Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-01-25
Duties of the Convention.

of its legitimate prerOgatves found it necessary in
few instances to supply the lack Of legislatio in
passing ordinances to furnish the treasury with
means and to provide for the proper disposition and
comfort Of our soldiers As we'll to meet other
cessities which the exgencies Of the times de-
manded, a certain class of citizens have clamored
against it and abused it Such persons have over
and again affirmed, without q shadow of proof
that the sole and only object in calling the Conven-
ton, to change the relations of the State to the
new order of things. In other States no such clam
exists, although the Conventions of those States
still continue to perform ther functions and have
exercised legislative and other powers to the fullest
extent which the state of the country demanded
This clamor and the quarter from which it comes
as well as its objects, well understood and can
only tend to i1jure those engaged in it.
IT the Convention unmindful of its obligations TO
the people, the State and the country had pandcred
to the miserable partyism and corrupt demagogue-
ism of this camorous faction and surrendered itself
10 the ofcehunters of the State no such complaints
would have been heard. But that body has calmly
pursued the even tenor of its way regardless of this
factous spirit, in perfectng such measures as its
wisdom and matured Judgment suggested should
be done 1t has carefully labored to promote the
true in ereSs of the State avoiding what it does not
conceive to be absolutely necessary and declining
to touch those questions of ordinary legislation which
the necessities of the times or the expressed wishes
OF the people do not dictate to be DONE
But 10 the principal object of this article 1t can
not be doubted that there are large numbers of the
people of the State who are anxious to have the
SfaV IF thnl ,St ii h,,t he,
Convention. But on the other hand It is well
known to the Convention, that there are many if
not majority of the people, who believe that
Stay Law of some kind is absolutely necessary in
this crisis and while many such are opposed to
some of the features of the existing Stay Law they
nevertheless do not desire its repeal, unless they
were sure Of getting better in its stead. Now
! what ought the Convention to doy To do anything
with the Stay Law, involves the exercise of ordi-
nary legislation, which faction in the State deny
| to the Convention the power of exercising and
these, added to those who desire Stay Law consti.
tute perhaps decided majority of the people of the
! State. The Convention is no doubt anxious to
| carry out the wishes OF its constituency; but in
the absence Of full expression of the peoples
| wishes on this subject how the ConTenton
certain their WILL determine amid this conflict Of
! opinion what is best to be done?
Again, the subject of dstilling the grain of the
State so necessary to the life of people and
soldiers INTO 'ohiskey is exciting great ard doubt
merited concern. Whether people need bread
! or whlSkcy most cannot be question with sane
men. Great alarm absolutely exists in many minds,
! whether the immense number Of whiskey dstil-
! lerieS in the State will not bring on a famine of
| bread. The question is a serious and an important
one. But on this very subject find the same
conflict of opinion throughout the State. From one
quarter, the demand is imperiouS on the Convention
to tax or put down the dstilleries-from another,
il is urged to tax the corn-from another, stern op
| position comes to touching the question at all
Now every one will see that to tax the diSterIes,
or the grain out of which whiskey is made, will d.
rcctly teld 10 increase the price OF grain Men who
drink will not stop to ask the price; and men who
make it, will but little about the tax, because
they can make the consumer pay it. What then Is
to be done? Others insist that the Convention
shall regulate the price of the different qualities CT
whiSkey, and fix the standard at low price, so
that those who manufacture it can make nothing by
it. This perhTps, would stop its manufacture or
excite portions oil the people 10 break or disregard
the law. But then comes up again the question of
right. las the Convention the right to do it?
We have heretofore suggested, that the safest,
wiSest and best course in the midst of these con-
ficting views, is for the people calmly and fully to
consider these questions, and memorabilia the Con-
vention upon them We believe the Convention is
anxious to do its whole duty to the people and the
State: but upon doubtful questions and especially
those within the range of ordinary Legislation, the
voice Of the whole people should be unmstakaGly
pronounced.