The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-02-05

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ping the resources of the State at large, but
the .Superintendent'wo cripple the Pub
} lie Works. For these officeswoqldbe placed
in the hands Of hungry politicians. He was
opposed to their creation. They were not
deemed necessary before. and he did not be-
iieve them necessary now. .leIf he could call
the yeas and nays, her would like tondo so,
because he desired the lmembers of this Con-,
vention to show their hands upon this cues
ton. and let the people know who were re-
spofisible for these new 6fficess HOLLY lHy
Mr.. Abbott sawthe objections of the dele
gate were radical. But he gcouldInOt sec,
how the action of the Republican party ten
ded towards despotism. ~ As to long terms
of Office, Jefferson Davis had been chosen for
six. and the Governor, of Virginia for four
years always. He merely alluded to this,
because the changes had been rung on " DIES.
potism," F" despotism," 1t was immateriai
whether the Governor, had term for two
or four years. But, he would remark that
the Constitution OF 1865, provided for 1t.
Governor. There was necessity for Super
intendent Of Public, Works. Many other
States, North aud South had these officers,
and instead off losing, they saved money.
The Lit. Governor would not be paid, unless
he acted in the place of the Governor, or as
President of the Senate. ?, In view of the fu-
ture prospects of the State. it was eminentlyL
judicious to create these offices, as reported
by the committee. He regretted this fac
tious opposition "a .'oi'' .i,.,S., m. 91A
Mr. Durham said he would leave it to the
taxpayers of North Carolina, whether this
opposition was factious or not, He knew
and gentlemen knew how necessary it was
some times to create new Offices, to keep up
the ascendancy of their party and-pIovide
adequate salaries for partisans, who might
not be able to live otherwise But in the
name ofthe tax payers and intelligent white
men of the State, whom he claimed to rep
resent-at leastin' part,o he would speak out
against the establishment of these new off
ces. They were never thought of in the
good old days. But here, when financial
ruin is upon. the people, this Convention
proposes to create new offices without suf-
fieient necessity for them. He insisted up
on his motion to strike out. 49,
y Mr.. Rodman said he desired to meet the
question fairly, and while he did not yield
the claim to any particular delegate of rep
resenting the intelligent white men and tax
payers of North Carolina, he would say
that he favored the creation of the Offices as
reported by the committee, because he
deemed them necessary. In case the Cover
nor died or,was unable to discharge his du-
ties, then ahG Lieutenant Governor would
take his place There would be no addi-
tional cost to the State The Secretary of
State was no new Office The Treasurer was
the same while Auditor was another name
for Comptroller. When it was remembered
how largely North Carolina was interested
in public works, how much money had been
wasted and sJuandered, and in how many
hands the direction of them was con6ded
every man must feel the necessity of an hon.
est, faithful Superintendent. There was no
chosen person to look after the States inter
est now, and instead of being a waste, this
Office would be eminently economical. So
also the State had for long time. had a
Superintendent of Common Schools. This
was another name merely for Superintendent
of Public Instruction. Now, of all times, was
no time to hesitate, but to favor everything
looking towards wise system of education.
Any State that the neglected education,
swerved from the path of greatness and
prosperity. And in North Carolina, both
classes must be educated, for only educa-
ton, combined with labor, would elevate
her to the proper rank among the other
States. His constituents were perfectly will
ling to see this Office created, or rather con-
tinued by the Convention, and he should so
vote. rT
Mr.. French. of Chowan, said that for two
years the enterprise of this nation had been
engaged in the gigantic work of building
across the continent the Pacific Railroad
linking the two oceans with bands of iron,
and providing an highway for the commerce
of the world. 1t is one of the grandest ell
terprises of the age, and in its early compile
ton is interested the entire civilised world.
1t is scheme that has been pushed with
great energy-laying its track at the rate of
five and six miles day. Well, a few months
since this grand enterprise on its westward
way came upon the Buffalo ranges of the far
plains, and there met right across its track
the Pawnee Braves, all bedaubed and pain
ted and feathercd for war-and who made
those deserts ring with their cry of "inno-
walton |" innovation !" The iron horse
would Brighten away their game-and so
that great enterprise must be abandoned.
So in this Convention, every day since its
assembling we have been treated to this
barbaric cry of innovation p But are the
wheels of progress to be stopped9 Are the
grand interests of civilization and humanity
to stand still because going forward is an
innovation upon the past Why, sir, this
Convention itself is an innovation, both in
its purpose and in the kind of men compo-
sing it. Look along these seats-are these
the scions of the ancient families who for
nmerly made Constitutions and Laws for
Nortb-Carolina No, sir, these are the peo-
pie, who boast no patrician blood-the poor
people-the Union men, who during the re-
belhon were obliged to flee to the swamps
and the mountains. And there is quite
Isprinkling of Yankees, I'D Yankees
to give tito full name-and, if possible, to
make the innovation greater, men who were
the slaves of the old occupants of these
chairs + Here, thank Heaven, packed by
the majority vote of the people of the State
The gentleman from Cleveland, speaks of
the wealth of his constituents. Mine, sir
would have been richer, had they not been
robbed all their lives of their earnings. The
gentleman objects to the Office of supeIinten-
dent of education Well, sir, the education
of the children of North Carolina is an in
novation." The men who formerly occupied
these seats didn't care much for the educa-
ton Of the children of the poor. BY the
takers of the last census which give US edu
cational facts, i learn that North Carolina of
her white population over twenty lone years
of age had 1866 citizens who could not
read and write-and of her entire ipopula-
+;nr ,yor that aoa 2HS OIL or mora fhon "a