Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-02-07
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL.
wIhMINaTos, NC. FRIDAY, FEB. =, 1881.

Tho disease broke ont yesterday morning upon negro
belonging 10 Mr. Samuel Berry The negro Immediate
Il removed to the Mineral Spring about two miles ont
town There has been death last ISSUE that of
Mrs Bannister, whom reported sick last week There is
no case now in town. with the exception of Mrs Bloom who
scUnsidered cut of danger The negro girl the hospital
Is recovering, has not yet been discharged Total number
of cases since Jan. ls, Z; deaths. g.
The Fayetteville Observer aud t:as Constitution.
ssTheslast Fayetteville Observer GENES down upon
us with perfect Hale storm of abuse, which it
to consider reply to article in the Journal of
some weeks since, upon the subject of amendments
to the constitution. Perhaps it may be but We must
confess oursclf too much of Ignorant locofoco
to recognize the proprety refinement of such cpl
tbets as 'huckeberry boys of New Hanover" when
applied the citizens of this county; neither
We appreciate the wit or ability of sneers at the
" enlightened State of Edgecombe." But these
things simply matters of taste, and the Obser-
is evidently ashamed of the meanness of its posi-
ton and course, it would be species of cruelty to
animals to deprive it Of the consolation which it de-
riyes from being engaged in the congenial occupa-
tion of giving vent to abuse and scurrility.
In reply to the question propounded by the Obser-
yer, to whether we mean to assert that the only
way in which an amendment of the constitution can
be legally and constutionally made is by Legislative
enactment, would refer directly to the constitu-
ton itself. The second clause of the first section of
the fourth article, begins thus: = NO PART of the
constitution Of this State shall be altered unless bill
to alter the shall haze been read three times &c.
going on to specify the mode of amendment by legs-
latve enactment and ultimate submission to the peo-
plo, and concludes thus I: And it, upon comparing
the votes given in the whole State, upon the amend
ment, when submitted to the people, it shall appear
that majority of the voters have approved thereof
then, and not otheruise the same shall become part
of the constitution" We mean distinctly to assert
our belief that amendment q alteration" can
be constitutionay made, otherwise than prcscri-
bed in the constitution, which says emphatically
No part shall be altered, unless bill to alter the
shall have been read three times,'' ETC., and
that when all these conditions have been complied
with then. and not othcr,cise shall the same become
a part of the constitution. The only allusion made
to Convention, is in the following words No
Convention of the people shall be called by the Gene
raj Assembly unless by the of twothrds
of all the members of each House of the General AS
sembly." In this there is specification of the pow
of Convention when called, but, the contra
~, careful avoidance of such specification. Ger
tainly not word is said about amending the const-
dcd to- it is distinctly laid down that the constitution
shall be altered by legislative enactment, and not
oerpiss Far be it from us to wish or desire to re-
strict the power of the people. We do not pretend
to say that Convention might not form ncu con-
stitution but do think that it could not conss-
tently with the words of the constitution, make a
mendments to the old one.
We repeat that we wish to adhere to the provis-
IF 10 do ali
accordance with the spirit and intent of that instru-
mont and we have yet to learn that it isa violation
of it's provisions endeavor to effect changes be-
lieved to be Just and beneficial in the plain
ly prescribed. fit is So we will plead by way of
abatement that we Ignorant locofocos" and not
yet posted up in the doctrines of that transcendenta
school of politics, of which the Observer is such
apostle. As for coupling Mr.. SEWARD
and the Convention wings of North Carolina. see
nothing so bad in that-the worst thing about it,
and which has especially walked up the Observer, is
its truth. The whig presses denounce the of
the democrats although that is in strict
cordance with the Constitution, and in doing they
denounce the Constitution what more does Sew
ARD do ? The Observer knows, and knew when its
article penned that this the only way in
which we coupled them. We would further inform
the Observer, that Mr.. SEWARD has said nothing a
bout the Wilmington Journal That parsonage is
not ungratefu to pass his friends and fellow
wings of the Observer to notice our humble sheet.
We would request friends of the Observer to
believe when say that we have never under
stood Democracy to mean the unlimited rule of a
bare majority. We believe that minorities have
rights, and that these must be protected and held
sacred. We have most holy horror of demagogue-
ism in all its forms and shapes but more especially
of that peculiar form which it exhibits in the col
umns of the Observer. The Editors Of that paper
knotc that the East will not consent to Conven-
ton and yet knowing this, they continue to agitate
for agitation sake and nothing else. They profess
to believe that the present basis of representation is
fair compromise between the East and the West,
and yet go for Convention, the leading advocates
Of which avow their design to be change in the
basis They are in favor of the present balance of
power in the State. and yet denounce the democratic
party as anti-repubcan because they wish to main
tain it, The plain fact is, that the Observer and its
party are opposed to any amendment in the Consti-
tuition, and not daring openly to oppose The unmis
takeable manifestations of the popular will, they
deavor to sneak round it, by proposing what they
know to be impossibility, and at the same time
make some small party capital by raising hypo
critical cry in favor of the dear people, for whom
they exhibit their respect by calling them Huckle
berry boys" and Ignorant locofocos." Consisten
cyi jewel.
The Observer is welcome to make all the capita