The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-12-05
TO THE PEOPLE OF CRAVEN COUNTY.


olive Won some account of the public acts OF
those bodies. The Constitution adopted by
the Convention that has just adjourned, is to
he submitted to YOU, with the other people
of fine State. for ratification, on the first
Thursday of August, and it is therefore es-
pecialv proper at once, to give some account
of the changes made in that instrument that
YOU may vote understandly upon it,
LIST. The ninth section of the Bill OF Rights
declaring that "no freeman shall be convict
ed of any crime but by the unanimous YER
dict of Jury of good and lawful men IN
omen Court as heretofore used" has been SO
far modified as to allow the Legislature to
provide other modes of trial for petty INSIDE
meanors, with right of appeal.
The Bill of Rights has also been amended
by the introduction of the amendment made
at the first session of the Convention: "That
slavery and involuntary servitude, otherwise
than for crimes whereof the parties shall
have duly convicted, shall be and is hereby
forever prohibited within the State" This
change in our social condition, suddenly and
violently, was exceedingly deprecated by me,
but e became necessity, and could not be
avoided.
2. In the Legislative department two i'm
portant changes have been made. One in
the basis of representation for the House OF
Commons; the other on the power of the LIE
eislature to levy taxes or raise money out OF
the people, or to make pledges for any such
objects.
The noticeable change in the basis is, that
representation in the Commons is to be ap-
portioned to the white population, instead
of the white and three-ffth of the colored,
as heretofore. By this change the East loses
political weight and influence. 1t is consid-
cred by me highly Objectionable feature in
the new Constitution. 1t violates the great
fundamental principle, that representation
in the popular branch of the Legislature
should be in proportion to population (the
whole population.) 1t has never been asser-
ted, until of late by the radicals North, that
representation should be apportioned to the
voting population. Wherever the represen-
tative principle has been adopted, classes are
excluded from voting from considerations OF
public policy, as in the case of women, min
ors, aliens, persons not domiciled, and the
like. These are vicariously represented, and
are properly counted in establishing basis.
So, while public policy would exclude the
colored race from the right of suffrage, they
ought, in my judgment, unquestionably to
be counted in arranging basis of represen-
tation The partial representation of this
class in the Congress of the United States,
was a concession made to the principle cen
tended for at the North, that slaves should
be regarded simply as property. The same
may be said of the similarfeature in our State
Constitution. The allegation can now no
longer be made
The second amendment in the Legislative
department above referred to, and for the de-
tails of which refer you to Art, II, sec. 23,
of the new Constitution met my hearty con-
currence and support.
8. The new Constitution provides an adj
ditional officer in the Executive department,
called the Lieutenant Governor, whose duty
it will be to preside in the Senate, and to
take the place of the Governor in case of his
death, resignation, disability or absence
This amendment involves no principle, and
subjects the people to little additional ex-
pense, and is a change, therefore, which |
suppose may be allowed to pass without COM
ment.
4. A change has been made in the judicial
department, which think was needless, and
to which objection may possibly be made
The Supreme Court, according to Legislative
provisions, sat twice per annum in the city
of Raleigh. This was, of course, subject to
be changed by the Legislative will; but now
it is provided in the new Constitution that
the Court must sit in Raleigh and no where
else, twice per annum, and no fewer times.
I am for inserting in the fundamental laws
important PRINCIPLES only, and leaving de-
tails to be settled by the Legislature from
time to time, as public policy and interest
may require.
--' This department of the Constitution is a.
mended also by giving the election of JUS
tices of the Peace to the people in districts
OF the respective Counties. to be laid off by
the next General Assembly 1t is provided
there shall not be more than two for every
one thousand inhabitants, with three add
tional ones for every County seat and incor-
porated city or town; and they shall hold
their offices for six years. By the census of
1860, the county of Craven contained 1925
inhabitants, so that the maximum number of
Justices to which we would be entitled I'M
der the Constitution would be 80. with three
on account ofthe incorporated city of New
bern, making in all 81 While have doubts
as to the expediency of this feature in our
new organic law, submit it to your expert
ence and Judgment and shall abide results
very cheerfully.
s. The disqualification for office on account
of religious disbelief, was amended in 1861
SO as to admit to office persons of the Jewish
faith. This amendment has been reincor-
porated in the new Constitution, as will be
found by reference to the phraseology now
used in Art Y. sec. /. In this amendment
I heartily concur
6. In Art. VII, Sec. 9, form of oath is
indicated for all State officers upon entering
on the discharge of their duties. This is a
novelty in our Constitution, and is different
from the form prescribed by law in the Re.
vised Code, Chap. rs, Sec. 4. The interpo-
lation of this section seems to be intended to
change our respective relations to the Ma
honal and State governments in some way.
By sinking the old form of oath, which
promises, faith and true allegiance to the
State" fundamental principle Of our Fed
eral relations seems to be ignored or denied.
object to it as ee post tacto,'' in the great
argument as to State rights which it now
becomes us to hold with the sense and pat
riotism of the country. 1 Object to it as a
side blow at principle which ought to be
met fairly and openly. if met at all, and as
calculated to debase the State from the con-
dition of sovereignty and dignity which 1t
has ever been supposed to occupy, to the
condition OF dependency upon the United
States. desire to maintain the relations
between the National and State governments.
without abating a title from either. As our
democratic fathers have settled them. so wish
to keep them with all proper honor to each
in its legitimate sphere of action. am for
keeping the oath of office as our fathers
framed it, and as they have kept it when re-
vising their organic laws from time to time,
down to the present day. l want nothing