Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-12-19
MINORITY REPORT.

The undersigned, members of the Committee on
Federal Relations unable to concur in the views of
the majority, submit the following report:
The convention is proposed to be called, in the
opinion of the minority, at an earlier period than
the exigencies Of the occasion demand 1t is
declared in the bill that the purpose Of the conven
ton is to consider all grievances impairng or affect
ing the equality and rights of the State of North
Carolina as aAnember of the United States and de-
termine the mode, measure and time of redress and
delegates are to be chosen on the 7th and assemble
in Raleigh on the 18th of February next As the
bill and report of the majority do not indicate any
specific grievances, the minority of your Committee
on Federal Relations are unable to determine whether
it is intended to make the impression that the Fed
eral Government has recently assumed any unusual
and menacing attitude towards North Carolina,
affecting her equality and rights as one of the
United States Exercising the right Of conjecture
the minority of your Committee suppose that the
grievances complained Of are the personal liberty
as enacted by some of the northern States hinder
ing the proper execution Of the Fugitive Slave Law.
If the minority Of your Committee be not mistaken
in this conjecture, they would respectfully suggest
that inasmuch these grievances have existed for
q long time under the present and former admins.
trations of the Federal Government which admins
trations have met the appreciation of large majority
of the people of this State they cannot now consti
tutc very urgent reason for the present legislature
to call out the citizens upon such short notice. at
unusual and Indictment season of the year. to vote
flor delegates to State Convention, called as it is
for the purpose of changing the relations Of the
State to the Federal Government. The laws COM
planned of are not the acts of the General Govern
ment but Of particular States, and being unconsti-
tutona null and void. IT. however the grievance
complained of and not disclosed is the election of
Lincoln to the Presidency-an election effected by
minority VOTE in consequence of divisions among
his opponents-it is in the opinion of the minority
an inadequate cause for calling a Convention SO
hastily, with extraordinary power, which may place
North Carolina out of the Union before the 4th of
March next and before the country can be officially
informed Of the policy of the incoming administra-
ton. Would it not be more prudent to abide the
determination Of the great efforts now being made
at Washington city and elsewhere by patriotic men,
to compromise all difficulties, and obtain more secure
guarantees against the unfendy legislation ofcertain
Nortern States people have time to deliberate
that Carolina may not be precipitated out of
the Union, and her influence as q peace maker
between the North and South utterly destroyed It
is further objected to the BILL as reported that it is
not in accordance with the provisions of the Consti
tuition Of the State and The sages Of the Legislature
The first section of the fourth article of the State
constitution provides that no convention of the
people of the State shall be called by the General
Assembly unless BY the concurrence of twothirds
Of I'll the members Of each House Of The General