The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1867-10-02
RECONSTRUCTION.
WHO TO CHOOSE, AND HOW TO ELECT DELE
lts3 se GATES. e{sa


enlightened advocates of Republicanism of
the same locality 1t is through such con-
yersatlons that the new class of frcemen in
the South are fast becoming conversant with
the institutions and workings Of our govern
menf, and learning the wide difference be-
tween the Democrats and the liberal Re-
publican party 1.-The subject of conversa-
ton in the present instance is of a State
Convention for the framing Of a Constitution
or organic lawi:aaJ BItg D. q xisasy ~ iissr
i @. We have repeatedly been told that
State Constitutional Convention is soon to
be held in this State in conformity with the
Reconstruction acts of Congress, and have,
been urged to register our names that We
may be able to vote when the election oc-
ours. What is meant by this Constitutional
Convention FL, Z -. +. rs. .,al
!, A. A Constitutional Convention is body
of men formed by delegates or members cleo
ted from each county, and in some instances
from cities, towns, and districts, whose duty
it will be to meet, after the election, at q
time and place fixed, upon, and draft a plan
of government as the Constitution or organic
law of the State, to be. maintained invio-
late. fSss.5 <s 1f95i.so
O. / see now that have been elaboring
under a mistake, for supposed the Legis
allure was the only law making power Of
the State Do the delegates who compose
this Convention and the Legislature togeth-
er make the lnws2 As rs II IL & sii55I aE
So A. Oh, noso The delegates who compose,
this Convention draw up the Constitution as
the fundamental law under which the State
is to be organized, The. Convention is the
highest power or body in the State, because
it is supposed to come more directly from the
people, and its action, according to our Re
publican form of government. must be rati-s
fed by the same power which brought it
into lite-the people. The Legislature only
makes laws (which run the machinery Of
government, and which must not conflict
with the Constitution, for if they do they
fall as a dead letter, having no more bind.
ing force than if they had never been enact
ed si51 - a,ist 81 g5lEqqld II
Q. Then it follows, suppose, if our Con-
stitution is founded on correct principles, the
Legislature cannot enact bad laws. -
A. No. As said before, the moment the
Legislature steps outside the limits prescrib-
ed by the Constitution that moment its work
is annulled by the higher law of the Con-
titution. ~ III, .ias ihlnsa s,..sg 49,,
eo4 @ Then We should strive very hard to
elect good men as delegates to this Conven-
ton, in order that we may get a good Con.i
stitution. - s.ifia s 81 B. -. So q
b A. Certainly you should, for your own
future welfare and happiness and the pros
perity of your State depends largely upon
Q. How are these delegates to be elect
al = a.
I A. In this way: A few weeks previous
to the election you should hold meetings in
the different wards of the cities and pre-
cincts or townships of the county, and at
these meetings elect delegates to meet at
some convenient place in the county. When
these delegates meet let majority of them
nominate some man (ormen if you are enti-
tied by your population and the number of
voters in your county to more than one,)
whom they have implicit confidence in-one
whom viii serve them honestly and
intelligently. After this man, or men as the
case may be, are put in nomination, see that
you get every one you can to vote for him on
the day of election. I'M t.i3 $. -
O. What do you mean by nominating del
egatesg q 500 fst *,
A. You SIMPLY name some one as your
choice as the Republican candidate for the
Convention, or, rather, for election. After
| your candidate is thus placed in the field you
should hold mass meetings at various points
| in the county have good speakers to adj
dress the people and explain to them why
| they should vote for your candidate in pref
erence to any other. In all counties, dis
tricts or cities, where the contest on the day
of election is expected to be close, it is the
best to organize Central Committee, whose
duty it will be to appoint subcommittee to
| visit every Republican, voter in the precinct,
and urge upon MIN the great importance Of
being present to vote on the day Of election.
They should raise means to provide convey
ances to the voting place for all who are too
old and infrm, or to unwell to walk to the
same, and do everything that is necessary to
a complete and thorough organization Of
your party. 1t is through a simple but
Thorough organization of this kind that, the
minority tits the party actually rhaving
the least number OF. voters often defeats the
/ party having d majority of the voters, be
cause the minority voters all attend the
election, while many of the majority voters
remain at home, relying for success on The
known fact of what is regarded as safe ma
jority. ~. g, - g, e, ~ 49, 81
1 @. Should werequirc any guarantee from
our candidate before nominating him2
4 A. Yes. He should be required to pub
| licly declare himself, a true Union Republi
can, and promise to advocate the equal rights
of all men. s. III & ) 81. 1880 g lgii
+ @. Should he be white or colored ~ 2
A. Color should be no objection, other
| things being equal. He should be the bes
man in your party, intellectually and NOR
4 ally, andsa firm and unyieiding advocate o
I the liberal principles of the great Union Re
publican party.
BIO. Suppose the CONSERVATIVES or Demo
Gratis nominate a man in opposition to ours
what are we to do then az 8s,is
4 err A. Rally the stronger around your owl
! standard-bearef and work the harder to oh
Z tain votes for him on the day Of ELECTION
Remember, whoever gets the most votes o.
the Cay of election will be the delegate, am
q the other man will have to remain at home
a Another thing you. should remember, an
4 that is that you arc voting for principles an
not men, and it Therefore follows that no cor
siderations of a personal character should b
allowed to control your vote. Althoug
personally you may not admire your ow
4 candidate still youishould not fail to vot
for lin, for in so doing .you only vote ft
the principles which you advocate, and ne
Are we to vote written ballots for OF
candidates 8 If so you know that many i
4us caanot write even our, own names.
such casass where we can neither read DC
write, is there not great danger of our bein
deceived IN our votes tl.l 81 5s,if =