Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-10-14
Gkt Stan0ar0.
LETTER OF HON. w. N. EDWARDS.
POPLAR MOUNT, 4th Oct, 1862

for whose intelligence, PATRIOTISM anu WIN Gu
terrain the highest respect requesting me- as Pres
ident of the State Convention, to reassemble that
body cat an early day; !" and few other eminent
citizens by letter otherwise, expressed similar
desire: Their suggestions have been duly and ma
tureiy considered, and have consulted several gen.
tlemen, whose talents, experience and public SER
vices entitle their views upon any question connec-
ted with our State policy to great weight and after
careful and anxious review of the subject in all its
bearings and awaiting myself of all the lights acces
sibe to me- L have been unable to perceive any suf
6cient cause at tis time existing for calling the
Convention together. Respect for the opinions OF
my fellow-citzens well for the imposing char
acter of the solicitations made to me- and justice to
myself require that should state some OF the lead
ing reasons which have 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 aC-
iournmeut:" while others desire one to meet the
exigeucies of the war; The Convention on the 3Oth
of April last at its fourth session, passed resou-
ton in these words:
"ResolUed, That this Convention do, on Tuesday
the 18th of May next at P. NJ, adjourn, subject
to the call of the President; and in case of his
DEATH inability or resignatlon-O MessrS. KUHN,
Brown, Graham, Osborne and Smith, of Halifax
or in of the death of one more of them, then
the residue at any time from now until the LIST OF
November, 1862; and if not then called together by
that time that this Convention do stand dissolved"
AS to re,modeling the Constitution there is rea-
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
matter Of discretion with its presiding officer or his
alternates to call it together or not as they might
think proper. Whether amendments were needed
not certainly depended very little indeed upon
future contingencies to be judged Of in the course
ola 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-
journment had the facts before it in reference to
the Constitution as fully as tie President could
have them in the recess, and could determine for
itself at the time, without devolving the duty upon
him. 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
1st Of November in consequence of the War, and for
that cause only. There seems to me very little rea
son TO doub. 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 eXerton of its high
powers. The Convention perceived that circum-
stances might occur in the progress of hostties to
render another session expedient For instance
the State might be invaded by so strong force, and
many counties so completely overrun by hostile
armies, as to make it impracticable for the people of
large section to elect members of the General As
sembly, perhaps, in even majority of counties
the of the enemy in the mighty efforts then
going on 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-
tionaTy 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 ac-
cording to the true meaning of the resolution and
the evident intention of the Convention, is restrict
ed to 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 Confederacy
were in critical condition, and there was much to
excite the apprehensions of the patriot Nothing
has TRANSFERRED since rendering further action of the
body any more needed than it was when its men,
bers left Raleigh in May last-nothng calling for
the exercise of the high and extraordinary powers
conhded to the President On the contrary the
arms of the Confederacy have since been attended
with splendid success-far beyond our most SAN
Sulie nOpeS-duu 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 territory.
He has been driven from Virginia, with the excep-
ton of few of the Eastern and Northwestern coun-
ties and in other sections the events of the war have
been highly favorable to the of our national
independence. Where, then is the necessity for
fifth session of the Convention so far as the war is
concerned? What reason exists for any further ac-
ton on the part of that body, which did not exist
in as 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
ly augment ours.
In relation to any action 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 NAV demand Ii 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
Legislature therefore, has before it broad and ex
tensive field OF power. Measures such as those al
luded to seem to me most appropriate for the action
of that body. Its members have been recently
elected by the freemen of the State and are familiar
with their feelings and sentiments They NAV 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
oo]ect demanded by State exigencies and cannot
Imagine for moment but that the Legislature cho-
sen by the intelligent and patriotic Freemen O.
North Carolina, will, Nth entire unanimity, main
tain the proud position which the Convention has
assumed in relation to the eternal separation O.
North Carolina from the United States, and the in
dependence forever of the Southern Confederacy a,
any and every sacrifice; and that thew will with
like unanmity, indignantly repel the foul ISLANDERS
upon. our good old State by Northern journals and
Northern officials, in representing tina: large nor.
ton of her people entertain Union" sentiments
and Union" sympathies.
To condense my views in very succinct form, /
will say, that cannot according to my understand
ing of the true meaning of the purposes of the Con
yention CO. in search of reasons for reassembling it
behind the date of the adjournment and that no
event has since occurred to require another session
For these reasons, am constrained to decline a
,.-.oo nth the SnlictatinnS rnnAo A.. Ic