Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-09-13
From the Raleigh Sentinel
Letter from Honorable George Howard.

is well calculated to place in false light
the conduct of myself and all those who
acted in concert with me in the late State
Convention, and as my letter called it forth
| (unintentionally, however,, think reply
necessary.
In my former letter I stated two propo-
sitions as entertained by able gentlemen,
prefacing them with the observation that
| opinions at entire variance might be hon
estly entertained, and following them with
the assertion, that aChet1er these propositions
acere correct or not, aOas inanadterial, as they
placed Mr.. Moore in the same relative sit
uation to others, that myself and others
stood to him. and therefore liable to like
imputations, and yet he had never
been assailed in the vituperative style of
| his speech. Thus far my reproOf extended,
and no farther.
| Mr. Moore's idea of what is personal
| differs widely from mine To criticize,
| however severely, the tendency or effect of
a measure, think perfectly legitimate and
entirely unobjectionable but to say that
gentlemen dIeSigaedly commit breaches of
their Constitutional obligations; that under
a false pretence they Intentionally violate the
Constitution of their country, is exceed
ingly offensive Nothing could be more so.
and if, in the debate, had thought such ex-
pressions intended for myself, I should,
without hesitation, have pronounced them
false
But come now to the important part of
Mr.. Moore's letter. He says she shall not
attempt the logic of recrimination," and
Immediately arraigns me as a member of
the Convention. A statement of my posi-
ton is my defence and your readers must
determine whether it is a good one or not.
When I accepted the situation " and
took the oath of allegiance, did SO in good
faith. AS a part of it, included i'll the Pre-
sident's policy, accepted the Convention.
Whether called by virtue of that clause In
the Constitution guaranteeing to each State
a Republican form of government, or as in
cident to the war-making or any other Fed
eral power, or from necessity, l did not
stop to enquire. I considered the citizens
of the State as accepting 1t as proper
body to readjust our Federal relations
Thus far, fully sustain the Convention
and think good faith forbids any question
of its powers. But when the original pur
pose of its call was accomplished. and it
was proposed to assume the powers of
State Constitutional Convention for the pur-
pose of entirely remodeling our State or
ganic law, as it was without the sanction of
our State Constitution, thought it clearely
unauthorized to take such action {; but,
purpose by the people, thought its action,
if legal, wholly improper. Thus believing,
I voted twice to adj journ.
| But, says Mr.. Moore, if you believed thus,
why did you remain a member? Because,
although L believed the action of the Con-
vention illegal, it might not be so held by
the Courts and as l deemed it my duty, in
Difference to the majority, to raise no fac
tious opposition, so | deemed it my duty to
my constituency, should its action be sus-
| tanned, to use my influence in favor of such
legislation as would best subserve their in
terests. [ think my course proper in both
respects.
But Mr.. Moore says I voted in the Con-
vention on the removal of the Justices of
Peace as he did of the Judges. Mr.. Moore
was surely writing in haste and without con-
sideration when he made that charge. In the
case of the Justices it was deemed best to en-
tirely change the policy ofthe State asto these
officers, and their removal was incidentally
necessary. The propriety and validity of
removal, under such circumstances, think
clear In the case of the Judges there was
no change of policy-it was simply reno
val of the officers to fill their places with
partizans.
shall cast no word of reproach at Mr..
Moore about this matter. To those who
know him we'll, the strong bias of his poll
cal thoughts and feelings, it was not sur
prising that he should have taken, and can
didly taken, the side he did particularly,
under the heavy pressure brought to bear
by lifelong party associates nor was 1T
surprising to those, who appreciate and
| respect his great ability, that he should
have, under the stimulation of his surround
ings, produced an exceedingly able argu-
ment III support of his position.
But it did not divert the public from the
real nature of the transaction, as designed
and accomplished by the interested actors.
1t was perfectly transparent, have never
entertained suspicion that any one at
tributed the removal to unworthiness in
office. The provisional appointments had
seemingly Union basis but the party
which in the Convention and Legislature
vacated and filled the offices blazened on
every act Whig partizanship. Now, I do
not believe that the great body of Wings
approved this. [ am sure they did not
If / chose to amplify, I could show they
did not. Even a large majority of those,
through whose instrumentaEty it was ac-
complished, believe, upon calm reflection,
regretted the act, which they had been in
duced to commit.
That in any State, nearly equally divided
in politics, the Judiciary should wihEom &C.
CeDtlOn be placed In the hands OF one party,
is certainly to be condemned; but in the
then condition of the State, when harmony
should have been the chief aim of all that
one party, in the accidental possession of
power, should have prescribed mot by par
ty election, but by re,noraL aoittOm h'iaD all
others for what they were themselves guilty
Of is entirely indefensible.
In this connection, may say that there
is only one phase of this whole matter that
I regret. It brought into cooperation the
true Union men of the State, of the type of
Mr.. Moore. with the pseudo Unionists, a
class of men incapable of approaching or
feeling loyalty and these last, falsely claim
ing to be of like faith and practice, have
taunted, jeered and slaudered our citizens
as dlsloyal, although, in accordance with
their pledges, they have in good faith borne
themselves honorably in all things towards
the government, because they will not sub
NIT to their authority, crown them with
honors and laud as exalted patriotism their
unscrupulous selfshness.
Towards those who, like Mr.. Moore, acted
from considerations arising out of their
political faith, have never entertained any