Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-11-15
Convention OF no Convention.

Convention
Conservative meetings and Journals
throughout the State continue to Disagree
upon the question of Convention, and
those who oppose are not united upon
common plan of action against its call.
The Negbern .Jou,na Of Commerce believes
that too much has already been done to-
wards bringing out Conservative candi-
dates in the various counties to make the
non-action policy successful. 1t therefore
regards direct opposition as the surest
mode of defeating the Convention.
On the other hand, at very large and
influential meeting at Goldsboro', during
the present week, the following resolution
was unanimously adopted
Resolred, That we recommend to the voters OF
Wayne county to 90 nlGsSe to the polls and vote
for the chosen candidates-but cast no vote elther
for or against Convention.
This resolution is in exact accordance
with the recommendation of this paper,
and we still believe that had the Conserva-
tives of the State united upon this plan, it
would probably have caused the defeat OF
the Convention without in the least placing
in jeopardy the success of-their candidates.
It certainly would not be more unusual to
vote for delegates without voting for
Convention than voting for them and
AGAINST a Convention. We have never
failed to urge the Conservatives to vote Tor
candidates in every instance, regardless OF
their position upon the question OF a Con-
vention. We are unwilling to forfeit the
strong probabilities of having majority
of Conservative delegates to the possible
chance of defeating the call.
It is true that most Of the papers, and we
believe the white people in the eastern
part of the State are opposed to Conven-
ton, yet, if we may judge from the papers
in Raleigh and west of that point, which
are, with one exception, either openly IN
favor of 4 Convention or opposed to organ
lied opposition thereto, we are forced to
believe that but little effort will be made
to defeat the call in the larger portion of
the State. Assuming, therefore, that SUI
fcient number of Conservatives will vote
with the Radicals to insure the assemblage
of the Convention, we are satisfied that 1t
will be easier, if the proper efforts are
made, to elect a majority OF delegates than
to defeat Objectionable action on the part OF
the Convention in case it is controlled by
Radicals. The seventeen counties which
return negro maiorities are entitled to bnt
thirty-two of the one hundred and twenty
delegates of which the Convention will be
composed. We suppose that in much the
larger portion of the State the lines be-
tween the races will be as closely drawn as
they were in Virginia and Georgia. In
both of those States the native white Radl-
Gals are men of more position and talent
than those in North Carolina, while their
Northern leaders are the equals OF their
fellows in this State in every respect. The
efforts to obtain white support has been as
great and will prove as effective there as
here, and we cannot doubt that our people
are as patriotic and jealous of their good
name as those of Virginia or Georgia, and
we have but little fear that North Carroll
mans will more readily accept the dis
honorable proposals of Radicalism than
have LLelr nelghbOrs.
We are therefore persuaded that the
Conservatives will be in q majority IN the
Convention, and we suppose the Const1tu-
ton of North Carolina will give the color
ed people of this State the same privileges
conferred upon the colored people of New
York and Ohio by the Constitutions OF
those States In doing so, North Carolina
has the endorsement in advance of every
Northern State in which elections have
been held during the present year, and if
Congress does not accept us with Constltu-
tions so formed, the people will repudiate
them and the wicked party of which they
are fit representatives by storm of con
domination and indignation unparalleled in
the political history of the world. The col
ored people of the South will yet learn that
every permanent right which they will ever
possess will be bestowed upon them by the
hberality and justice of the Southern
whites, and the time and character of the
bestowal will depend upon their own con-
duct and advancement Their claims GER
tainly are not being promoted by their
present disposition or their utter want OF
independence and judgment in being lead
by INSCRIPTIONS adventures into associa'
tions and oath-bound leagues in direct
hostility to the interests of their section
and former friends.