Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1854-06-30
1852 and 1854.

Under the above heading, took occasion, in our
issue of the 23d inst to refer to some matters Of
compaatyey recent political history in this county,
connected with the somewhat vexed question of the
mode of amending the Constitution of the State, and,
as part of the record of the case, republlshed GER
tain cards which had originally appeared in the Will
mington Herald over the signatures OF several leading
Wing gentlemen of this place. The object OF these
cards seems to have been make public and emphatic
the opposition of those by whom they were signed, 10
an open Convention for the purpose of amending the
constitution, as we'll their refusal 10 dele
ggtes 10 the Wing State Convention, under ap-
pointment from Wing meeting. held in the Mason
ic Hall, on the 9th of March, 1882 at which reso-
luton was passed in favor of open Convention,
and declaring il the only republican mode of amend
ing The constitution.
At the time when these cards were published
over The signature of Messrs. Davis. Cowan and
Meares accompanied by statement from Mr.. Asa
A. Brown, the chairman of the meeting of the 9Th of
March, 1852, they unquestionably embodied and re-
presented that general feeling of opposition TO the
open Convention resolution, which led to the holding
Of another meeting the 7th of April following, at
which the Convention resolution was very summary
disposed Of and another substituted in which part of
the language of the card OF Messrs. Davis and Cow
an is adopted, and it is
Resolved, That do not regard open Conven-
ton the only republican mode of amending the
Constitution; that there is another mode pointed out
by that instrument, which, if amended, we prefer
and mean to sustain at all hazards.
Why these gentlemen should be surprised at the
republication of their cards is beyond discern
ment to fathom Such surprise, however appears to
be expressed in their somewhat voluminous communi
cations published in the Herald of the ed Taken in
connection with the ConcOmitant circumstances,
these cards exhibit the actual position of the Wing
party New Hanover in 1852 upon the question of an
open Convention to amend the Constitution. If we
look little farther, and view them in connection with
the present position of that party the leaders of
it, in their support of General Dockery and in favor
Of a Convention, there will be presented to about
as pretty a specimen Of a clean back out well
be imagined. Those who, two years ago, considered
the Convention resolution exceedingly odious, and
could not conscenti0nsy attend the State COnyen-
lion with that resolution "packed their backs,
have nOw it seems, caved in. Each individual one
hath cried pecc0ri The resolution passed on the
9TH Of April 1852, is much waste paper-the mode
Of amending the Constitution which 10 be &c sus
1ained at all hazards" is dropped at the very first
summons to surrender, and in two brief years the
whole thing appears to have changed in a manner
equally novel and surprising certainly all this looks
strange and inconsistent.
Mr. Davis in his communication in the Herald
dated June 2Oth assigns three reasons for his oppo
sitiOn in 1852, to a Convention, under existing cir
cumstances: LIST, Its being sprung the of an
exciting canvass I'd Because he believed that the
Convention question would revive afresh the old feel
ing of sectional jealousy between the East and the
West-and he was to the last degree reluctant to
bring about such result; and 3D. Constitutional re-
forms should always spring from the wants and
wishes of the people, and shoud never be unwisey
fastened and least of all heedessy thrust upon them
for sectional purposes or for party ends The people
had not then had sufficient time for reflection. and he
did not believe that any considerable portion of them
really desired a Convention.
Mr.. Davis seems to think that within the last two
years great change has been effected in the views
of this and oher sections of the State-that many,
like himself, now regard a Convention as the best
means of preserving the most valuable features of
the Constitution, and putting an end to constant ag-
taton, which he appears to apprehend and deprecae.
He, therefore, goes for open Convention, and
frankly acknowledges his change of opinion
We must confess that we can by no means perceive
any such change in existing circumstances now
from what they two years, as will show us that
what to be opposed then at all hazards as dan.
gerOus to the Constitution and the Compromises of
that instrument should now be regarded as the best
means of preserving its most valuable features in
two years great change have been effected in
the relative position and strength of the different sec
tons of the State, nor in the influences which these
would be likely to exert upon Convention. The
who, in 1851 issued the western address
signed by thrtyseven members of the Legislature of
lS5O-'5l in which the calling of q Convention is
strongly urged, and mainly for the purpose of chang
ing The basis of representation in both Houses have
not changed nor abandoned their ground, whatever
their political brethren here may have done The
first name on the list of signatures is that of John
Grey Bynum. General Bynum is now strong for an
open Convention and change of the basis; so are
the others Mr.. Walton, western Wing, and one
OF the signers of the address, said in the House OF
Commons, In a speech on the Convention question
The people who sent me here (if the Constitution
Is touched at aIl,) desire than free suffrage
they ask tor equal rights, nay demand ! a radca
change IN the qualification of representatives and il
basis OF representation" And such, in our opinion
will be the consequences of calling Conyention -
The mere fact oil the whg State Convention exnres
sing an opinion against change in the basis amount
to little or nothing; General Dockery NAV be sun
ported in spite of that restrictive opinion and be
cause is believed tia the Legislature has no MOVE
TO impose such restriction but western whigs TAX
good care to state that they are not committed t
the support of any such restrictive doctrine Anon
others we might instance the Greensboro Patriot
the wing paper at Asheville and pretty nearly a
the wing candidates for the Legislature in the ives
Indeed it may be safely asserted that all the wester
members of the Legislature who have advocated
Convention in any of the three last Sessions of tn
General Assembly have done so with the distinct III
defSIandng that their object in desiring it was to oil
tain through its nsrumenalitv the destruction If II
present basis, generally in both Houses but ALWAYS