Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-02-21

the Governor, to be confirmed by the Sen.
ate. He thought that was as far as they
could Or should go nop The election
system had worked admirably IN OAio, but
he did not know that it would do SO well
here.
Mr.. Abbott also favored the appointment
by the Governor, and confirmation by the
Senate.
Mr.. Pool would protest against the cleo
tion system. He ventured the prediction
that it the election system was adopted,
and the cry for relief from private CON
tracts should continue, that Mr.. McDon-
aid, of Chatham, could beat, to day, the
best legal mind in the State for a seat
upon the bench. While ho preferred the
present system he would not oppose the
Sd resolution, providing for the appoint
ment by the Governor, to be confirmed by
the Senate.
Mr.. Watts held that neither of the plans
were good. 1t seemed to him that judi.
cious compromise might be effected. For
instance, the appointment by the Gov
ernor of the Supreme Court Judges, con,
firmed by the Senate the Circuit Judges
and the Magistrates to be elected by the
people.
Mr.. Welker said the people Of North
Carolina were quite well qualified to vote
intelligently for men to fill Judicial offices
of great Importance. We're the gentle
men, natives of this State, upon this floor
prepared to declare that their constituency
were not as intelligent and capable as
the people of Ohio and other Northern
States ?
Mr. King, Of Lincoln, was opposed to
any change III the present system. He had
seen that all opposition to the present sys,
tenn came from men not natiUeS Of The State,
and that, in his opinion, was a strong argu-
ment that the present system was good
enough. He thought that their strong op,
position to it came from the fact that they
were :tspirants for the honors. He was
opposed to any change.
Mr. Kinney said he was native born
citizen of the State, and he was very much
in favor of electing all State officers by the
people.
Mr.. Ing endorsed every word that Mr..
Kinney had uttered he was in favor of
electing every officer in the State by the
people.
Mr.. Congleton ditto.
Mr.. May said he represented large
white constituency and they were, to a
man almost, in favor of electing all officers.
Mr.. Bryan wished to place himself in the
same category
Mr.. Heaton said that Mr.. Welker had
drawn wrong inference as to the spirit of
his remarks ; he did not intend to reflect
upon the intelligence and capability of the
people of North Carolina, sc.
Hood (negro), had something to say, and
said it.
Mr.. Trogden came here pledged to vote
for the election system, and thought it's
adoption would do more towards the ratifi-
cstion than anything else.
Mr.. Graham, of Orange, hoped the vote
upon the subject would not be pressed to-
day, and moved to postpone until Friday
next, and that it be made the special order
for that day.
Mr.. Rich opposed the postponement
also Mr. May, who thought it a waste of
time.
The question on postponement was put
and voted down.
Galloway (negro), favored election by
the people. He said that he would make
an assertion, and was personally response
BILE for it, that the Judiciary in New Han
sion. In their eyes it was crime to be a
black or loyal man. He said that the Judge
of the Criminal Court had already sent men
to the work house merely to prevent their
voting upon the ratification of the Consti-
tuition.
Mr.. Graham said AS there seems to be
determination on the part of the Conven-
ton to force vote upon this question: to-
day, must enter my protest against such
q Radical change in our government. It is
not required by the Reconstruction Acts,
and | do not believe is demanded by our
people. Ii there is anything in the past
history of our State, of which We are Justly
proud, it is the high character, learning and
independence of those who have adorned
the bench of the Supreme and Superior
Courts. 1t is needless for me to mention
their names. They are known, not only
throughout the States of the Union, but in
other countries, and [ believe our people
would see, with many feelings of regret, a
system, from which they have derived SO
to say the least, does not come we'll recon-
mended. But it does seem to me- that it
is only necessary that a part Of our Consti-
tuition should be especially dear to our peo-
pie, to secure its destructuctiOn by this Con
ton.
will also venture to assert that our pres
ent judges give very general satisfaction
and that there is no Just cause for COM
plaint even from colored persons or those
who are called loyal men. l fear we shall
never again see such men in office, if
the appointment of those who are to ad-
minister justice is controlled by all the
passions and prejudices which have hereto
fore and will more especially hereafter sway
our elections. But as the matter is pressed
at this late hour, without allowing an op-
portunity for that full and free discussion
which its Importance demands, enter my
protest against it.
Mr.. Ray would favor the election by the
people. Men had been murdered in his
county by being condemned without proper
evidence.
Mr.. Ashley thought the matter ought
not to be pressed to-day; time enough had
not been given to consider the matter, as it
should be.
Here an effort to adjourn was made, but
was lost.
Mr.. A. continued, and, in advocacy of
the elective system, he cited the example
of Chief Justice Taney, who outraged the
whole country by his Ubiquitous decisions.
Even death itself would not take him for a
long time, and if it had not been for the
great love of the Northern people for the
Union, they would on his account. have
burst assunder the bonds that held the
Union together. If he was forced to a
vote, to- day, he would support the elective
system.