Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-04-25

at good therefore, that in their INNOVATIONS
would follow the example of time ITSELF which indeed IN
novaeh greatly but quietly aud BY degrees scarce 10 9
perceived. 1t is good, also, not to try expr;eSa.s ~
esep. s II , beware that be The reformation that
drxeth on the change and not tie desire oil change ''
pretendeth the reformation -BGco".
CONTINUED FROM FOURTH PAGE)
This meeting of an open and unlimited convention
would be something new in our State policy tne
convention which assembled at HIiisooro. III 100
to take into consideration the adoption oy nS oIae
of the federal constitution, was limited IN us pow
ers. the limitations regarded, our seat OF gov
eminent was fixed at Raleigh, and the convention
adjourned. The convention which assembled at
Tarboro in the following year for the same purpose
was limited in its power over our State constitution;
its members regarded the limitation; took INTO con-
sideration the one change with which 1t was charS-
ed, gave the town of Fayetteville member IN the
House of Commons, and adjourned Inc conVen-
ton which assembled in 1885 also limited IN It's
powers: BY the act of the people in ratltylng the
convention BILL passed at the session OF the uenera
Assembly of 1884, and in that convention the mode
was fred for altering the constitution In the iuture
the fixing this mode of altering the constitution in
future was one of the duties imposed by the act OF
1884 upon the members of the convention which
they were not at liberty to disregard; which they
were compelled by oath, to perform; and under the
mode prescribed in the constitution, which went IN
to operation January lst 1886, which Is the COM
bned action of the Legislature and the people, the
constitution was altered in 1857 so as to do away
with the landed qualification required of electors
for members of the State Senate But the late con-
vention of the opposition party has found new
and, in their opinion, better method for altering
our fundamental law-contrary to the Evolutionary
policy of our fathers, in the face of the method
heretofore advocated by the Democratic party, and
we may safely say in opposition to the spirit II not
the letter of our present constitution.
It is true that clause LIST of art w., Sec OF the
amended constitution does prescribe the manner in
which contention of the people may be called by
the General Assembly but the second clause of the
same art. and sec. prescribes that no part OF the
constitution of the State shall be altered, unless
bill to alter the shall have been agreed to by
three-ifths of the whole number of the members of
each branch of the General Assembly, unless such
bill shall have been published six months previous
to a new election of members to the General As
sembly unless at the next session Of the General
Assembly thereafter twothrds of the whole num-
Der of members Of each branch of the Legislature
shall agree to the alteration proposed and finally,
unless the amendment or amendments so suggested
to them shall be ratified by majority of the quail
fled voters of the House of Commons throughout
the State. Any one who will read these two clauses
in conjunction is forced to the conclusion that the
trainers of our fundamental law intended that
a convention of the people should be called, for the
purpose of merely amending our organic law, Ger
tainlv not for the purpose of making single amend
ment; and but one alteration is alleged to be need
full by the Oppostionists. If doubt can exist upon
this subject we refer to the debates in conven-
ton in 1885, when upon an examination by any un-
prejudced man, the construction of this clause of
our constitution heretofore adopted by the Demo-
cratic party aad now urged by them, must be pro-
nounced the true one The LIST clause which pre-
scribes the majority of the General Assembly which
is necessary to legalize convention of the people,
inserted from abundant caution, for fear it might
be necessary at some time to tear down the whole
of our political fabric make great alterations in
its foundation; or least for other cause not
connected with the mere slight alteration of that
structure, it mg ht become necessary for the sover
eregn people to meet in convention. We will not
pause here to argue the right of the convention to
impose limitations upon the action of majority of
the people, merely expressing the opinion-from
which few, save the most radical can diSsent-that
whatever the power of the convention may have
been, yet the people themselves may prescribe to
themselves a rule of action and put limits upon
their own power, which they have done by confirm
ing the action of the convention when they voted
for and accepted the amendments of 1885 but
however right wrong the clauses on this subject
of conventions and amendments may be- each men,
Der of the legislature is suOrn to observe Them and
cannot if our construction be correct one either
directly or indirectly advocate open and unre-
stricted convention of the people, for the purpose of
efectng at this time al ralOrem system of taxa
uOl OH slaves anu all OIneT properly III lnlS Stalc
But suppose this open and unrestricted conven-
ton to be called do not know that if the clause
in the constitution which it is proposed to strike
out is stricken out other changes necessarily must
and will follow it. Our present basis of representa-
ton in the Senate is based upon the taxation paid
by the several districts to the State; if the rate of
taxation on slaves is so altered las it must be un-
der an ad calOren system of taxation to increase
the amount of taxes paid by the eastern counties
into the treasury, increase Of representation in
the Senate ought to follow it. and must follow it. is
the west willing to yield its present weight in that
legislative body and to give to the east OppOrtu
nifty to check all works of internal improvement BY
refusing to pass any railroad appropriation bill
through that body; an opportunity accompanied
NTH the dnctindtion on the part Of the east to
check all expenditures which must result from an
impression whether real or unlounded its result
is the same) in that section that they are subIc ct
to unjust and unequal taxation? An open and I'M
restricted convention cannot meet without propo-
sltlon being made, and We must presume success
fully made, if the convention is called upon the ba
sis of federal numbers to alter the present basis of
representation in the Senate and House of Commons
The calling of this convention cannot now-can
never-be effected without long and arduous
struggle, again must see in our State the devas-
tating and ruinous effects of a long and bitterly
contested sectional struggle. Who amongst you is
willing to renew the history of the fifteen or twenty
years which Immediately preceded the convention
OF 1885? all wholesome legislation checked to car
ry on what has been we'll called, "a wicked and
foolish contest in which victory was without glory
and defeat without consolation )" our internal i'm
provements checked our resources left undeveIoped
our institutions of learning languishing, and con-
slant and full tide of emigration flowing from our
borders to seek more tender and genial mother
than their native North Carolina until at last one
section or the other shall become so exasperated at
the denial of their demands to threaten like the
strong man of Zorah in the unshorn strength of
his blindness, to tear down the pillars of our politi-
cal editce ITSELF careless whether friends or foes are
crushed IN It's magnificent ruins. Yet these things
are the probable, nay, the necessary results of car
ryng out the views of the Opposition party unless
human nature, the work of the Deity HIMSELF and
which God alone can alter, is changed from what
it has been for thousands of wars in thn rnn.