Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-05-23

al Government by electiDg delegates represent the
State in the provisional Congress at Montgomery. OF
their admssion-the admission of the State, with open
arms there can be no sort of doubt The ratification of
the permanent constitution OF the Confederate States
will follow. There will be ten delegates to be elected by
the Convention, who will be charged with the duty OF
representing North Carolina in the Provisional Con-
gress No doubt there will be intriguing for these po
stions Let these elections at least be done with open
doors, and let the people see the men who would pull
personal wires at such time as this
1t has been said that ou Stay Law is opposed to that
provision existing in both the old Federal and the
new Confederate Constitution which says that no State
shall pass any post faco law, or law impairing the
obligation of contracts How the difficulty of coming
into the Confederacy with that law is to be got over
we leave to the gentlemen learned in the law to ar
range We have heard ways suggested but we are not
good at getting around things.
So much then for the immediate objects of the Con-
vention in fact we might say the real Objects for had
it not been for the demand of the people for these things
no Convention would have been called at all. Arising
out of these main Objects and perhaps necessary to their
successful mplishment there may be some internal
changes required to adapt the State to her present transit
tionary state well as to her future permanent
position in the Conederacy, as distinguished from that
she occupied in the former Union. There may be test
oaths to be framed and imposed 1t has been suggest
ed that the very delicate health of the Governor OF the
State rendering the discharge of all the duties OF the
position at time like this risk of life, and certainly
of constitution indicates the propriety of amending the
Constitution so as to provide for a Lieut. Governor,
who, without taking the place of the Governor per-
manently might relieve bin of the burden Of labors
which weigh too heavily upon the strongest physical
constitution In a case like this, Of course Governor
like John W. Ellis would die in harness before he would
shrink one inch from his post. But neither alternative
ought to be required We make these remarks because
we have thought over the thing ourselves and have heard
it discussed by others We have neither spoken or
written to Governor Ellis on the subject, have we
ever directly CT indirectly communicated with him about
the matter. We do not know what his views are. We
speak upon general considerations
All our people who take up arms and give OF their
substance equally ought that the State Is entering
on new of her history to be entitled to equal priv
ieges We commenced this article by deprecating
demagogueca attempts to make personal party capt.
tai or popularity for future We cannot be accused
of suggesting anything of the kind when urge the
removal of the Jewish disability feature of our consu
ton The Jews in this State, have in this emergency
shown themselves just willing to contribute thelf
services and their any other religonsts. We
do not know that single Jew in the State would run
for any office if even certain of getting it. We don't
know one that would. The vote of that denomination
small and cannot therefore be object to attract the
attention of designing politicians We advocate the
removal of the exclusion right in ITSELF and pre-em
nenty SO at this time.
But in addition to these necessary and obviously just
measures there is every to believe that questions
affecting the basis of repre- Mat ard of taxation,
revepue-of public improvements and of general legs
alton will be dragged into the arena of the Convention
Now, to this, or to even the first approach towards
it. the objection must suggest itself that for of al
these things with reference to them, were the mem
bers Of tie Convention chosen Unlimited as the Con
venon bill is in terms the only issues before the people
in the choice of delegates those of secession from
the old Conederacy, and adhesion to the new Con
federacy, with, of course, the necessary
give effect to such movements. Tie State in cut
ting loose from her Federal traditions, mus
not rudely sever the bonds that unite her with tn
D traditions of her own progress and sovereignty l
wise she will make few changes in this respect pos
sible. She will make change in the basis of repre-
sentaton at ALL and the basis of taxation to ap
ply retrospectvey to the payment of debts interes
on debts, already contracted under different basis
s with the solemn understanding that such basis SHOULD
/ not be disturbed For future debts certainly debt
or taxes, the is different, and the slavehold
and the savehodng counties of the State have show
e their appreciation of this fact by the aacrity wit
o which they have given their individual means an
pledged the credit of their counties and corporate bodies
st Finally, contend that there is necessity for tn
Convention remaining long in session, and in order
facilitate business most respectfully urge upon tn
members the proprety of sitting in secret, less for tn
purpose of privacy than to cut off all motive for speech
e. making and display. Why can't the Convention &c
IS off in two or three weeks, or even less time?
- We beg respectfully to urge upon the power
= that be at Raleigh-upon the Advisory Board, upo
Il any body and everybody who may have any thing to
" with appointments connected with the military servie
of the State to exercise the utmost care-to yield to
pressure-to look forward to POLITICAL personal
Is clique advantages, in the bestoWal of Offices
70 We neither know nor care what the influences
work may be- so they be rightly used and they must
used with the highest discretion and disntersteduess