Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-03-27
THOUGHTS FOR THE PEOPLE.
NUMBER /,


To the People of North Carolina:
In a short time the new Constitution
will be submitted to you for ratification or
rejection. All of you are much concerned
to know what that Constitution Proposes
to understand its direct assertions, and its
intended constructions to comprehend it's
immediate consequences and its remote eff
fects. The article before US is one of i'm
mense consequences, and, if adopted and
executed according to Radical policy, will
stamp eternal degradation upon North
Carolina If it is not Intentionally wicked,
1t IS accidentally nefarious or stupidity dia-
bohcal. It's effect will be systematic de-
moralization, organic amalgamation and
preconcerted infamy. But let US examine
the proposed law.
l. The origin Of the proposed article.
1t is absolutely Yankee measure it has
nothing Southern, humane or desirable IN
it. We mean nothing disrespectful by the
term Yankee; we simply intend to signify
the New England type of life, which is not
only hateful to Southern people. but is a
by-word and a synonym among all nations
for everything impertinent, impudent and
dlsagreeable. When these Northern citi-
zens met in Raleigh. in anxious and eager
conclave, few days before the Convention,
and counted noses and offices, they dis
covered that there was not enough for all.
Every one wanted good fat office that
was the reward, they thought, justly due
for loving the negro that was their object
in coming here, and, as Apostles for the
spread of Yankeeism, they could neither
execute their mission nor receive their be-
loved gold without a good paying Office
1t became painfully apparent that at least
one of their number could neither be Judge
4 X -
Otlcally resolved that one should be "Su-
perintendent of Public Instruction." and
in order that the office might correspond in
authority and pay with the aspirations and
necessities of the occupant, they resolved
that one of their number should be Chair
man of the Committee on Education. True,
others were on the Committee, but that
was for dignity and effect they were ex-
pected to bow down before the superior
wisdom of Massachusetts, and they did it
even to the very dust. This Yankee spirit
is the Wandering Jew among the treasure
houses and money vaults of nations; it
loves gold, with all it's heart and mind and
strength, and hates its neighbor with equal
force Nurtured in false philosophy, an
erroneous theology, and a partisan fanati-
cism, vastly superior to the Caliphs of Bag
dad, it honestly believes that colored peo-
pie are intrinsically better than Southern
whites, and that an unknown country par
son from New England is a moro reliable
legislator than the most experienced states
men South of the Potomac. This enormous
self-conceit, added tC extreme pecuniary
leanness, taking advantage of disposition
somewhat prevalent, that comedies all
things, profane and sacred, to Yankee
greediness, has arranged an Office Of Edu-
cation, and made it equal, if not superior,
4: - e I 81
States.
The office was created for the good of the
occupant and the promotion of the party {:
it cannot have the most remote intention OF
good to the people. 1t was probably writ
ten in New England, or at Disunion head
quarters in Washington City. 1t is doubt
full whether the imported element in Raj
eigh had astute1Iess Of brain sufficient to
finish up a scheme so totally selfish, so con-
sistently cruel, and so thoroughly destruc-
tive. In some place, and by some person
or persons, it was manifestly job done to
order, to be shown to the Convention, but
not to be touched. When Messrs. Durham,
Graham & Co. attempted to civilize the
Articles a little, by way of amendments,
the party, seemingly by compact already
formed, instantly broke the heads of the
rebels with the celebrated, imported, Rad
ical previous sledge hammer, and thereby
wrote it in history that Radical program
mes are not to be touched with impunity.
This is the house that Jack built, the way
he did it, and who is to live in it. These
sapient, modest strangers now ask the good
people of great State to solemnly vote it
into their organic law, that an office shall
be created to appease Congressional long
ings and that shall give to some unknown
wanderer dictatorship over rebel imps
and Ethiopian darlings. The Office, as in
tended, and as it will be managed by Rad
icals, is utterly unnecessary, and was no
more intended for the good of the citizen
than the militia bill was for the peace of
the country. It is simply a legalized mode
by which some adventurer may take money
from the pockets of the people, and may,
at the same time, force Yankeeism upon
the State.
9 The proposed Article declares, that
tie Legislature shall make precision for free
public Schools IN all the Districts, in all the
Counties Of the State.
To support these Schools, the people
must be taxed. There is positively no other
way. The income from the general School
Fund will not amount to anything of con-
sequence for many years to come. To
maintain such system at least $500, 600
must be raised and of this, not less than
$3.50, 900 raust come by taxing property
Can the people pay this in addition to their
other taxes Is it not an utter impossi
bility Does not the party know that it
is impracticable =? Does not this Yankee
spirit have an Interior and cruel intent, an
intent worthy of Haynau or Borgia I'm
der the guise of popular idea, do they
not wish to grind property holders to pow
der? They confessedly wish to bring every
thing to their own level, which, as they
have taken it here, is that of the negro
They intend property shall change hands,
and that all that is elegant and refined
shall be blackened, blasted and brutalzed
If any one thinks to the contrary, let him
examine the enormous sums which this
Constitution levies on property, and the
mode and spirit in which it is done. This
Yankeeized agrarianism raises its grisly
front in every paragraph of the Constitu,
ton, sweeps its puritanic talons around
every acre of our domain, and is the most
rapacious of all the bloody devils of unmer,
ciful conquest. These beggarly trainers OF
the Constitution are magnifcently free
with other peoples possessions they have
very little property themselves, perhaps a
of oil fbou do not o.