The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1868-02-11
The conservative" Convention.

and most important work of the Convention held
in Raleigh last week for the purpose of organizing
the Conservative party:
Hon. Thomas Bragg, from the committee on
Resolutions, submitted the following report, viz
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES.
The Conservative people of North Carolina
having by their delegates assembled in Conven-
ton at Raleigh, ON the 9Th of February, 1868, to
consider the present anomalous condition of the
State, and of the country and to consult together
upon the grievances which now aflct and threat
en- them and the course Of action proper to be
adopted in the trying circumstances which sur
round them, do resolve and declare
l. Our unalterable devotion to the principles
of constitutional liberty and our tealty to the
government of the United States, as set forth in
the Federal constitution. That We sincerely and
in good faith accept the legitimate and legal re-
suits of the late war. and do hereby reiterate our
oft repeated declaration, that We most heartily
desire peace and concord with our sister States
and with the entire people Of the United States
2. Resolved, That regarding the Constitution
of the United States as the source of all power
in the administration of the government, and
that the powers of the Executive, Legislative
and judicial departments are equal and co-ordi-
nate as defined by that instrument, we do re-
specially and so)emnly protest against the en-
torcement upon our people of the Reconstruction
Acts and policy of Congress, as unconstitutional,
unwise and destructive to society, and violative
of that great principle of American politics. that
each State shall have the exclusive control of its
own internal affairs.
3. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Con-
vention, that the great and all absorbing issue,
now soon to be presented to the people of the
State, is negro suffrage and negro equality, if not
supremacy and whether hereafter in North Caro-
lima and the South, the white man is to be placed
politically, and, consequence, socially, upon
a footing of equality with the negro, and in many
localities subject to his government superior.
That We are utterly opposed to such change in
our government and in our social relations, and
that we do hereby earnestly recommend to the
people of the State to manfully meet the issue
now attempted to be forced upon them, and to
use every proper measures within their power to
avert the impending mischief:
4. Resolved, That while we are unalterably
opposed to political and social equality, with the
black race, We yet have no unjust pref udices
against that race; that we are determined, by
just laws, to protect them fully in all their civil
rights, and to confer upon them all privileges
which can be done consistently with the safety
and welfare of both races.
5. Resolved That the distressed and mpov-
erished condition of people earnestly demands
the speediest and wisest measures Of relief that
the Legislature can devise.
6. Resolved, That this Convention recognizes,
with feelings of gratitude, the heroic and pa
triotic efforts of the President of the United
States, to restore the Union, and harmony and
good will among the American people.
Z. Resolved, That this Convention regards
the Supreme Court of the United States as the
legitimate expounder, in the last resort, Of the
Constitution believe that its rights and
powers, in that respect, should be preserved in
tact, as established by law in the earlier and bet
ter days of the Republic, and that any serious
impairment thereof, by Legislation or otherwise,
will be destructive to the best interests Of the
country, and dangerous to the liberties Of the
people.
s. Resolved That despairing of any restora-
ton Of the Southern States under the conduct of
that organization which now controls the pro-
ccedings of Congress, waving all former party
feeling and prejudice, this Convention does most
unhestatingly recommend and invite the hearty
cooperation of all the good people of North Caro-
lima with ;he Democrats and Conservative men
of the North and West, who are now nobly strug-
CLING for the maintenance of the Constitution Of
the United States and the restoration Of the
Southern States to their rights in the Union
the solid foundation of harmony and peace.
9. Resolved That this Convention elect four
delegates and four alternates, for the State at
large, to represent the Conservative people of
North Carolina in the next Democratic National
Convention, and that it recommend to the Con-
sentative people of the several Congressional
Districts, to appoint delegates at an early day to
represent them in said Convention.
10. Resolved, That when an election shall be
ordered for the ratification of new State Con-
stitution, the Executive Committee for the State,
which has been appointed by this convention, be
instructed, if the time shall be sufficient, to call
a convention of the Conservative people of the
State, to put in nomination candidates for the
various State Offices whose election shall then be
ordered; and if there shall not be sufficient time
to call said convention, to put In nomination
sound Conservative men for said offices.
The resolutions were enthusiastically adopted.
The Convention proceeded to the appointment
of the members of the State Executive Commit
tee as follows:
1st DISTRIBUTION. W. N. H. Smith, William A.
I'd. Dstrict.-H. r. Bryan Geo. V. Strong, T. S.
Kenan.
3d. District Hon George Howard, J. J Davis, NJ.
w. Ransom.
4th Distribution. J. NJ. Leach, Livingston
Brown James T. Morehead, Jr
9Th. Distrct.-Col. E. d. Hall, A. Mclean, Hon.
Thomas s. Ashe.
9th. District-R. F. Armfeld, W. NJ. Robbins,
Hon. J. ii. Wilson.
eth. Dstrict.-Plato Durham, A. c. Avery, NJ L.
McCorkle.
sth Distrct.-R N Stokes, C Gudger, WI Love.
Resident Committee al Raleig h.-Hon. \. s. Mcr-
rimon Hon Daniel G. Fowle, Gen W. r. Cox, Seaton
Gales, J. P. ii. Russ, Moses A Bledsoe.