Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1852-07-09
The Constitution of North Carolina.


of an octave pamphlet of $50 pages, purporting to
give historical account of the origin and changes
of our Constitution, together with an account and
explanation of the questions of constitutional reform
agitating the people of the State. 1t is comp-
led by member Of the last Legislature, and con-
tans among other things, the address ofthe Western
members to the people of North Carolina, on the
subject of constitutional reform, as also the speeches
Of Messrs Woodfn, Caldwell, Foster, Walton, En-
win, and Flemming, upon the same subject, delivered
in the last legislature 1t is worthy of remark that
all these addresses and speeches, which in favor
Of open Convention also attack directly the basis
in both Houses. Indeed, if We can judge anything
by the unanimous expression of all the public ad-
dresses and speeches made upon the subject in the
West, the Convention party of that section only look
towards Convention of the means for the
abrogation of the present basis in both Houses We
have not seen speech of the kind from which the
above inference is not unavoidable. r."
This being the actual state of the case, it would
be somewhat difficult to understand what motives
could induce the people of this part of the State at
least to support candidate for Governor who avows
himself in favor of an open convention. Even the
basis as it now stands was considered great con-
cession on the part of the East and adopted almost
solely by Western votes. Upon the question of the
ratification rejection OF the constitution of 1885,
the counties of this district voted follows :-Bla-
den, ratification 6, rejection 564; Brunswick, rat.
90, rel. 466; Columbus, rat. 8, rel. 39l; Cumber-
land, rat 331, rel. 439; Dupln, rat Sc, rel. $50
New Hanover, rat 81, rel. 365 Onslow, rat 81, rel
357: Robson rat. sc, rel. 49, Sampson, rat 148,
rel. 1863 1t will be that although full vote
not polled, still the preponderance in opposition
to the new constitution was overwhelming and the
same state of things existed in the other Eastern
counties. as for instance Wayne, Edgecombe, etc
In Wayne the vote in favor of the new constitution
was %, againsti it 966, and in Edgecombe, 20 for
and 1924 against This opposition in the East
was chiefly owing to the change in the basis
then made, which the people of these counties
looked upon too large a concession. They
have at length become reconcled to the existing
state of things, but not prepared to go farther
or to support any candidate for Office, who advocates
a Convention, the avowed object of,whch. upon the
showing of its peculiar friends is the destruction Of
the present basis in both Houses, with the effect of de-
priving the East of whatever remaining safeguards
she may have reserved to herself in 1885
We commend these considerations to the atten.
ton of those Wings in the Cape Fear country who
are opposed to a change in the basis, and ask them
how they can support Mr.. Kerr.
The Pub!icatiom of the Southern Members.
4 1t is almost unnecessary for to call attention t
the extract which make from the National Intel
gencer of Monday setting forth the position of nine
leading Wing members of Congress in opposition tt
Gen. Scott. The matter will commend itself to thu
attention of readers of both parties, and fi
to exercise marked and decisive influence upon The
coming contest. 1t is true that Virginia and Ala
bama are. under almost any circumstances, Demo
cratic States, and the immediate result there MAY
not be affected by the position of the Wing Sc
ceders from those States but Toombs and Stephens
of Georgia. and Gentry and Williams of Tennessee
represent enough of the Wing feeling of Georgi;
and Tennessee to ensure Scott's defeat in both. [
is rumored that other important defectons from tn
Southern wing of the Wing party, will shortly b.
made public Verify, the Southern Wing politician
will have an uphill business in the support and ad
vocacy of Scott.
!, Time will reveal many things, bat we question i
many of its revelations will be favorable to the wh
party universal gunpowder enthusiasm aion
could have saved the ticket. The effort to Great
that must now prove dead drag, after the varou
!, disheartening regulations with which the nomna
ton has met from influential quarters.
t. LATER FROM EUROPE The steamship Africa al
rived New York on the 1st inst. with Liverpool
dates to the 10Th u She brings no news of interest
) See CONNIE rcial head for the markets.
t Bg-We find all our Northern exchanges full &
the honors paid to Mr. Clays remains on their wa
to Kentucky. Every city, town, and village on til
Iroute anxious to offer tribute of respec