Wilmington journal., 1868-02-28
The Convention (so-cnIt~G. }

The Convention (so-cnIt~G.)
We devote much space to-day to two
days proceedings Of the Convention" :"
There is nothing we can present to cur rea-
ders more calculated to arouse tE>.m from
their lethargy than tho minutes Of the pro
ceedings of that disreputable and disgrace
ful body, and We hope that all will read
the positions taken ley the Radicals upon
the question of suffrage. These de- otes and
the action OF the " Convention Will con-
stitute the best weapons in the hands OF
tho Conservative can vassers to arouse the
white people of the State to action and TO
victory.
Although the Constitution has not YET
been "fxed up" to suit their notions, the
Radicals have been to work on it sufficient
ly long to disclose much of the characteris-
ties which will mark that instru.n .nent. The
Sentinel publishes in Il concise form what
has been done, and what is likely to be
done IN this regard. It says:
Let it be borne in mind that the Re
construction Acts OF Congress, under which
derives all it's powers, only demand OF the
Convention that the new Constitution shall
admit negro suffrage and the Howard
amendment by the LeGis!atnre. The Con
gross by its Acts, demands for the black
race civil rights and suffrage, bat ii GER
tainly does not require all political fran
chises for them and social position with the
whites. ,AU these the new Constitution will
claim for the negro race Let Us see what
it has aIrea1y done, looking to this re-
suit
l. The new Bill of Rights will affirm
that all men, without distinction OF color
or condition, are entitled to equality OF
rights, for the reason, as it is affirmed,
that ali men were created equal" That
such a position is fallacy, contradicted by
all experience, is palpable to evory intelIi-
gent mind.
/ 2. The new Constitution will place every
negro and white man in the State, twenty
one years of age, in perfect equality, not
only rs to the right Of voting, bat as to
every other franchise.
! 3. It will totally discard that essential
republican principle, that property has q
! claim to representation, or right Of pro
/ lection or guarantee, in the property hold
ing qualification of the representative or
public officer.
4. 1t will create new Offices; besides a
! Governor, Secretary of State, Public
Treasurer, and a Comptroller or Auditor,
it will provide for Lieutenant Governor,
Superintendent of Public instruction
and Superintendent Of Public Works, all
to be elected by the people for q term OF
-four yeaTs-and negroes 2CiU be eligible 10 al
Of these offices, no property OF educational
qualification being required Of them
8. It will vastly increase the expense OF
our Judicial system. Il will provide fo1
three or five Supreme Court Judges, as the
Legislature may determine, ten Superior
Court Judges instead of eight, Judge fol
each county in the State, and perhaps fo1
three Equity Judges, all to be elected bv
the people, requiring no. other qualification
we presume, than that the candidate for d
Jddgeship shall have been licensed to prac
tice law. Negroes, therefore, will be as
eligible to JudgeshipS as white men, OF
course, in a number Of counties, the ne
groes can elect Judges of their own color
if they choose.
will be eligible to both branches of the
Legislature and to either branch Of Con
gresS.
! Z. Negroes will also constitute portion
of the State militia and will be eligible tc
office in the militia, and the Legislature
may allow the regiments to be composed
alike of black and white men, and blacks
to be officers over white men.
8. Negroes will be admitted TO the Jury
box alike with white men, and intermar
riage will be allowed between blacks and
whites.
8. The question of suffrage has not been
determined, except as to allowing every
negro, twenty-one years of age, to VOTE
But the question OF disfranchising white
men has not been settled. We believe
that a disfrsnchising clause will be inserted
10. The question of public education has
not yet been publicly discussed and set
tied, but il is understood that the public
schools and the University will be opened
alike to negroes and whites, both as teach
ers ard pupils.
IL. Finally, the Convention will require
equal rights and privileges for the negroes
in public Conveyances, Railroads, &c.
We have presented, in the foregoing
what We believe will be the general feature:
of the new Constitution. Some of its pro
visions will be less offensive, but its often
sive features will be sufficiently SO to de
mand of every white man and every colored
imam who desires the future peace and vel