The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-02-05
the constitution is ratified by the people.
4 Again itIleads teT the eonellsi0n, that this

sAgan ltleaQS 70 tue cmciuslVn, tuat Ills
Convention is the tue representative of
the people of the State. Therefore he did
not fear to do what was necessary to be
done. Something had been said of the will
of the people The will of the people did
not mean each transient charge, gbut the de-
hberate, well-settled purpose of the people.
a Therefore he thought that different terms of
Office would add to the stability Of gov
xernment. Instead of one party being repre-
sented, unless the current ran that way for a
4 long time, we should have all parties repre-
sented, or in other words the people them
selves represented in the Offices, which would
be a balance and check. preventing oppres-
sion and securing at all times an expression.
ofthe will Of the minority and majority. The
Council Of the Governor was proposed to be
elected for two years. Suppose they be-
longed to opposing parties. Neither could
carry out the full scope of their ideas, or one
Cypress the other. Besides the voice ofall
THE people would be beard. Therefore, he
moved the adoption of his amendment. -,
r1! Mr.. Tourgee said the very reasons advan-
ICED by the gentleman convinced him of the
5iinutilitv of the proposed amendment. The
., administration the States affairs would
- be crippled and divided, when all knew
that very, much depended on the vigor and
i. unity of the executive department OF gov
,ernment. The throwing, of the Governors
term of Office over two years longer than
other Executive officers, would therefore be
to excite future discord in the COUNCILS of the
State He hoped the amendment would not
pass. -
Mfr. Harris, of Wake arose to privileged
question. He thought every gentleman was
willing to allow this Convention to take its
regular course without taking advantage of
the cretlulnus. Mr. Carey had introduced
an amendment here, which as colored man,
speaking for his race. he desired to repudi-
ate No such views Were entertained by his
people = He was glad to be able to state that
this amendment did not really come from
Mr.. Carey. 1t emanated from a Conserva-
tive, who had induced him to introduce it.
Now when the colored people needed advice
from the Conservatives, they would send for
them If the name of the Conservative was
called for, he could produce it. ~
Mr. Mcdonald, of Chatham, conceded
y with Mr. Rodman 1t was best to elect the
Governor for four years. There were too
many changes in high Executive officers, hut
as to petty officials it made little difference.
He had always commended that if the Presi-
dent of the United States had been elected
for 25 or 80 wears, this war would have been
averted. He would go with Mr.. Rodman
for four years. '7I s.gaarla1I .ar
Mr.. Carey said in answer to MIR. Harris,
that negroes are competent to be Governor or
Lieutenant Governor, and he desired to see
one OF them there. 6 r.......... ..f 81"
Mr.. Harris, of Wake asked if the delegate
had drawn his amendment.
Mr. Carey, yes sir. -.
Mr. ,Hodnett said the delegate from Wake
had charged that Conservative had drawn
up the amendment offered by his colleague.
He desired to say that he had no hand in it.
Mr. Harris said he did not mean to be un-
derstood as saying that the gentleman had.
But Conservative did draw it up. He had
the name and could give it. The PROPOSE
ton came from the outside
Mr.. King, of Lenoir, agreed with Mr.. Tour
gee in his remarks. The arrangement throw
ing the Governor over four years. would be
a source OF discord. The Convention had
better adhere to the old plan. The report OF
the committee, as presented, he believed to
he correct. ..-.. ..........-f
Mr.. Hood said he was at first unpreparei
to vote. But it now seemed to him that
the effect OF this amendment would be to
jeopardize the adoption of the Constitution.
He did not know on the contrary what good
would accrue by its adoption. The only
benefit was that in the short term of two
years, the Governor elect might be scheming,
to the detriment of public business, for re
election. But that was not sufficient. 1t
ln,t Al,
alteration. Two years had generally been
adopted and it, was about long enough. The
people should have the right, if they deser-
we'd it, to change their Governor once in two
years.
Mr. Heaton said in order to test the sub
ject he would move to amend by making
. the Governors term three years. Indiana
had three years, and it worked well. No
controversy had ever arisen on that account.
1t seemed to him better, therefore. to com
promise at that point He had heard no
sufficient reason to satisfy him that the
Office OF Governor should not exist for a lon
!, ger period than the Others. Therefore, he
wished the vote taken as test upon his
motion. .r-.s., +.a
Mr. Watts said that he would enter his
objection to MIR. Heaton's motion for the
simple fact, that the Governors election
would then come at a time, when no other
was before the people. The consequence
might he disastrous But he favored the
proposition of Mr.. Rodman, because the
people were too frequently harro we'd up by
such elections By adopting four years
term, it would give the Governor time also
to labor and accomplish something for the
good OF the people el gisr - 9
Mr. Welker said if the Governors term
went over four years, and mis- Cabinet was
chosen Tor two only, that arrangement would
produce unpleasant feelings The whole
business oftlie State might be neglected, if
his advisers at law were personally and po-
litically unfriendly. If the time was made
to apply to all officers, he might go for it.
If not, he could not @l 80 u, r..
Mr. Abbott said if the delegates would
withdraw their motions, he would make a
motion to recommit to committee to make
all the terms of officers four years.
The motions were then withdrawn, and
Mr.. Abbott offered his, when At
Mr. Durham said, at the proper time, he
would make a motion to strike out the Off
ces Of Lieut.. Governor and Superintendent
of Public Instruction. What time would
the clair entertain the motion2 T'd
Mr.. Heaton suggested that the motion
could be made in Convention sai ~,
) Mr.. Durham said he desired to have the
vote in the committee of the whole loi ~
F5 The chair decided that the molten must
be put now, when .5anf Ia i3pa57q
gE Mr.. Abbott withdrew his motion, and Mr.
Durham offered his. He said that these
o.
North Carolina. These innovations follow
otharc alroodv da Off;oao bov No boop no