Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-03-13
The New Constitution.

an intelligent outline OF the leadlng lea
lures of the Constitution to be submitted by
the so-called Convention, but as yet there
has been no article, we think, which has
passed its third reading, and these which
have passed their second are so con-
fused and altered by amendments that it
will require committee to collect them to-
gether and present them in an intelligent
shape for their final consideration.
The following review from the Sentinel
will give our readers some idea of what has
been and what will be done by this delecta-
BILE body:
| "VAen the mongrel Convention will COM
plete its bantling and submit it to the in
inspection of the people cannot be deter
mined The people have been sufficiently
amused with It's proceedings and are now
becoming weary and Disguised with it's ac-
ton. If anything can arouse the white
people of the State to go to the polls and
vote, privilege graciously granted them by
the Congress, it must be the so-called Con
stitution which this incompetent and I'M
constitutional body is engaged i'll framing.
"What portion of it can be regarded as
complete, we are unable to determine. The
greater number of articles, we presume,
have passed their second reading. These
articles are yet to be put together when it
is likely they will be revised and amended
on their third reading.
Some days ago we gave a general out
line of their character, which subsequent
information does not require us TO change.
We had hopeda to obtain copies. of each
article, as adopted on its second reading, to
lay before our readers, bu5 these we have
not yet been put in possession Of.
The equality of all men, and equal civil
and political rights, will be granted alike
to white and black, except that we look for
discrimination, in favor of the blacks, in
the matter of suffrage blacks ard whites
will be put upon the same footing as to sit
ting on juries, and rs to holding Oi1ioe,
without the usual and necessary guarantees
as to capacity, responsibility or moral in
tegrity the property qualification, so es-
sential to the protection Of society and prop
erty, viii be generally discarded 40 pro-
hibition as to mixing up blacks and whites
i'll the militia, or III the public schools, or
as to intermarriage, will be made, but every
encouragement, both in the law and il the
practice and intercourse of the advocates
Of negro equality, will be G wen to \ frican
ization. Poor white men, unable TO edu-
cate their children, are to be compelled 10
send them to school with the blacks. In
the matter OF taxation, determinations may
be made in favor Of the blacks. A tax OF
nearly or quite 500, 900 is to be levied upon
the personal and real property of the peo-
pie, to pay the expenses of the Convention,
which three-fourtbs of the tax payers of the
State never desired or assented to. This
tax, we understand, is to be raised from
the lands, tenements, furniture, goods and
chattels, stock Of all kinds, poultry, &c, -
in fine upon all the real and personal prop
erty of the people.
Besides Il large increase of officers and
salaries, an effort is making to compel the
Legislature to levy a tax to pay, at an early
day, the interest on the State debt. The
general characteristics of our old customs
are to be changed. The House of Com
mons is to be called the " House of Repre-
sentatives." Instead of the simple division
of towns and counties, we are to have
" townships" New offices and new names !
are to be introduced, in accordance with
the customs Of the Northern States.
Thus it appears that the new Constitu
ton is to be indeed a new one, not in &C
cordance with North Carolina, but with |
Yankee custOms-thus showing that the
ten or twelve Yankees in the Convention
have been the leaders, masters and con-
trollers Of the { ;:hty or ninety native min
cOmpOops, sent 10 the Convention by the |
negroes and an insignificant portion Of the
white people of North Carolina, The
people of North Carolina have asked for
relief-have begged for bread, and these
mongrels will give them stone. No real
relief is promised them-nor will be. Will |
the white people of North Carolina sane
ton such Constitution We hope not, |
We believe it to be morally impossible.
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, UNIVERSITY OF MARY
LAND--A GRADUATE FROM New HANOVER. -
We have heretofore neglected to return our
thanks to our friend Mr.. CHAs. S. KERR, of
Upper Black River district in this county,
for an invitation to attend the commence
ment exercises of the School of Medicine,
University of Maryland which took place
at Holiday Street Theatre, in Baltimore,
March 9Th.
We are pleased to learn that this gentle
man was among the number who graduated
at this session, and upon whom the degree |
Of NJ. y. was conferred. From a personal |
knowledge and intimate association with !
him from childhood up, we have cause to |
know that his diploma was deseryedly won,
by patient and laborious application and |
hard study. We are not informed whether
he will enter upon the practice of his
profession i'll his native county, or seek |
a field of operation farther removed from
US. Wherever he may 60, we firmly be-
lieve that that success which true merit
never fails to attain, will attend his efforts.
Our best wishes and those of his friends
he will always have.
COUNTY CoURT-The Court was engaged |
principally with the transaction of county
business Tuesday, having special reference
to the repair of bridges and roads and other
matters Of secondary Importance. Among
other things done al appropriation of
twelve thousand ($12, 00O) dollars was made
for the County Workhouse, as recommended
in the report of the Finance Committee.
Licenses to retail spirituous liquors were