoore
29Anson, UnionP.T. BeemanAnson
30MecklenburgJames W. OsborneMecklenburg
31Cabarrus, StanlyChristopher MelchorCabarrus
32Davie, RowanW.M. RobbinsRowan
33DavidsonP.A. LongDavidson
34Forsyth, StokesPeter A. WilsonForsyth
35Surry, YadkinSamuel ForknerSurry
36Alexander, IredellJ.H. McLaughlinIredell
37Catawba, Gaston, LincolnLawson A. MasonGaston
38Cleveland, Polk, RutherfordJ.B. EavesRutherford
39Alleghany, Ashe, WilkesSamuel P. SmithWilkes
40Buncombe, Henderson, TransylvaniaJames BlytheHenderson
41Burke, Caldwell, WataugaEdmund W. JonesCaldwell
42Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, YanceyWilliam M. MooreYancey
43Cherokee, Clay, Haywood, Jackson, MaconW. Levi LoveMacon

Notes

  1. One of eighteen Black representatives and three senators elected to the General Assembly after the Civil War.
  2. James C. Harper's election was declared illegal and voided.
  3. W. H.Malone was elected to replace James C. Harper after his election was declared voided.
  4. William Long's election was declared illegal and voided. He was replaced by Wilson Cary.
  5. Wilson Cary was elected to replace William Long.
  6. Neill S. Stewart's election was declared illegal and voided.
  7. B. C. Williams was elected to replace Neill S. Stewart.
  8. Walter Brown's election was declared illegal and voided.
  9. Joseph Keener's election was declared illegal and voided.
  10. E. M. Painter was elected to replace Joseph Keener.
  11. Joseph C. Abbott resigned his position after being elected to the U.S. Senate.
  12. At some point in his tenure, Llewellen G. Estes resigned his position.
  13. R. C. Parker died while in office.
  14. J. J. Allison resigned his position.
  15. Thomas M. Argo was elected to replace J. J. Allison, who resigned his position.

References

  1. Norris, David A. (2006). "North Carolina Capitals, Colonial and State". NCPedia.org. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  2. Connor, Robert Diggs Wimberly, ed. (1913). A Manual of North Carolina (PDF). Raleigh, North Carolina: E. M. Uzzell & Company. p. 475. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  3. Wheeler, John Hill, ed. (1874). The Legislative Manual and Political Register of the State of North Carolina for the Year 1874. Raleigh, North Carolina: Josiah Turner, Jr.; State Printer and Binder. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  4. Cheney, John L. Jr. (1974). North Carolina Government, 1585–1974. pp. 447–448.
  5. "Constitutional Development of North Carolina, 1868 Constitutional Convention and Constitution" (PDF). ncleg.net. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
  6. Orth, John V. (2006). "North Carolina Constitution History".
  7. W.E.B. Du Bois, Black Reconstruction in America, 1860-1180.New York: Harcourt Brace, 1935; reprint, New York: The Free Press, 1998, pp.529-531
  8. Ijames, Earl (2008). "Constitutional Convention, 1868; Black Caucus". NCPEDIA. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
  9. Release, Allen W. (2006). "Reconstruction". NCPEDIA. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  10. Foner, Eric (1988). Reconstruction: America's Unfinished Revolution, 1863–1877. ISBN 0-06-015851-4.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link) Pulitzer-prize winning history and most detailed synthesis of original and previous scholarship.
  11. Lewis, J.D. "North Carolina State House of Representatives 1868--1869". The American Revolution in North Carolina. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  12. Lewis, J.D. "North Carolina State Senate 1868-1869". The American Revolution in North Carolina. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
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