The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-04-08

o. OXFORD, ME, March 90, 1858.
To r p Dick, ESQ, sss(bpyrSs'' y c..
QEARSIR TT 5suiv ender 81 IT, 81 sl,r.
ern; armies and red BE III 500 was leith{ pre
cipitsted BY disSehsi4bs nor preur& ~
'treachery: We gave Up from sheex eSlaps:
ton; the physical Inability TO maintain INC
struggle: and this Surrender was in good
faith and it was unconditional. The Com
tederate States government passed away
like u dream, =, and that of Congress
Succeeded Tie Presidents in considered
theory, and attempt ut restoration, as States
was repndiated and unsuccessful, and Con-
gress assumed al tAe,prerogatives of-p con-
4ueror, over the conqueredf population and
territory. It ordered a Convention to as
'semhie in january last. ut the seat f-the
former State government in North Carolina;
under the protection of the, military. and
They have framed Constitution in accor-
dance with their Instructions and the re-
quirements of Congress, and upon. the rati-
fication of this Constitution by us, We are as
sured that the State Legislature will be
again permitted to assemble and elect two
Senators to Congress, and be at, once read
mitted to the Union with all our former
rights and representation unimpaired. So
far as is now possible, the disturbance of the
past seven years is to he terminated; that I'M
certainty and unrest which now paralysis
trade and industry is to be replaced by Sc
curity and confidence that stream of en-
igration which threatensito depopulate our
territory, is to he arrested, and immigration,
encouraged and rewarded-peace and pros
perity are to be restored. .'All7 these bless
ings and more, will assuredly attend the estaaD-
lishment of any stable State, government in
North Carolina !" The question is, shall We
accept them now, by ratitying the COnstitur
ton proposed by the government of . the
United States, or reject the offer, and hold
out a little longer, under the existing status
in the hope of better terms in the future,
from different administration of affairs at
Washington tCity2 The. answer to this
question involves statement in brief of the
character and provisions OF the plan of gov
eminent proposed, and the objections which
are urged against it, and shall also explain
the nature of the government which actually
prevails here, and the improbability of any
change for the better, except by means of the
proposed ratification. 7um
l. 1.-THE Constitution is Republican and
Democratic. In fact, it embraces all the
cardinal principles for which the Democratic
party in Europe and in this country, have SO
long and so successfully commended, viz
universal suffrage; civil and religious lib
erty; universal amnesty; universal education;
the equality of men in the sight of the law;
the election of Judges and other officers by
the people; mechanics lien Limitation OF
the Legislative power over taxation and ap
preparations; annual sessions q homestead
exempt from execution; no imprisonment
for debt; no property qualification for office
and frequent recourse to the source of pow.
er at the polls. The powers of the Governor
are reorganized and enlarged the punish
ment of branding and whipping are abolish.
ed; capital punishment restricted to muir.
der, arson, burglary and rape; duelists are
disqualified for office the distinction be.
tween law and equity in civil trials aban-
doned; the County Court system reorgan.
lied; department of Public Instruction
provided, and the General Assembly re.
quired to throw open the University as fal
as practicable, to rich and poor alike free
of expense. .H. ~ -r
Most of these things are changes. and ]
think Improvements in our law. They are
also Innovations" but innovations of a
character, indispensable amidst the events
by which we are surrounded, to enable us to
keep step with the advance of civilization
and the progress of the human race, Ever
since the overthrow of British Ascendeney in
this country; although the stormy scenes OF
the French Revolution, and the string pas.
sages of 1S4S, these things have been and are
steadily gaining ground. They return Ia
the spot of their origin, purifeds by foreign
trials and purgation they throw off in this,
theis birth place, the last remaining clogs oil
Feudalism and aristocracy, and if am not
mistaken, they are pluniing themselves for a
holder, more rapid, and even more sue
cessful flight. You may depend on it, that
if defeated now. it will be''iAt for a time
the struggle will he renewed, and the next
be made with fairer auspices and a more
thorough organization, and will he attended
with the absolute certainty of success. Such
being the history and vitality of these con-
templated reforms, common prudence sug.
gested more than usual precaution to those
whose present attitude towards them is the
natural result and vindicates the sincerity
and consistency of life time of opposition
The Constitutional Convention may have
ordered an election too soon-auite too soon
fear, to enable the people to surlnount their
prejudices and comprehend the magnitude
of the issues before them, hut not too soon
for them to discover their ancient enemy
the same who opposed, Rel and Free
suffrage, in 1848, and sustained the Know
Nothing movement in 1866, entrenched be.
hind their old banners of exclusive priv
ileges, and cast, from which they did then and
have so often before expelled them.
On the 4th of February last, only few
days after the meeting of the Convention,
and of course long before they had adopted
this Constitution, another Convention
composed of the very elite of both the old
4 political parties under the lead of their for
mer leaders-gentlemen, who with their
nominees are now disfranchised and dis
qualified for Office State and Federal; gen.
temen who have always hitherto been OPP
posed to each other, and hence have always
hitherto enjoyed or distributed for the past
twenty or thirty years the public offices of
this State, assembled at the city of Raleigh,
and entered into an organization, STYLED
"The Conservative Party" shall endeavor
to speak of this coalition with all due re-
spect, but its object frankly avowed, viz ::
the defeat of any and every scheme of gov
eminent the constitutional Convention land
hence Congress) might propose, challenges
opposition at the threshold. For this pur-
pose, these gentlemen agreed to 'waive all
former party feeling and prejudice and
adopt the line Of color" as the basis of
division and the enjoyment of the elective
franchise in this State. m
The names of these hasty coalitionists,
with their respective titles, trophies of for