Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-04-10
NUMBER 10.

DOWN With ldE CONS LII - IlON.
NUMBER 10.
SIXTEEN REASONS FOR VOTING AGAINST
THE PROPOSED CONSTITUTION.
l. Because it equaliZes negroes and
whites fully and in all particulars, and pre-
vents the Legislature from ever making
any distinction on account of color, either
in political privileges, marriage, social re-
Iations, or any subject whatever. It not
only removes all barriers, but, in many
particulars, forces them into such intimacy,
that amalgamation is inevitable. See Arti-
Gle l.
2. It districts the State for the Legisla-
ture, for Congress and for Judges, without
any reference to convenience or fitness. but
solely IN order to give the negroes CON-
TROL over the whole destiny OF the State.
See Articles Ii and ".
3. It requires the census to be taken
every ten years. This is unnecessary since
the general government does the same
thing. The expense will be very great
The object is to give fat offices to favorites,
and, by an odious test oath, to reject as
many as possible of their political oppo-
nents. See Art. II, Sec. 5.
l. 1t in no way provides for the repre-
sentation of property IN the Legislature !;
the voters and members for both branches
being precisely the same, and no property
qualification being required in either
The negroes are to rule, with the whole
power of taxation IN THEIR HANDS,
Art. II.
5. 1t increases the number Of State Off
GERS, at an increased annual expense of at
least $50, 600. This isabsOlutely unnecessary.
The whole object is to make moro places
for favorites, and ruin property holders
by increased taxation. Art ".
g. 1t makes the Judges elective by the
people for term of years, thereby making
the Judiciary purely political, destroying
the ability and purity of the Courts, and
selling Justice for the promotion of party.
Art. ~.
7. It totally changes our county govern
ments, forming them upon the model of
Massachusetts and other thickly settled
portions Of New England ; greatly increas
ing the expense subjecting property to
unlimited taxation and introducing GUS
toms not suited to our people. Art. ".
8. It will make our taxes about eight
times higher than they have ever been
Nor is this Increased taxation for the ben
eft of the people, but solely for partisan
Office holders. See all the Articles, for it
is emphatically sa TAXING CONST1TU-
TON.
8. It requires every man. before voting,
to swear that he will not only support the
Constitution of the United States, but every
aw that shall be made by Congress. The
object OF this is to swear us into a political
party. Art. vi.
TO- It requires Us to maintain Free
School for four months each year, Ia every
School District. We must pay for this by
taxation. White men will have the tax to
pay chiefly, and, in large portion Of the
State. negroes will GOVERN THE
SCHOOLS. See Art. TX.
II. These schools will be open to all
colors There may be a school for each
color, where the number of children is suf-
fcient, but it will be os the negroes please in
all cases. Where there are very few ne
groes the schools will be mixed in all places
Art. TX.
12. 1t requires every man to send each
child to these schools at least sixteen
months, provided he does not Or cannot
send them to some subscription school
The object of this is TO force nai:red schools
upon the people Especially they intend
to force POOR WHITES INTO EQUALI-
TY WITH NEGROES. Art. *.
Is. It opens the University to all colors,
and reduces the institution to an outrageous
political machine. It gives the whole gov
ernment, resources and Offices of our noble
University to the control of the negro ele-
ment. Art. TX.
Il. It makes all conditions and colors
eligible to all offices in the State, without
any condition. Wherever the negroes have
majority they can fill any Office with even
the most depraved and worthless negro in
the country. Art. VI.
Is. 1t requires that negroes and white
men shall muster together, and, Of course,
where negroes have majority, they can
elect all the officers from their own num-
Der. Art. XII.
16. It makes amendment Or change al
most al impossibility. Ii we adopt 1t, we
must hold on to it, whether we are pleased
or not. Art. XIII.
These are some Of the reasons why no
man in North Caroliua ought to yOte.for
the Constitution. There has been much
parade and loud ranting about liberty and
Justice, and yet this proposed Constitution
is more tyrannical. more cruelty oppres-
give, and more tiendishly unjust, than
was ever offered to any people upon the
face Of the earth. Very many of US
wanted them to make Constitution that
we could approve; we desired to be re-
stored to the Union we wanted all diff
culties adjusted and peace once more to
reign though we may have had po-
litical differences, We had no personal
hates, and we so much desired restora-
ton of our national relations, that we were
ready to adopt anything reasonable, no
difference by whom it might be made
But we cannot ratify the proposed Constr