160             JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS              [Jan. 29,

On motion of Mr. Partridge,                            

The order was laid on the table.                        

On motion of Mr. Hall,                                                   

The rules were suspended to enable him to submit the follow-
ing

REPORT.                       

The majority of the committee, to whom was referred the con-
sideration of the expediency of referring to the people for their
action a prohibitory liquor law, beg leave to report.

The committee, aware of the magnitude of the subject, and the
deep interest that has been manifested by the people therein, have
given it that serious and deliberate investigation which it so de-
servedly demands.

Believing that stringent legislation injures rather than promotes
any moral action, and that sausory and mild means are more con-
ducive to that end, your committee would respectfully suggest, that
in their opinion a modification in the license law would better
subserve the purpose had in view than an entire prohibition.
Your committee further believe, that no practical advantage would
result by referring this subject to the people for their action by
reason of the great excitement that has been produced in other
Stales upon this subject without advancing the cause in the most
minute degree. Your committee therefore beg leave to be dis-
charged from the further consideration of the subject.

Which was read and adopted.                   

The order of the day being, a bill entitled, an act to simplify
and abridge the rules and forms of conveyancing.

Mr. Wickes moved that the consideration of this bill be made
the order of Thursday next, and that the suggestions of the com-
mittee be printed, and also that upon the further consideration of
this bill that the House dispense with the reading of any part ex-
cept said suggestions.

Which was adopted:

Mr. Kennedy from the Committee on Ways and Means report-
ed favorably a bill entitled, an act for the more speedy and con-
venient adjustment and collection of debts due the State.

A bill entitled, an act to authorise certain Trustees or their suc-
cessors, or the survivors of them, to sell and convey the Parsonage
house and lot of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the Greens-
borough circuit, and to purchase another parsonage house and
lot with the proceeds of said sale;

Which was read the first time.