Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-12-15
Federal Relations,

On Wednesday last in the Commons Mr.. Person,
of New Hanover, submitted majority report from
the Joint committee federal relations and MessrS
Mebane, Newly and Outlaw submitted minority
report After consd-ra discussion and several
votes on the subject the House made the whole
matter the special order for the Sd day of next
month. On that day, according to the present
order of the House, the bill reported by majority
Of the commtte to call Convention of the people
Of the State will be taken up and the debate on fed
eral relations will begin in earnest The Senate has
been engaged for several days past in animated
discussion the resolutions of Hon. Bedford Brown,
proposing that Commissioners he sent to South Car
DINA to urge her to pause in her course.
We shall publish in full in our next the majority
and minority reports here referred to- with the bill
providing for Convention.
The Convention bill, if we may Judge from its en-
acting clause, proposes TO call Convention by
majority of the Legislature. The exactng clause is
the usual one and not a. BE it enacted by the Gen
eral Assembly tpO-thirds Of the trhOle number Of
members eOneurriRg," &c. The bill proposes that
an election shall be held in the several Counties for
delegates on the 7th day of February 1861 the Con-
18th day of the same month; said Convention to
consist of one hundred and twenty members the
Counties to elect the same number of delegates they
are entitled to at present in the House of Commons.
It's also provided that the Convention shall be
limited by requiring the members TO take an oath
before they proceed to business, that they will do
no act contrary to the act of the General Assem-
blY under which this Convention is called" 1t is
also provided =" that the said Convention, when as
sembled, may consider all grievances impairing or
affecting the equality and rights of the State Of
North Carolina member of the United States,
and determine the mode, and measure and time of
redress" And it is further provided THAT no Or
dnance of said Convention dissolying the connec-
ton of the State of North Carolina with the federal
government, or connecting it with any other, shall
have any force or validity until it shall have been
submitted to, and ratified by, majority of the
qualified voters of the State for members of the Cen
eral Assembly, to whom it shall be submitted for
their approved or rejection"
Now, in the first place, the Legislature call a
Convention by bare majority? Clause l of sec
ton l of article of the State Constitution is as
follows: No Convention OF the people shall be call
ed by the General assembly, unless by the concur
renee Of ro-thirds Of all the members Of each house
Of the General assembly," We consider that clear
language No Convention" shall be called by
less than two-thirds The language Of the Consti-
tuition is not as follows: mo Convention of the
people shall be called" to alter, amend, recon-
aruet this Constitution; but NO COnrentiOn"
shall be called by less than two-thrds. The Demo-
cratic party committed against this majority doc
tine. Mr.. Kerr advocated it when running for
Governor, asd Gov. Reid opposed it; and subse-
quenty, in the Legislature Gov Graham advocated
it and Col Biggs-now Judge Biggs-opposed it
The party sustained Gov. Reid and Col. Biggs.
In the second place, can the Legislature, which is
the agent and creature of the people, bind the peo
pie, its creators in Convention?
In the third place, this Convention bill contenl-
plates and makes arrangements for dissolution Of
the Union, for it is expressly provided that "no
dnance of said Convention dissolring the connection
at North Carolina with tile federal goUernment,"
shall be valid and binding until submitted to and
approved by the people. The provision for submit
ting the work OF the Convention to the people for
their approval rejection very important one.
We are glad it was inserted. We learn, however,
that it was opposed by the extreme men on the COM
mittee
We shall allude to this subject again.