Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-11-01
The Conyention-Letter from Governor
Graham.

T. A, ENGEIHARD, ESQ, Dear Sir: Yours
of the Dist inst. found me from home.
have now read the editorial it contains,
and am of opinion you give the proper III
terpretation to the act of Congress in regard
to the call of a Convention, and concur
in your suggestion, that opposition to the
call NAV be as well, and perhaps more Ell
fectually expressed by not voting On that
ouestion. than by ballot in the negative ::
proyided there is a general concurrence III
action of those opposed to extending the
right of suffrage indiscriminately to the
colored people This being the only spe
cifc object to be provided for by the pro-
posed Convention, there are two questions
presented to the electors, namely: LIST.
Whether the State of North Carolina shall
retain the right to regulate the exercise OF
suffrage among her own population, as IS
the case in Ohio and all the States of the
North, or shall have it regulated for her by
these latter States, and in a manner diff
ferept from the rules they adopt Tor
themselves ?
Cd. Whether the vote of a white man IN
North Carolina shall have the same weight
hereafter as that Of a white man IN ONO,
PENNSYLVANIA and other Northern States,
or shall be neutralized and made Of no
effect by that of the black man here, who
is forbidden this privilege in other States
The representatives of civilized England
gained an Immortality for themselves by
negative answer 'N0ya0nuS aa"t0''e, 1--WE
are unwilling to adopt the change proposed)
on question of far less gravity; nor do L
read that it subjected their country to any
additional penalties or infections. Congress
has provided none except the continuance
OF military government in our case, and the
individuals who brandish threats over our
heads in the event of noncompliance, have
given no assurance of restoration to equallty
with themselves, if we abandon our own
INDICTMENTS and conform to theirs. In such
q condition. while we would gladly receive
light and instruction from any source, we
would act at last in the conclusions of our
own understandings. While far removed
from any temper of levity or defiance, L
cannot better illustrate my idea Of the final
consequences of negative course IN this
great crisis than by this anecdote, with
which, among many others of English life,
Mr. Webster used to entertain his friends
after his visit to Europe. An old member
of the Commons was descanting to a
Younger upon Parliamentary law, saying
"tnat in the occurrence of any disturbance
in the House it was the duty of the Speaker
to call to order, and if it continued to re-
peat the call in louder and more emphatic
tones but if this failed of effect and the
disorder persisted in, the Speaker should
direct the Sergeant-a alarms to take the
mace, the emblem of the authority and
dignity of the House, which is always
placed on the right of the chair when the
House is in session, and holding it in both
his hands, to go down upon the floor and
display it among the unruly members. .
And here he paused. But, inquired the
junior, ''suppose they do not come tc
order then, what is to be done :" ''Weli,
replied the senior, "well, the Lord knows
there is nothing said about it in the Law o.
Parliament" To the same Omnlacient
source, within whose knowledge is the
final sanction for disorderly Parliaments
let us refer for those pains and penal
ties that in the imagination of many
await long-suffering and loyal people
struggling for State existence by the only
means in their power-the ballot-giyine
their votes according to their conviction
of duty.
With much respect,
am your obedient servant,
W. A. GRAHAM.
It gives us pleasure to lay before oul
readers the above letter from Governor
GRAHAM in reply to our editorial upon the
policy of refraining to vote upon the ques
ton of Convention as the surest mode O.
defeating its call. 1t will be seen that h
regards the plan as in accordance with
proper Interpretation of the Act of Con
gress, and probably the most effective mod
of defeating the call of q Convention, pro
vided all who are opposed to extendin!
the right of suffrage Unfortunately to tn
colored people will generally concur in thi
course of action. By not voting upon thu
question of Convention, the party op
posed to its call not only gets the benefit o
their own strength, but also of the friend
of the measure, white and black, who d.
not vote upon the question. Ever,
one who has watched the result of the cleo
tions in this country, knows that in ever.
instance where an abstract proposition ha
been submitted to the people for their ap
probation or condemnation at the ballot
box, very slim vote has been polled. Thu
question of Convention in the exciting
election of 1861, ran in almost every coun
ty III this State far behind the candidates
for delegates to the same. The vote upo1
the ratification of the two ordinances, the
one repeating the Ordinance of Secession
the other abolishing slavery, submitted tt
the people in 1865, was most insignificant
and it will be found that in the coming cleo
ton the UiS inertiCB of the people will bt
one of the most powerful enemies which