Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-12-19
OBJ Stan0arb.
RALEIGH: SATURDAY, DEC. Is, 1860.
Federal Relations.

On Wednesday last, in the Commons, Mr.. Person,
of New Hanover, submitted majority report from
the joint committee OH federal relations and Mcssrs
Mebane Newly and Outlaw submitted a minority
report After consid- -rabe discussion and several
votes on the subject the House made the whole
matter the special order for the 3d day of next
month. On that day, according to the present
order of the House, the bill reported by majority
of the committe 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 an animated
discussion the resolutions of Hon. Bedford Brown,
proposing that Commissioners be sent to South Car
ona 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 exacting clause is
the usual one, and not BE it enacted by the Gen
era Assembly, t,so-thirds Of the uAole number Of
members concurring" &c. The bill proposes that
an election shall be held in the several Counties for
delegates the 7th day of February, 1861, the Con-
venton to assemble in the City of Raleigh on the
18th day of the same month; said Convention to
consist of one hundred and twenty MEMBERS the
Counties to elect the number of delegates they
are entitled to at present in the House Of Commons.
1t is 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 as member of the United States
and determine the mode, and measure, and time of
redress" And it is further provided that no Or
dinance of said Convention dissolvng the connec-
ton of the State of North Carolina with the federal
government or connecting it with any other, shall
have any force 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 4 of the State Constitution is as
follows: " No Contention Of the people shall be CALL
sdJy the General assembly, unless by the concur
renee Of teothirds Of all the members Of each house
Of the Gene -al 1esembly" We consider that clear
language. NO Convention" shall be called by
less than twothirds. The language of the Consti-
tuition is not as follows: "No Convention Of the
people shall be called" to alter, amend, or recon-
struct this Constitution; but mo Conrention'
shall be called by less than twothrds. The Demo-
cratic party is committed against this majority doc
trine. Mr. Kerr advocated it when running for
Governor, and 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? .sF
In the third place, this Convention bill conten.
plates and makes arrangements for dissolution o,
the Union, for it is expressly provided that mo
dlnance of said Convention dissolring the connection
1 North Carolina NTH the federal government"
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, is very important one.
We are glad it was inserted. We learn, however,
that it was opposed by the extreme on the com.
mittee
We shall allule TO this suhiect apain