The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1867-11-19
Let us Reason Together.


President johnson. His suggestions deserve atten
tive perusal and serious consideration:
SHOULD WE HAVE A CONVENTION Il agree with a
| distinguished statesman whose letter is before the
public, in his theory, that universal suffrage is no,
! desirable. When our State Constitution was altered
some few years ago, from freehold free suffrage in
the Senate, | opposed to it. | wish it were not
true but the history of the world shows that it is
true, that mankind too vicious for elf-govern-
ment in the unrestricted of universal suffrage
Virtue and intelligence when organized by force of
their superiority over vice and ignorance morgan
lied. can maintain government-the best form of
Recommendations the aid of monarchy aristo-
| cracy But there must be some restraint upon the
vicious and ignorant even at the risk of including
among them some who are really virtuous or else
their passions will render the government unstable
aud themselves dangerous. How to make this ex-
clusion of the bad without excluding too many, or
any of the good is the great difficulty. What shall
be the test of excellency: Shall it be property ?
Shall be intelligence! Shall it be religion? Take
either of these whatever else you please and the
test will be found to be imperfect in that it will in
cludc in the exclusion who really well quail
fed to take part in the government But that is just
what may be said of every other human thing-that
IT is imperfect. And the choice is between letting
In all the bad, or excluding with them some of the
good. If, then, we are free to choose way,
L would unquestionably favor restricted sufra ge.
But are we free to choose just now! That is the
question.
The Reconstruction Acts place us under a military
government, and provide, that whenever we call a
Convention, and make acceptable CONSTITUTIONS
we may be relieved from the military, and admitted
to civil government of the States of the Union
Now, how far at liberty. and how far are we
under restraint by this legislation Are we free to
choose whether we will live under the military :?
Certainly. Are we free TO vote for against
vention! Certainly. Are we free to form just such
constitution as we plcasc-one with restricted, one
with universal suffrage, for instance? Certainly
We are free TO do just as We please taking, of course
the consequences of our choice The able writer, to
! which have alluded, says, that the import of the
term, detection, is choice. But do not agree with
him. that because free vote for against
n convention it is best for vote against it. l
agree with him that restricted suffrage is desirable
! not to say indispensable; but do not agree with
him. that the way to secure it is to vote against
convention. ] agree with him also, that the white
population i'll North Carolina lis nearly two to of
the black and that, even with portion of the whites
disfranchised the whites have still large majority
of the voters but do not think that therefore they
ought to vote against convention. But for these
very facts reasons think they ought to vote for
convention and elect good delegates, and make just
such IL constitution the interests of the State
quirc. And then, if with such constitution thus
formed by convention elected by just such voters
a Congress designated shall be excluded from
proper place in the Union. may very well
afford wait, with the hope, that reflection and
of justice, will induce change Of rulers and
of laws But, if vote against convention, will
not that indicate that we prefer the military to any
civil government? For the accepted theory is,
that we have civil government at all. And,
that same able writer says, we are under no con-
straint to do one thing another and under
no threat of Congress, but arc free to do
please, and if please to do nothing, how can
escape the conclusion that prefer what we have?
by the way. will say, that it is theory of mine
that have civil State government; my opinion
is that State government is precisely what it
before the war; with the exceptions made by the
vention of 1860. But that is disputed i'll
State and is certainly not the doctrine of the General
Govcrnment) SO that, the received opinion now is,
| III hnxn niH-Il &c h
mttcd to us, without threat of Congress- to form
civil government, and will not call Convention
to form any civil government, it will be said with
force, that rcbellious sti else that we
prefer the military.
But then, it is plausibly asked. why form a consti
tuition which will not be approved by Congress? The
answer is. form constitution. Just such we ought
to have and. it may be, that Congress, sooner or
later will approve it. 1t is possible. But if will
form constitution them ii is not even possible for
Congress to approve it. i we form one, and it is
rejected then, there it stands to speak for itself If
it be good such other States have, how is 1t
possible that it can be long denied to u.s. Is it not
the only hope of those who oppose Convention that
will be allowed, after dwhae. to form such con-
suion?-That there will be reaction in our favor?
Will il not promote that reaction to form such con-
sttutiOn now, and let it stand monument Of
what ready to do. Then it can be said in
New York. Pennsylvania, Ohio, and other States:
see. yonder is North Carolina which has called
convention. by just such Congress prescribed
and formed constitution similar to our own, and
| yet she is denied her place in the Union Can
| be excluded any longer? l think
But, to this it is answered, that have such
| constitution alrcady-why not let that stand
monument? | answer, that the constitution which
we have. is regarded constitution at all-that
the old constitution abrogatcd by the war, and
that the convention of 1865 illegimate and its
| action void, and was rejected by the people.
have said that such Is not my opinion, but II Is the
general opinion, and high North Carolina authority
is quot ed for it. If this be then must have
| Mt m TO m Ike
But then, it is said, that although that may be So
vet, it is unsafe to call convention at tbs time
that it will be composed of unsafe elements | can
not the force of tbs objection. Why need II be:
If the conservative clement do not mean the con-
scrvatve party, but the conservative element OF what
ever party in the State has the ma orty to vote down
the convention cannot that ma ority vote for a
convention, and elect the delegates and control It:
| Doubtless. If then, the conservative element can
elect and control convention. is it not for the
life of the State that they should do and form
constitution and submit it be approved by this
! some subsequent Congress? Let me suggest for the
consideration of the thoughtful that to advise against
conx ention viii be to defeat it. The effect will
be make those who influenced by the advice
indifferent: and many of them will not vote at ALL
while those who favor a convention will vote; and
thus may il down certain, that ention
will be called. And, if those who mi ht control it
for good stand off and allow extreme to control
it. extreme constitution will be framed, and pre-
scented to and accepted by Congress, and fastened
upon us forever. L do not mean to be presumptuous
in declaring this to be the certain result of the advice
n has been taken, a convention has been called
| while large numbers stand aloof and take part
and, consequently, will have control 1t is fatal
apathy if not perverse obstinacy. 1t is by action
action ao,c in eiccting and controlling the
| that the State can be saved.
| ION he cd He'd will ha opHa