The Tarboro' southerner., 1868-02-27
The New Constitution.


The New Constitution.
The $50 called at Raleigh have been
st work upon this document sufficient
l. long for some definite idea to be
formed as to the main textures proposed
to be incorporated within it.
The Sentinel publishes in concise
form what has been done and what is
likely to be done in this regard.
1t says -
Let it be borne in mind that the
Reconstruction Acts of Congress, under
which this convention meets. and from
which it derives all its powers, only
demand Of the Convention that the
new Constitution shall admi. negro
suffrage and the Howard amendment
by the Legislature. The Congress, by
its Acts, demands for the black race
civil rigLts and suffrage, but it certain
ly does not require all political fran
chises for them and social position
with the whites. Az these the new
Constitution will claim for the negro
race. Let US see what it; has already
done, looking to this result:
l. The new Bill of Rights will af-
firm that all men, without distinction
of color or condition. are entitled to
equality of rights, for the reason, as it
is affirmed, that ali ucn were created
equal That such position is falls
cy, contrsdicted by all experience, is
palpable to every Intelligent mind.
,. That the new Constitution will
place every negro and white man in
the State, twenty-one years Of age, in
perfect equality, not only as to the
right of voting, but as to every other
franchise.
3. 1t will totally discard that essen~
tial republican principle, that property
has claim to representation, or right
Of protection or guarantee, Iii the pro-
perty holding qualification of the rep
rcSentative or public officer.
4. 1t will create new Offices: besides
a Governor, a Secretary Of State,
Public Treasurer, and a Comptroller
or Auditor. it will provide for a Lieu
tenant Governor, Superintendent Of
Putlic Instruction aud Superin
tendent of Public Works, all to be
elected by the people for term of
/GWr grassland ncyroeS 1CW be eligible
to oUhcse cfices, no property or edu
sational qualification being required Of
them
5. It will vastly increase the expense
Of our Judicial system. 1t will provide
tor three or FIVE Supreme Court Judges
as the Legislature may determine, ten
Superior Court } ui ses, instead Of eight,
Judge for each county in the State,
aud perhaps for three Equity Judges,
all to be elected by the people, requlr-
ing no other qualification, We presume,
than that the candidate for Judge
ship shall have been licensed to prac-
tiee law. Negroes, therefore, will be
as eligible to Judgeships as white men.
| Of course in number of counties, the
negroes can elect judges Of their own
| color, if they choose.
! 6. Under the new Constitution ne
groes will be eligible to both branches
Of the Legislature and to either branch
of Congress.
7. Negroes will also constitute a
portion of the State militia and will
be eligible to Office iu the militia, and
the Legislature may allow the regi-
nents to be composed alike of black
and white men, asld blacks to be Off
GERS over white men:
s. Negroes will be admitted to the
jury box alike with white men, and
intcrmarriage will be allowed between
blacks and whites.
g. 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 disfran-
chising white men has not been settled.
We believe that DISTINGUISHING clause
will be inserted.
10. The question Of public education
has not yet been publicly discussed and
settled; but it is understood that the
public schools and the University will
be opened alike to negroes and whites,
both as teachers and pupils.
II. Finally, the Convention will re-
quire equal rights and privileges for
the negroes in public Conveyances,
Railroads, &c.
We have presented, in the forego-
ing, what we believe will be the gen
eral features Of the new Constitution
Some Off provisions will be less, oi
fensiyc, but its offensive features will
be sufficiently so to demand of every
white man aud every colored man who
desires the future peace and welfare OF
the State and people, to vote against
it.
The people will be told that its adop
tion will be essential to Union. But II
is sufficient answer to such claim