The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-03-25
TIE WORK OF THE CONVENTION.
To the People of North Caroli,


In framing the Constitution which is now
submitted to you for ratification, your dele.
gates, in Convention assembled, have kept
strictly in view the great and essential prin-
ciples of true liberty, in which our govern
ment is founded, and the necessities 1T the
present bopE The principles ofthe fathers
have beep ampli6ed and extended to meet
the emergencies OF the present, and 60 APP
piled as to secure the approval Of the Con.
gress of the United States, which is necessa.
ry to ensure our re-admssion into the glo-
rious galaxy of the American Union. We
have dealt with the principles of free gov
eminent in the light of recent events, and
'entieavored to so frame the fundamental
law "a Is meet the approval Of all true sons
of North CAROLINA, secure the rights of all
her citizens, and at the same time place her
on level With the freest States Of our Re-
public, with which she must hereafter COM
pete in prosperity and honor. In accord
ance with this view 1t has been decided that
NO DIsTINCrIoN ON, ACCOUNT OF RACE OK
.ifl,.5 6.t ,-,- COLOR liz .lf ID. -...r,
should be found in the fundamental law of
the State The inherent right of -selfrule
has been accorded, in its fullness, to all who
are willing to pledge allegiance to the Con
stitution and Laws of the American Union,
The dead past is buried in oblivion, Its sins
andits errors forgotten, and the hand of fell
lowship, The olive branch of peace, extended
toevery loyal citizen Of the American Union
t''.'''' FREE SUFFRAGE
sheds its silver radiance over the future and
crowns the brow of every freeman with a
light which hides the darkness of Slavery
and Rebellion Humanity has swallowed up
class distinctions and the former Pariah
stands side by side with his old master in
political privileges. The errors of the past
arelforgotten, anil the Union man and Seces-
sionist Of t'sixty-onen are both invited to
stand shoulder to shoulder on the broad
platform Of equal rights, and march onward
toflture prosperity. No man can complain
ut injustice or revenge, of envy or hatred, for
kindly feeling and Impartial Justice are the
animating principles of the Constitution we
Ilin FREE SCHOOLS. ia.lsa, t.l.l
Il To the generous provisions, for the estab-
lishment and maintenance of tree schools for
all the children OF the State, we invite es-
pecial attention. Recognizing the great
truth that intelligence is the only sure basis
Of Liberty, We have counted it matter of
the first. importance, that the youth of the
State should be thoroughly instructed. The
military fame of Sparta was the result of
her children being taught the arts of war
The glory Of our Republic depends upon the
instruction Of our youth in the principles of
free government. Having conferred equal
rights upon all, it was our next great duty
to secure the juticinus exercise Of those
rights. Universal intelligence is the only safe
taiafti of tile future state when universal suf-
frage is granted Provision is therefore made
forfree schoolsn every district of the State,
t0rschoos OF higher grade where requisite,
and the University, stripped of its aristocrat-
ic prestige, is placed at the head of noble
system of public instruction, offering to the
poor mans child, the highest privilege al
forded to the rich And lest avarice or negli-
gence should stand in the way of intelligence,
it was deemed best to provide that the Gen
eral Assembly, should it be found ne
cessaiy, might compel the attendance of
every child at some school for limited
time, in order that all may acquire at least
the rudiments Of an education.
MT SEPARATE SCHOOLS. ...
1t was not deemed proper to place all the
details OF .the school system in the Consti-
triton. but full power is given to the people
of the. State, through theirrepresentsti"es in
the General Assembly, to do whatever may
be advisable in regard to its complexion
They have.full and complete power to pro-
vide separate and distinct schools for differ
ent races, nationalities, or sects. The colored
youth and the white. the Catholic and the
Protestant, the German, and the English,
may be provided with separate institutions
pt learning, and be given teachers of their
own color, creed, or language, pr0cided, only,
that equal md and ample facilities are qt-
.Jo2ded to all The same principle of leaving
to the representatives. of the people, in the
General Assembly the arrangement and de-
termination of details, was carried out in
providing for
THE MILITIA.
To the first two sections of this Article we
invite especial attention, as showing how
earthly the Convention have kept in view
the wishes and interests of the people II
was evidently impossible, in view of the
manifold duties devolving upon the Con.
Sention, and the necessity for speedy action
Upon their part, as well as the peculiar cir.
cuinstauces of the present time to devise a
Militia system, complete in its details, and
atIbhe same time satisfactory to ALL 1t was
even doubtful by many, whether an enrolled
miltiaiwas necessary in State of the Amer
can Union. 1t was therefore only provided
THAT all male citizens of proper age should
bs7Eable to duty in the Militia and thai
the " General Assembly shall provide for the
organization &c, of the Miitis." The char.
acter, OF the organization, therefore will de
pend entirely upon the instructions given &c
members of the General Assembly by theil
constituents. The will of the people is tho
highest law, and to this the Convention have
cherfully bowed. Whether white and coloret
men shall lie enrolled together, or be placed
inoseparate commands, is left entirely to
the people themselves to decide, and W.
have no doubt they will decide wisely.
-qA'p' ','l''- THE JUDICIARY. %
The election of Judges and Justices of thu
peace, the Establishment of the County
Courts, the extended Jurisdiction of Justices
and abolition Of the tedious and expensive
proceedings m Equity, are changes which
deserve the attention of all, and we believe
tfes ksin meet the hearty approval Of I'll,
people of North Carolina. By these change.
itasdiehesed that Justice viii he rendered
more certains speedy, and accessible to all
and the Capitalization of power prevented
By thsssRdidcatien which lis provldetl,for
tie laws, and procedure of the Courts, will
be simpifed, and brought within TIL; appre
hensi6h Of, the people. Another chang
which We would notice, is that by the term
of the Constitution, no person accused o
crime, can be1compeiled to pay the costs o
+rial orEinpfig(,hluent pnless toiInd ,a,;I+r