Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1852-10-29
coy. REID,s isIENNIAL MISS x<sE.,
le HnnornbIe. IA General dssemblu

i Plenty, the present would seem NEST auspcionss
period for directing our thoughts and energies to-
sucl objects Of legislation as are calculated 10 adj
vance the great interests OF the state, and to per-
petuate the blessings of liberty.
: Government was Instituted for the security of the
rights of persons and of property and for the pro-
motion of the substantial prosperity and happiness
of the people These objects, controlled by consti-
tutonal limitations. constitute the great political
chart to guide Legislative and Executive action.
! Among the subjects which claim the consideration
of the General Assembly, is the question of Consti
tutional Reform. At the session of l850-'51,. the
General Assembly passed. by constitutional ma
iority, bill to amend the Constitution, as to ex-
tend to every freeman who has The right to vote for
the Commons, the rgbt to vote also for the Senate.
! The Executive Proclamation on this subject, was
published agreeabiy to the requirements of the Le
| gislature. earnestly recommend that said amend
be passed by the constitutional majority of the
present General Assembly, and submitted to the
voters Of the State for ratification.
| The Constitution, it now stands. prohibits every
man who does not own fifty acres of land from yo-i
ting in the Senate. This provision, it is believed.
DISTINGUISHES in the Senate about half of the
free willie men of the State, aud embraces in its
prescription large class who in int Of merit in
tel igence and patriotism, arc not inferior to any
portion Of our popula'ion The proposition is not to
take from the landhollers their just rights but to
elevate another mcrtorious class of people to
! equal privileges at the ballot box tits marked
feature in the progress of this reform, that great
portion Of the trceh0licrS. with commemorate dis
intercsteineSs, regarded this question OF prlncI-
/ pie and of right, and among them were found It's
| earliest advocates and most Jealous supporters.
large majority of the people: in every portion
of the State are in favor of Equal Suffrage, and pre-
| fer the Legislative mole of efecting it. The grea-
ter part OF the expense necessary to attain Equal
Suffrage has already been incurred and now TO
abandon the Legislative mode. and to rely upon the
convention mode would not only cause delay but
an increase Of expenditure. The Convention mode
is imprac ticablc. The constitutional majority can
not be obtained in favor of Convention; and if the
fate of this question made to depend upon calling
Convention, its defeat may be regarded as certain
| The Legislative mode is not only expressly provl
ded for in our State Constitution, but is also recog
missed in the Constitution of the United States, as
one of the modes for ratifying anne dments, by the
States, to the Federal Constitution
This mode affords time for examination and rehec
ton in relation t. the amendment proposed. and
finally when it shall have passed two successive lie
gisatCreS it cannot be adopted without the sane
/ ton of majority Of the State at the ballot box.
A free, open and unreStr ted Convention" could
have no such RESTITUTION upon its power. Hence,
well founded apprehension exists in the minds of
many ardent friends Of constitutional reform against
the Convention mode Of etfecting it. A Convention
is impracticabe and inexpcdicnt. and regard the
Legislative the safe and only PRACTICAL mode, at
this time, of amending the constitution.
/ change of the basis Of representation would be
fraught with mischief. Even the agitation of The
subject Is calculated to destroy that harmony among
the various portions of the State, which is essen
tial to prosperity and happiness Let US unite in
directing attention to objects that may produce
more beneficial results
1t is circumstance gratifying and at the same
time highly complimentary to the State, that how
ever much the people may desire constitutional re-
form, they promptly reject any other than const-
tutional mode to attain it.
The election Of Judges and Justices Of tile Peace.
by the people, and for terms less than for life. are
questions of constitutional reform. which recon-
mend to the favorable consideration Of TIL General
; Assembly.
There is no object of more general Importance
than Common Schools, nor is any question more wor-
thy Of the favorable consideration Of the General
Assembly and the people of the State.
1t is contenled by some that the present mode Of
div!in the School Fund, is ust and that it ought
to be divided according to white instead Of federal
population. The present basis Of distribution has
met the approval Of many successive Legislatures
and do not any good reason to recommend a
change in this respect. No mole can be devised that
will operate with equal benefit 70 all the counties
g 1t is submitted. whether the appointment of a
general superintendent may not tend to improve
common schools, and to advance the of educa-
ton. Snch officer could doubt do much to
produce uniformity in the system. and to dfuse a
proper spirit the SUI ect throughout the State 1t
is believed that the present system has greatly d-
minished the number Of private schools. In many
instances it would seem that rel ance upon the com
mon school prevents the district from rOvding a
private school : ana it is often found that district
has very imperfect school, and that only for We
ny short period during the year The schools should
if possible be Of such character to make it the
interest Of all classes to patronize them: fer they
are intended alike for the poor and the rich.
The cxecu'io9 Of the system is defective than
the system itself One cause why our schools are
not in more furnishing condition, arises from the
fact that public attention has not been sufficiently
aroused to the Importance of the sul cct. Sparse
Of population, and the wart of adequate means
to employ suitable teachers, the principal Obsta-
cles that impede tie progress of the system. The
question arise: whether it is better to endure the
system with its present limited but gradually in
creas'ng benefits or to improve it at once. by
: sort to increase Of taxation. can imagine no
Y object for Which increase Of tax .tiOn would be
more juStiIAblc and commenlablc. Contributions
for pulic education have been APPLY compared to the
vapDur drawn from the earth not to exhaust but to
q be returned in f"rtilizng showers.
Oar common school system. however. imperfect as
. it is is producing lasting and beneficial effects. Ii
will improve as we advance in experience and in
in popu;aliun During the past year, upwards
Of one hundred and twenty sight thousand dollars
y were distributed from the Literary Fund among the
several counties of the State and an equal amount
j., will be distributed during the present year. Tho
O. principal of the fund is gradually but slowly in
crea>ing, ami is becoming more productive. AS yet
there has been nothing actually received from eSch
eats, but it is believed that the passed upon this
d subject at the last session will in the Of time
greatly increase the Literary Fund
10 The President and Directors of the Literary FunC
will in due time submit report, showing the condi
ton Of the fund and the proceedings Of the Boar(
te in relation to other sub ecs committed to their man
agemcnt.
A Judicous system of Internal improvements b,
the State, has ever been regarded a subject 0
INN, and pn O fLa f:V 10