The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-07-11
New constitution or North Caro-
1he lima.

I"N lnA,
A.. The 25th of June, the State of North
vi ratified, in Convention, the new
CCa',stitution, which she framed in order to
OOn the demands of the situation in which
Ile'f f,und herself at the close Of the late war.
S ,"o fret article of this instrument is de-
inrotorv of rights, and the 25th section
' 1,1s as follows: "Slavery and involuntary
'o'artude, otherwise than for crimes, whereof
sSa narties shall have been duly convicted,
.po be- and is hereby forever prohibited
s .;thin the State" This is the great change
,ha war effected in her organic law, so
~ sneak and may be regarded as the evil
Ionre she presents of her readiness to accept
tbs situation, and adapt herself to the logic
e. events. No more could be justly or gem
,,ously required at her hands by conqueror
s ,So nrofessed at the outset his object to be
.ho maintenance of the Union, and its per-
netua preservation. And we may say, no
more has been required by him who repre-
ypnts the conqueror, or what Is the same, the
General Government lie has already pro-
claimed bis policy to be, the restoration OF the
States which endeavored to sever by force
hpir connection with the Union; and, per-
hans all that he has uttered upon this SUD :
;aet has contem plated an early and just reha-
Eiltation and Presumption OF their rights
~ ,ho common Government. He does not,
narbans ask of North Carolina any further
totcal concession to the new order OF things
Which the war has inaugurated, than that she
has already made. She has not only abol-
sDea slavery, and been just to the freedmen,
but likewise the public debt Of the State IN
curred during the war, and which was mostly
dne TO her own citizens.
She did not hesitate to consummate tins
batter act. however repugnant to her sense of
,l,tlce and opposed TO the ideas of honor in
which her people had been reared-but pow
erless as she was, incapable OF resistance, and
with an eye single to the interests OF her peo-
nile which, indeed, formed the main spring of
her action, she promptly met the demands
which she could not avoid, and placed herself
in position to reassume her obligations IN
the so-called union of States.
But there is a rarity whose representativ s
in Congress are opposed to her admission, un-
less she consents to accept terms which not
only no generous conquerer would exact, but
which would be SO humiliating as to reach
the depth of degradation, To this depth,
as we understand, the recent delegation in
Washington, in the interests of HOLDEN, are
willing to sink her. They would perhaps,
he Wiling to accept any terms of recognition
which would give the State her representa-
ton i'll Congress, and it was under the inhu-
enoe of such grovelling sentiments that they
had the interview with the acknowledged ra-
deal leader, who no doubt spoke ea cathedra
When he signifed to them the conditional pro-
>,trl,i oh I,
Impression of yesterday. We trust however,
that the people of North Carolina will never
consent to authorize her representatives elect
to vote for the proposed amendment which
hrs been propounded by dominant radcaism
to the Southern States.
We hope she will be content to bide her
time, and act upon the views of the citizens of
Augusta county, Virginia, in relation to the
action of Notwithstanding it far better to
maintain her position as State out of the
Union, and at the same time discharge the
duties of State in the Onion, than to enter
the halls of Congress with the brand # self
imposed degradation upon her brow, and the
object OF the just scorn Of mankind; and that
therefore, it is the fixed purpose of the PEG
pie without passion or excitement, and with
no view to disturb the order or harmony of
the country, to decline even to consider any
proposed amendment of the Constitution, I'M
til, to use the words OF President JOHNSON, in
bis reeent message to Congress, "efter the adj
mission of such loyal Senators and Represen-
tatlVes of the now unrepresented States as
have been, or may hereafter be, chosen in
conformity with the Constitution and laws of
the United States.
The Raleigh Sentinel says, the disfranchise-
ment of the people of North Carolina is a
darling object with Governor HOLDEN, which
he has made chief plank in his platform,
ever since his defeat. 1t says that if one half
only of the people were DISTINGUISHED, he
would fnd only about one fourth Of the half
his supporters and the supporters of the radi-
Cal congressional amendment to the Constitu-
ton.
The proposed changes of the State Consti-
tuition are to be submitted to the popular vote
on the first Thursday in August. The State
officers will be elected on the 18th of October,
and the Legislature is to meet on the third
Monday in November.