The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-07-24
Tri- at'ffklg Standard.
The New Constitution.

The New Constitution.
It is now apparent that a formidable
movement is on foot to induce the people of
this State to reject the new State Constitu-
ton, to be submitted to them in August
next.
Judge Manly has addressed an elaborate
argument to his constituents on the subject,
taking the ground that the Convention, hay
ing been called by military authority, had
no right to go beyond the limitations pre-
scribed by the President; and that its work
of revising and amending the Constitution
is null and void, and cannot be helped by
the sanction of popular vote.
An able writer in the Wilmington Journal
takes the ground that the delegates "were
not the choice of the people that the acts
of the Convention are not those of the peo-
pie of the State-that they are "not enti-
tied to obedience large portion
of the patriots and heroes" called unpar-
doned rebels were not allowed to vote for
lelegates-that the people of the State
have the right to make their own Consti-
tuition, and not be made subject to one i'm
posed on them by force or fraud, by any ex-
traneous power, or by a fraction of their
fellow-citiZens"
The State, published at Weldon, takes the
same view, and adds its opinion of the char
acter of the Convention. 1t says:
That Convention was called at time
when our people were bowed down in spirits
pecunarily and politically. 1t was called
by Provisional Governor, and in a man
ner unknown to the spirit of our State Con-
stitution. 1t was called by the dictatorial pow
er of the chief Executive of the United Sta
ties, who had been enabled to usu1,p outhori-
ty 6y tie force of arms, and IN Ui0latiOn OF the
bleeding and prostitute form Of the Constitution
Of the United States and tile Constitution Of
North Carolina. We had just emerged from
! terrible and bloody war for liberty and
independence, so called, when our people
were called upon to elect members to this
memorable and never to be forgotten North
Carolina Convention. A majority of our
people like sheep led to the shamblcs. went
forward, and through policy voted for the
men whom they thought would be most &C
ceptable to the Provisional Governor and
the President of the United States In ac-
cordance with this desire to please the pow
ers that were then in existence majority of
old spawned Wings and recreant Democrats
were elected men whose principal boast
was, that during our late sanguinary contest,
t.
been all the time Union men, notwithstand-
ing their assertions to the contrary, during
the war"
We give these specimens of the spirit
which pervades the press in the Eastern part
of the State. The great mass of the people
of the East no doubt concur in these views,
and we may look for a heavy vote in that
part of the State against the new Consti-
tuition.
The Sentinel, the organ of Gov. Worth,
very coolly announces the purpose which has
been formed in Raleigh to defeat the new
Constitution. That paper says:
LIEUTENANT GovERNoR-There is much
doubt whether the people will consent to the
addition of this office. Our information in
dicates, at present, that the amended Consti-
tuition will be rejected by the people If so,
no Lieutenant Governor Will be elected One
or two radical presses ridicule our sugges-
ton to leave the choice of the candidate to
the gentlemen named for that Office. We
made our suggestion, to avoid the inconveni-
ence OF primary meetings and a Convention,
simply to make the selection. We are will
ing to trust the gentleman named to make
it, but would prefer primary meetings and
Convention, If the people adopt the Consti-
tuition and prefer Convention"
We have no time to dwell to-day upon the
results that will flow from the rejection of
the new Constitution Its rejection will be
the most serious blow which could be dealt
to the Presidents plan of restoration; and
we have no doubt that this blow is medita-
ted and intended. The President is de
nounced as a usurper-as standing over the
" bleeding form of the Constitution and as
seeking, by :" force or fraud,' to compel our
people to accept this Constitution. Another
object which the politicians have in view,
and most cherished object, is to defeat the
white basis provision in the House of Com
mons, SO as to perpetuate the old Commons
which is based on three fifths
of the blacks. The spirit of slavery is not
yet extinct in this State. The oigarchs still
cling to its dead forms in the hope of per-
petuating their power over the loyal free
white men of North Carolina.
We call upon the friends of the President,
and upon the friends of the new Constitution
to rally, and to go to the polls in full force
and vote TO ratify the new Constitution. The
4th of August.
Indiana.
A telegram from Indianapolis of the 18th
inst, says that the johnson National Union
Convention in that City was thinly attended,
the actual number of delegates not exceed
ing one hundred and twenty-five. and that
three Congressional districts were unrepre-
sented. None of the speakers invited from
abroad were in attendance; and only those
who supported Lincoln and johnson, in
1864 and support President Jollnson's poll
cy now, were allowed to participate. Gen.
SOL Meredith WAS elected President, and
delegates to Philadelphia appointed. A Sc