Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-09-06
The State Election.

The State Election.
There seems to be somedoubt in the
minds of the people in regard to the next
State election, and opinions expressed by
some of our contemporaries relative to the
matter are calculated to mislead them
Many are under the impression, in conse-
quence of the failure to ratify the amend
ed Constitution, that no election can now
besheld, as the time designated in the old
law, (the first Thursday in August having
passed. This is an error. The Convention
submitted nothing to the people but the
Constitution as it was proposed to be
amended by that body. Before its adjourn
ment, and in order to submit the new Con-
stitution to the people, they postponed the
regular State election until the third Thurs
day in October, by an ordinance which we
republish below. This postponement, we
have been informed, was done by the iniu-
ence Of those politicians who expected to
reap the benefit of the gain of twelve mem
bers to the West, as is provided in the sec
ond section of the ordinance. The rejec-
ton of the new Constitution, however, will
Illustrate any such schemes, as the third Sec
ton provides that the ordinance shall have
no effect except that the election shall be
held at the time designated. An exception
is,made in the case of the county of Har-
nett, because the Convention at its first
session divided the representation of the
counties of Cumberland and Harnett, by
giving to the former two members of the
Commons and to the latter one. This was
agreed upon between the delegates from
those counties, in as much as Harnett was
taken altogether from Cumberland.
1t does not follow that because the new
Constitution was rejected that the postpon-
ement of the election is Illegal, for that
may have been rejected upon its merits and
not because of the want Of any power in
the body proposing it. The argument,
however, that shows want of power in the
Convention to propose the new Constitu-
ton doubtless goes far to show q want of
power to postpone the election. But this is
point we do not desire to raise. We do
not fight against impossibilities. The per
son elected as such, in the October election,
Will be the Governor of the State, and this
being foregone conclusion, it behooves us
to select the proper man to execute the I'M
portant duties of the position devolving
upon the Chief Executive of the State in
times like these, for whether in office right
fully or wrongfully, his powe- for good or
evil will be the same.
The opinion, therefore, that on account
of the failure to hold an election on the first
Monday of this month, will necessitate the
appointment of a Provisional Governor 1t
the expiration of Governor Worth's term,
on the first of January next, or that a Pro-
clamation by the Governor designating
day for an election will be required, is er-
roneous, and that on the third Thursday of
October an election will be held under the
usual form, as provided by law, prior to the
year 1861.
The following is the ordinance of the
Convention on the subject:
ANEORCINANCE
TO CHANGE THE TIME OF ELECTIONS IN NORTH CARO-
LIMA, AND FOR oTHIR PURPOSES.
Section /. Be 1t ordained By the Delegates Of the
people of North Carolina, in Convention assembled,
That all elections for Governor of the State of
North Carolina members of the General Assembly,
and all other elections, now required by law to be
held on the first Thursday in August, shall hereaf
ter be held on the third Thursday in October, IN
der the same rules regulations, and restrictions,
as are now prescribed law.
Sec 2. That hereafter, until the first session of
the General Assembly after the year eighteen hun
bred and seventy-one, the House of Commons
shall be composed of members elected from the
counties in the following manner, VIZ The coun-
ties of Allegheny, Brunswick, Camden, Cherokee,
Clay, Chowan, Currituck, Gates, Greene, Hartford,
Hyde, Jackson, Jones, Duplin, Lenoir, Onslow,
Pasquotank, Perquimans, Polk, Richmond, Tyrrell,
Warren Washington, Watauga, Yancey, Hender-
Ashe, Beaufort, BERTHE, Bladen, Burke, Cabarrus,
Caldwell, Carteret Caswen, Columbus, Dayie,
Edgecombe, Franklin. CASTOR, Halifax, Harnett,
Haywood, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, Martin,
Mcdowell, Montgomery, Nash, Northampton, Per-
son, Pitt, Stanly, Stokes, Wilson, and Mitchell,
shall elect one member each The counties of
Buncombe, Catawba, Cleveland, Craven, Cumber-
land, Forsyth, Granville, Iredell, Johnston, Meek
lenburg, Moore, Robson, New Hanover Rocking
Wayne, Yadkin, Chatham, Davidson, Orange and
Wilkes, shall elect two members each. The coun-
ties of Wake, Randolph and Guiford, shall elect
three members each.
Sec. 3. That all laws in contravention of this
dinance, be and they hereby repealed; PrOUi-
ded, 4eUe7tteleSS, that in the Constitution be
not ratified by the people this ordinance shall have
effect, except that the elections shall be held
at the time designated, and shall be held under
the law it existed in the year eighteen hundred
and sixty-one, save that the County of Harnett
may vote for member as heretofore provided.
Sec. f. Be 1t further ordained, That nothing in
this or dinauce contained shall be CONSTRUCTORS
to restrict the General Assembly hereafter from
regulating the time of holding said elections.
Ratified in Convention the Goth day OF June, A.
D. 1866.
Gen. G.. w. Logan.
We learn that G.. W. Logan, of Ruther-