Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-08-09
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL.
The Election.

The Election.
Although but few returns have been received,
and it is as vet impossible to form any reliable
conclusion as to the result, sufficient indications
are evident from the general paucity of che vote.
We knew when the Convention forced upon our
peopIe vote of such vast Importance, without
proper publication and distribution of the pro-
posed Constitution, without time for its full and
free consideration and discussion, that the people
would manifest but little interest in the result
They have not had the time opportunity of Civ
ing that attention to the matter its vast impor-
tance demanded, and they preferred to remain 81
lent, than vote in Ignorance ON questions lnVolv-
ing so much as those so hastily submitted by the
late Convention.
So far as heard from, which returns we give be-
low, the indications are that the amended Constl-
tuition will be rejected by a small vote, but no
returns have been received from points farther west
than Salisbury, it is i'm possible to form reliable
conclusion. As the par excellence "ioyal press VI
the State were for the ratification Oft
its rejection will be seized rpon by them as evidence
of the dislovalty of North Carolina and as poslt'e
,,roof of o,noe;+ion to the policy of President
johnson r. what reason they will arrive at this
concnsior 1t is difficult now to predict, but we
have never known some editor, baked for many
good reasons to prove just what would serve
s'party purposes"
For the first time since the end of the wal, the
people of this State have been permitted to vote
without considerations of national character to
bias their ballots. No national politics had any
influence in this election, except so far as the
Convention vas the creature of Executive APP
pointment. Had that body, however, confined
itself to the purposes for which the President
caused it to be assembled, no question as to Its
authority would have arisen and the people OF
the State would have acquesced In It's legislation
with the spirit manifested at the end of its first
session. Composed forthe most part by exhumed |
political fossils and accidental men, who had been
thrown up from the bottom by the results of the
revolution, they determined, as it was their last
appearance upon the political stage, that in the
face of the doubt of their birth, with the full
knowledge that they did not represent either the
writers or a majority of the voters Of the State,
they would, in humble imitation of their proto
types at Washington, amend the Constitution.
So far as the East is concerned, the unanimity
with which the votes are cast against the Consti-
tuition is not owing more to any opposition to
particular amendments or as to clearly formed |
doubts as to the authority of the Convention to
amend the fundamental law of the State, as for
a general mistrust of the majority of the |
men composing the Convention itself Many
intelligent gentlemen, who have not had either
the time opportunity to inform themselves in
regard to the important subject submitted to
them, cast their votes against the Constitution
upon the ground merely of want OF confidence
in the amending body.
Should the amended Constitution be rejected, |
and We sincerely trust such is the case, the peo-
pie can at such time they DESIRE after the forms
prescribed in the Constitution itself, call a |
Convention for the purpose of making srch
amendments thereto as u majority of the
people, after a full and mature consideration
may, through their legally chosen representatives,
decide upon. In the mean time, the old Consti-
tuition under which we have lived since 1886, will
be in force except so far as it has been modified
by the Convention III reference to our national
status. Unless upon adverse decision of the
Supreme Court, all the legislation of the Conven-
ton, will be in full force and effect, that neither
the organic law of the State the acts and or
dinances of the Convention would be disturbed
by the rejection of the Constitution by the people
Certainly all that the Convention has done in ODE
dience to the wishes or policy of the President !
there is no WISH even if there be any right to
disturb. Nopeope within the limits of the United !
SoCateS are SO III supporting ln0 EOnCy
of the President or his administration, as those
who have opposed the ratification of the amended :
Constitution Papers i'll this State will doubtless y
attempt to torture such decision into hostility to
the President, in much as the Convention 7
which proposed it elected under his direction.
But the President is fully advised to who are j
his friends in this State. rejection by q
our Legislature of the Howard amendment, !,
which will certainly be the whenever l.
it is submitted, might with equal pro- {
priety be construed into opposition to the Pre- s
sident, as that amendment was proposed by re- a
representatives. of the party which elected him
Vice President. The people of North Carolina
have as little confidence in the majority of the
late Convention, the President of the United
States has manifested in the present Congress.
The following is the result far we have =
heard of the state of the polls at several points in
the State: 9
r RI