Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-02-21
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL.



B4rAt meeting of the Board of Commissioner,
of the town of Wilmington, held on Monday evening
the 18th instant resolutions were passed authorizing
the Magistrate of Police to subscribe in the name
and behalf of the Commissioners for one thousand
shares of stock in the Wilmington and Manchester
Railroad Company; and also authorizing the issue
Ot bonds to the amount of hundred thousand dol
lars, with interest at six per cent. per annum, and
rcdcemable at not less than ten than twet-
y years after their respective dates and that the
payment of the principal money and the accruing
interest become due by the bonds so to be issued
be secured and provided for by the assessment and
the collection of sufficient amount of taxes from the
real estate the colored and white polls, and other
subjects of taxation within the town of Wilmington,
according to the provisions of act passed by the
late Legislature entitled AN act to extend the pow
ors of tie Commissioners of the town of Wilmington
7. D. MEAREs and MILES CosrIN were appointed
proxies to represent the town subscription in the
Railroad Convention to be held at Marion C. H. in
March next, their expenses to be paid by the town.
more Constitutional Doctrinr."
There are some people in this world who live un-
der the impression that their simple ipse dirit must
settle every controversy-that sneer is an argu-
ment and the imputation Of g fasehood" and & ma
Lightly in their opponents, perfect defence of them
selves against the charge of political hypocrisy and
double dealing, when fastened down and proved
upon them. With them it is quite sufficient to
characterize argument which they cannot an
swer as ridiculous and it is equally in their line
to resort to personal insinuations, when fair and
manly opposition is beyond their reach We name
no names: but when we mention our friends of the
Fayetteville Observer. most readers will recognize the
portrait without a more minute description. Ger
tain it s that that paper has displayed remarka-
bic lack OF fairness to say nothing of courtesy in its
course upon the SUBJ ect of amendments to the Con-
stitution We say distinctly, and we challenge
valid contradiction, that we advance no new doc
trinc when We assert that amendments by Legsla-
tive enactment is the only mode authorized in the
Constitution. This doctrine is found plainly and
emphatically laid down in the Constitution itself,
the provisions of which have quoted more than
once before If the words of the Constitution mean
anything they mean to forbid amendment in any
other way. They say expressly, that :: No part of
the Constitution of the State shall be altered unless
bill to alter the same shall have been read three
time etc Even under the penalty of being consid
cred ridicuous,'' would venture to enquire of
our friends of the Observer what Interpretation they
can give of the clause of the Constitution in relation
to amendments, that will not sanction the doctrine
of the Journal--or that will sanction any other |
doctrine We really wish to see and know-and |
if we are wrong, to be set right but our mind |
s stubborn-it must have matter proved to it be-
it give its consent to receive it an article
If belief; and unfortunately, friends of the o.
errer, in their superior wisdom, have 50 far only
Ouchedsafe to us the very cheering assurance that
'ur argument is ridculous,' and that we are very
naughty. All this may be so, but perhaps the eff
ect of the Observers assertion would not be at all
essened, were they supported by something in the
hapc of arguments drawn from the only instrument
f intrinsic authority in the matter. So far. they
ave not been so condescending to furnish with
UGH. We believe this is a government of Laws and
CONSTITUTIONS and that, under such government no
hange can be legally made except in accordance
With the Constitution, and in the manner prescribed
y law-not even if every in the State desired
t. 1t could no doubt be DONE and the whole affair
ct aside, without the Intervention of existing Con-
tutonal forms, but it would be revolution, and not
awful amendment. We have no time to pursue
his subject now, but will resume it in our next. By
he way we have not seen the debates in Convention
VI " AoIlS "HlIc OuG eAp W lay udnuS pom
hem in a day or two. We wish to discuss the mat
er calmly and dispassionatey, simply for the pur
pose of placing the truth before readers; they
ire quite competent to form their conclusions,
md we have fears for their verdict. No Conren-
ion 'riH be called-none can be called.
Re~It seems that the Clerk, in enrolling the Raj
eigh and CASTOR Railroad bill for the Speakers to
sign omitted three four sections, which omission
ras'hot noticed by the Committee Enrolled Bills,
md thus the bill, signed, differs in this respect
from that which passed both Houses. Gen. SAUN-
DERs does not consider the omission fatal, eaT
,ulacd to defeat the operation of the bill We think,
however, that the idea of amending the record,
The responsibility of the officers of the General
Assembly, after the adjournment Of that body is
perfectly apocryphal, and we wonder that General
SAUNDERS should have been guilty of avowingt. But
project for the benefit of the Petersburg interest
shaTpens the Generals faculties to amazing ex- ,
tent, beyond what could be effected by nero North
Carolina work. q
What Lost.
Had Legislature made subscription to the
stock or authorized an endorsement of the bonds of
the Manchester Railroad, we have not the slightest
loubt that the Legislature of South Caroline would
lave made liberal appropriation for the Cheraw