Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-01-02
For the Standard.

..g.4. ..s .l-s, p. .s.i. For the Standard.
Mr.. HOLDEN: A very important question has
arisen, in connection with the proposition to call
State Convention, to consider Of and act upon the
present distracted and alarming condition of our
tonal affairs There are those, learn, who think,
that such Convention may be rightfully called by
a bare majority vote of each house of the General
Assembly, in the same way that any ordinary pri
vatc or public law may be enacted But it is really
past my comprehension, how any man. upon calling
to mind the express words of State Constitution
can seriously entertain such opinion. trust no
man in the State Legislature sxilling to inaugurate
q national revolution, by riding rough-shod over
the fundamental law of our State. Such an act
would be, in ITSELF REVOLUTION Of the most daring
and disastrous character hold, that no Conven-
ton Of the People be called by the Legislature
tor any purpose mhaterer, without the vote of two
thirds Of att the members whether present and
voting, or not,) of each branch of that body The
first clause of the first section of the fourth article of
our State Constitution, is as follows
mo Convention Of The People shall be called by
the General Assembly, unless by the concurrence of
two-thrds of all the members Of each house of the
General Assembly,"
Now. language could not be clearer, more une-
quivocal and express plain man-of practical
sense who believes that the trainers of the Consttu
uon meant what they said, will be at loss to know
with the dignity of just reasoning, On express in
junction of the Constitution that mo Convention of
the People shall be called by the General Assembly.
unless by the concurrence Of too thirds &c." is
made to mean, 'somt Conventions may be called by
bare majority. de-" 1t would indeed be amusing
to hear one of the political school-men of the day,
who thinks, that the darling object of his soul, the
destructiom of this great government sanctifes the
means, so through the process of logic, by which
he would essay prove that ''no Convention means
"some Convention" and 1.-TWO thirds" is equal to
and no more than, "a bare majority 7" Now, it does
appear to me- tthe profound Constitutional learning
of the secessonists to the contrary, notwithstand
ing that the trainers of our State Constitutoo
the veriest nincompoops that ever sat council, if
by using the broad, comprehensive terms contained
in the clause referred to- to place restrictions the
action of the Legislature they nevertheless intend
ed that this Legislature could make any exception
it chose to the restriction, and shingle it
with prorisos, and cases coming under the head of
"mcn,af reservations, by which the restriction it.
self would be rendered entirely nugatory, and con-
verted into most contemplate farce
What bright idea! What wise-sagacious-
farseeing-co comprehensive intellects must those men
have possessed, who incorporated this clause in the
Constitution, if the meaning given it by those who
wish ito preciptate" this State into all the horrors
Of revolution, be correct! Why. Convention to
make the most insignificant and unimportant amend
ment to the Constitution cannot be called without
vote of too thirds; yet Convention may be called
by bare majority. to which the power is given to
revolutonize the State government-to disrupt the
Constitutional bonds which unite her to the Nation
al Governments drift her into the raging surge
of civil strife and SO to change her relations towards
her sister States and the nations'0f the world to
render necessary the exercise Of despotic and dicta
torial powers by that same Convention Surely,
have fallen on evil days -'madness does indeed rule
the hour IF we cannot protect our rights except
by breaking down and trampling in the dust all
those Constitutional barriers by which those rights
were intended to be secured! That the People will
tamely submit to such NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. doc
trine, / have no fears.
But its advocates say, they have high authority
for their opinion that Elk Chief Justice RuFFIN has
expressed his approval of it. Now, SO far from this
being correct have it from good authority that
so soon as Judge Ruffn's attention was called to
the exact words of the Constitution, he expressed
opinion directly the reverse OF that attributed to
him. And how he could have come to any other
conclusion in view of the plainly written language
of the Constitution, and the contemporaneous his
tory of the clause ITSELF it is indeed difficult to d.
vine. .F b. .-.-r=s..,-. --.,->-- Il; a..r .
And now, I would ask, in conclusion, where is
the necessity for calling such Convention What
| are the purposes-what the oGjects-its advocates
have in view The Bill reported by the majority
define It's objects, except in very loose-vaguc-
general terms. 1t is evident that the Legislature
can do every thing that the Convention may do
under this Bill except to take the State out Of the
Union-to put in practice the doctrine Of secession.
And is this the object Of its supporters? If it is,
why do they not say so in express terms? Why
conceal-cover up this Interior purpose, under a
vague, equivocal grant of powerl The people do
not wish to be. deceived about this matter. 1t is
too important-too intimately connected with their
peace and happiness to he left to doubt conjecture
and equivocation. Let the people be,ears! Let
them calculate the cost of q disruption of their
government, before they follow the mad example of
South Carolina. Already are their taxes burthen
some To the million of dollars nearly they
already have to pay there will have to be added
the $500 900 for the purchase Of arms, The two or
three millions per annum for the support Of the
new and untried Southern Confederacy with a
demand Of payment, Of their State bonds as they
become due, with no prospect in all probability. Of
their rencwa, with every species Of property de-:
preciated greatly in valuc,and all thisto be rails
ed by direct taxation to protect US against appre
hsnded dangers Is not this subanissioajn its worst
form? Instead Of standing by, and rallying around
the Constitution Of our country and defending it
against the !" Cloths and Vandals" who are assail-
ing it, wsare most graciously invoked cogardty to
abandon 1t and surrender into the hands Of our
enemies our nationality, the flag Of our common.
country-its national capitol Its nayy,-its pub
lie idonain-its archives and records land submit
ourselves-4our wives and children--ours property
--our peace and security, every thing we hsvs, and
all we expect TO have, to the reckless policy and
I mad crusade Of South Cardinal Again + ask. =
Il SrcEssios ths o1eet Of ths pfpposea CoAssation'
"a 6koSEyd ss33e3 slpiexA6 sss4dpsy
for, and suffer BY, all this desire to know
d Il ~ VI eo-s.- = - -