Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-10-25
From the Raleigh Sentinel.
RECONSTRUCTION.
IMPORTANT LETT ER FROM GOVERNOR
GRA AM.
HILLsBoRo', Oct. 10, 1867.

B
son of engagements Of business, to be pres !
ent at the meeting of the Conservative peo-
pie of Wake, at Raleigh, on the 18th inst,
and to address them on the topics involved
in the approaching election, in accordance
with the invitation received from you few
days since. { regret this, both because OF
the pleasure | should have derived from a
free communication with SC intelligent all
assemblage Of the citizens Of the State on
the duties of the present time, and because
the topics in question are too numerous
and suggestive to be treated satisfactorily
in a letter without unbecoming tedious
ness.
Twas pleased in observing that such
meeting had been called. Ia the opinion OF
some. with whom [ have conversed, it was
supnOsed there had been too great delay
among Conservative citizens in cOmmunlca-
| ting together, in the face of very active eX-
ertlons to form party adverse to them
land to the best interests of the State, III
which it was sought to combine all the col
ored voters by appeals to prejudice, pas
| sion, and hopes Of unlawful gain. L have
not been much disturbed by apprehension5
of this kind. The white population OF
| North Carolina, by the census of 1860, out
numbers the black in proportion of two to
one, or thereabouts, and after deductlng
all who are disfranchised under the mill
tary Acts Of Congress, the majority OF vo-
| ters of the former will stand to the latter
somewhat in that proportion. This white
pO1ulation which has been heretofore the
DEPOSITORY of the political power OF the
State is as faithful to the Constitution OF
the United States as it ever was or as that
of any other State Of the Union IS now,
but tEev have an intelligent cOmprehen-
SION Of their rights and duties as electors
- tI,T1l u
consultation or concert, will, in my opln-
ion, cast majority of votes only in favor
of such measures ard candidates as Will
best promote their safety and happiness.
20 the military authority, which has been
established over them, they yield ready
obedience. Even where it may sllpersede
their ancient and cherished laws and usa-
oes. they bow before it and make no issue.
But when, bv the law, an issue is presented
to them, to be solved though an election, it
is naturally to be understood, us the term
imports that they are to have their choice,
to vote either upon measures or candidates
as each individual voter according to his
views Of the public interest or his sense OF
duty may prefer.
The Bill of Rights of the State, from
l77G until now, procaims that /" elections
ought to be free" It is q noteworthy fact
that, in France, where, SO far as elections
are allowed, universal manhood suffrage
prevails, under the first Bonaparte IN 1901,
and under the third in 1852, a Republican
form OF government was converted INTO a
monarchical or despotic one, through the
ceremony of an election, and by vote OF
the people approaching to unanlmlty.
These We're, Of course, attributed only TO
, the influence Of duress and fear. But IN
ENGLAND and America such influences are
=, not allowed to operate, and like bribery OF
fraud would render an election void. Ac-
t cordinc to our theory, if the electOr at the
! polls shall express, not his own sentiments,
/ but those Of some other person or authOr
". the election itself is but al idle form.
l An election with us, therefore, is an occa
I sion for serious thought, inquiry, unreserv
ed consultation and free discussion; anC
our suffrages are accustomed to be given
according to the convictions Of our minds
), effected through such means.
In the election now before us, the cleo
- tors are to vote For a Convention O.
Aoainst q Convention" and, at the same
= time, for delegates to represent their coun
a ties in Convention. provided the affrma
= tive vote shall be sufficient, according t.
n the provisions of the law. Such COnven
+ ton. if called, is to deliberate Oh the form
alton Of Il Constitution in which there shal
a. be a provision, & that the elective franchls
d shall be enjoyed by all such persons as hav
h the qualifications for electors in the presen
$ el2ction;' that is all the male citizens c
NJ the State, twenty-one years old and VI
wards, Of whatever race, color OF preTlOU
n condition, who have been resident in til
State for one year previous to the day G
any election, except such as may be dis
franclised for participation in the rebo
lion, or for felony at common law"
make this quotation with care, for the pu1
tn pose of collating it in my subsequent II
I'd marks, with the qualification OF voters l
IN some of the leading States now represen
ne ed in Congress, whose members have show
ed extraordinary zeal in prescribing its term
u to us.
he Never, heretofore, in America, has th
ne elective franchise been extended to he
OF classes Of voters, except through the agenc
e. of Conventions chosen by those who la
n, enjoyed it exclusively before. Congress
q, bv the acts under consideration, has e.
Ill tended it to all males of the black raC
er twcnty-one years of age and upwards, wit
Is no other qualifications than those alloy
We rccited but only SO far, however, as Il
1t CARDS the present election. And, accor'
- ing to my recollection, it was stated in Il
all debate on these acts by Mr.. Fessenden,
dc Maine, certainly one Of the ablest and mo
ak experienced members of the Senate, tn
VIZ no permanent fegulatlOn Oh tnlS uati
re- could be constitutionally established in
ld State without the sanction of its people
,At and I think the correctness Of the rema1
IS. was acquiesced in by the subsequent actic
OF of Congress- Congress, then, has provide
he that in the present election the black rae
IN with 10 other than the qualifications q
gal ready stated, shall vote. That was the
!u- act. If it shall be provided that they shf
he so vote in all future time, the act will
Sc ours. It is not sought to be disguise
he that Congress desires that we shall so pr
N vide, and it is strongly intimated, that re
we rcsentation in Congress will not be above
us until it is done but it is still left to tt
he people of the State as represented IN 60
by vention to be deliberated upon and decide
and no more momentous question was ev
presented for the determination OF fir
on Ipeople.
e2i The inquiry cannot be excluded from Q
Tx consideration, if we would, whether, ind
Is the Constitution Of the United States
ng any republican organization, CONSTITUTE
,ay Of Government for the regulation OF t
tee internal affairs of State can be force
OF unon a neoDle against the wishes of a %