Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-10-15
G9t Stanbar1,
LETTER OF HON. W. N. EDWARDS.
POPLAR MOUNT, 4th Oct, 1se

Dear Sir Il duly received, under your cover,
two memorials from portion of my fellow citizens,
for whose intelligence, patriotism and worth en-.
tertsn the highest respect requesting me, as Pres
ident Of the State Convention to reassemble that I
body "at an early day." and few other eminent
citizens, by letter otherwise, expressed similar
desire Their suggestions have been duly and ma
turely considered and have consulted several gen.
tlemen, whose talents, experience and public SER
vices entitle their views upon any question connec
ted with State policy to great weight and after
careful and anxious review of the subject IN all Its
bearings, and awaiting myself of oil the lights Access
sible to me- have been unable to perceive any suf
Gcient cause, at this time existing, for calling the
Convention together. Respect for the opinions of
nv citizens as we'll as for the imposing char
ncter of the solicitations made to me, and justice to
myself require that should state some of the lead
iae reasons which hare led to this conclusion.
The memorialists represent that another session
of the Convention is rendered necessary by "the
unfinished and imperfect condition in which the
Constitution Of the State was left at the late ad-
svurnureut;" while others desire one to meet the
cxgencies Of the war; The Convention, on the 3Oth>
of April last at its fourth session. passed resolu
t:an in these words:
"Resolrea, That this Convention do, on Tuesday
the 18th of May next, at 2 p. NJ, adjourn, subject
to the call of the President and, in case of his
death, inability or resignatlon-of Messrs Ruffin,
Brown, Graham, Osborne and Smith, of Halifax
or in case of the death of one of them, then
the residue, at any time from until the 1st OF
November, 1862 and if not then called together by
that time that this Convention do stand dissolved
AS to re modelling the Constitution, there is rea-
son to believe that all further action to that end was
abandoned by the Convention ITSELF Otherwise it
would have adjourned to some named day, as it did
on three former OCCASIONS and not have left it as
.,aeer of discretion with its presiding officer, or his
alernates, to call it together not as they might
think proper Whether amendments needed
or not certainly depended very little indeed upon
future contingencies, to be judged Of in the course
OF a few months, by me or any one else, in the ex-
ercise of discretionary power. The Convention,
at the time of the passage of the resolution OF ad-
iournment had the facts before it in reference to
the Constitution as fully as the President could
have them in the recess, and could determine for
itself at the time without devolvng the duty upon
him. A careful reading of the Journal towards the
close of the last session, WILL | think, satisfy any
one that it would be assuming too much to suppose
the Convention contemplated amendments.
My own impression decidedly is, that the final
dissolution of the Convention was postponed to the
LIST of November in consequence of the War, and for
that cause only. There seems to me very little rea-
son to doubt but that final and absolute adjourn
ment would have taken place, if the country had
been in the enjoyment of peace Such an adjourn
ment would have also taken place, notwithstanding
the war, if the Convention had been satisfied that
nothing would occur up to the time designated in
the resolution to require the exertion of its high
powers. The Convention perceived that circum-
stances might occur in the progress of hostlites to
render another session expedient For instance
the State might be invaded by strong force and
many counties so completely overrun by hostile
armies as to make it mpracticable for the people of
large section to elect members of the General As
semby, perhaps, in even majority of counties or
the of the enemy in the mighty efforts then
going in the invasion of Virginia by the numer-
Gus and powerful army under Mcclellan, might
leave North Carolina in very exposed condition.
The President was, therefore, clothed with discre-
tionary power to act upon emergencies they might
arise In the contingencies mentioned and others
which might be readily conceived, another session
of the Convention might have been deemed necessa-
ry; but no such session, as conceive, was contem-
plated, except in consequence of some extraordinary
event arising after the adjournment. My action,
cordng to the true meaning of the resolution and
the evident intention of the Convention is restrict
ed t" events OF subsequent occurrence, upon which
the body could not act and does not extend to those
which had already taken place.
1t will be remembered that at the time of the pas
sage of the resolution the affairs of the COncderacy
were in critical condition. and there was much to
excite the apprehensions of the patriot. Nothing
has transpred SINCE rendering further action of the
body any more needed than it was when its mem.
bers left Raleigh in May last-nothing calling for
the exercise of the high and extraordinary powers
conf led to the President. On the contrary, the
arms of the Confederacy have since been attended
with splendid success-far beyond our most san
guine hopes-and our prospects were never more
bright and cheering. The strength of the enemy in
North Carolina is greatly diminished, and he has
made no progress in the invasion of our territory
He has been driven from Virginia, with the excep-
ton Of few of the Eastern and Northwestern coun.
tics and in other sections the events of the war have
been highly favorable to the cause of our national
independence Where, then, is the necessity for a
fifth session of the Convention, so far as the war is
concerned? What reason exists for any further &C
ton on the part of that body, which did not exist
in full force in April and May last as it does now
1t is true that the Government of the United States
has recently made arrangements to bring into the
field greatly increased force but the Confederate
Government has also passed act which will great
~ augment ours.
In relation to any action on the part Of the State
Of North Carolina, which the safety of the State
and her necessities may require, it appears to me
that the General Assembly has ample authority to
do everything which the crisis may demand. 1t is
well established principle, that the General As
sembly has power to pass all laws not prohibited
by the State or the Confederate Constitution. The
tensive field of power. Measures such as those al
luled to to most appropriate for the action
of that body. Its members have been recently
elected by the reemen of the State, and are familiar
with their feelings and sentiments They may be
presumed to know what the people desire, and what
burdens they are able and willing to bear for the
laudable purposes above mentioned, or any other
object demanded by State exigencies and cannot
imagine for moment but that the Legislature cho-
gen by the intelligent and patriotic Freemen of
North Carolina, will, Nth entire unanimity, main-
tain the proud position which the Convention has
assumed in relation to the eternal separation of
North Carolina from the United States and the in
dependence forever of the Southern Confederacy at
any and every sacrifce and that they will, with
like unanlmlty, Indignantly repel the foul ISLANDERS
upon our good old State by Northern journals and
Northern officials, in representing tina: LARGE Dor.
ton of her people entertain Union " sentiments
and " Union" sympathies.
To condense my views in very succinct form
will say, that cannot according to nv understand.
ing of the true meaning of the purposes Of the Con-
vention CO. in search of reasons for reassembno #
behind the date of the adjournment, and that M
even: has since occurred to require another session
For these reasons, l am constrained to decline a
compliance with the solicitations made to me. IF