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

StrenuOUSiV tuab LAo PAOPOSoA ooh0Sieo'Aoh
does not force negro equality upon the
people of this State that neither white
nor black Radicals desire any such thing.
They declare that there Will be separate
schools but they say nothing about sepa-
rate Universities, and to this point We wish
to direct the attention of our readers. The
Constitution of 1776, and in this respect
unchanged in 1885, Goa aimed the follow
ing oSection Il. That school Or schools
shall be established by the Legislature,
X K and al! useful learning shall
be duly encouraged and promoted in one
or more Universities" This clause is en-
tirely omitted in the proposed Constitution.
which makes no such provision, expresses
no such permission to establish additional
Universities. 1t refers only to " the Uni
versity" already in existence, the one at
Chapel Hill, and declares it shall be held
to an inseparable connection with tho Free
Public School System OF the State, and
thus, by implication at least, excludes the
founding of any other University of North
Carolina. 1t confirms all tie old grants to
"the University, and thus puts it out Of
the power Of the Legislature to divert this
property and these sources of revenue to
any other University.
The lands given to the State by Congress
for Agricultural School purposes, are also
given to the University at Chapel Hill
These clauses, by giving such great prefer
ence to the University at Chapel Hill, place
il out of the power Of the Legislature to
build another with equal advantages. 1t
plainly follows, therefore, that the Radi-
Gals intended either to allow the negroes to
go to Chapel Hill, Or they intended to de-
fraud the negro by excluding him from the
enjoyment of the right he possesses equally
with the white men under the new Constitu-
ton, to go to the University, which is moth
ing more nor less than the highest school
in the Free Public School System" Will
the Courts allow him to be defrauded of
this right thus guaranteed in the Constitu-
ton I? A blind man must see that the
Constitution does force negro equality in
the schools.
They declare, also, that the negroes and
whites are to be put into separate com
mands in the militia; that a negro regiment
will be differed by negroes, from corporal
to colonel. "But they will be drilled on
the same parade ground, and they will
fight, if war should come, under the same
flag" Let us see if this works out any
better than the Sc separate schools our
people understand something about the or
ganization Of an army. Are the brigades,
divisions and corps to be unmixed When
they Eight under the same flag" will the
white and black columns be separate and
commands? Is the Governor,
the Captain General, the only man who
# an army should be raised and the negro
corps commander was the second ranking
officer, who would command the army IN
case Of the death, sickness OF absence OF
the army commander? BY what means
could q negro, in that case, be prevented
from commanding white men? Suppose
that 8 black and white regiment were drill
ing on the same parade ground and the
negro colonel, being the ranking officer,
should give al order to the white colonel,
would he not be obliged to obey? The
Constitution gives tho negro the right to
bear arms to hold Il commission III the
is the power and command it gives the
holder over those below him. The right
to the commission is given by the Consi
tuition, an authority paramount to that of
the Legislature. There is no restriction in
that Constitution saying that negro COM
missions shall not give power over white
men. Can the Legislature, by any means,
disseize any man of the full enjoyment of
any right guaranteed 10y the Constitution
If negro be elected Lieutenant, Captain,
Colonel or General in accordance with the
forms of law, can the Legislature insert in
the commission to which, by the Constitu-
he shall have no authority 30 command
white men, Or to rank subordinate white
officers If SO inserted, will the courts
hold it valid ? The whole thing is absurd.
Under the proposed Constitution it will be
utterly impossible for the Legislature to
prevent the conflict of the two races, either
at school or in the militia, and yet, know
ing this impossibility, and with all these
consequences staring them in the face, the
Convention deliberately, wilfully, moving
~ and with malice aforethought, voted
down amendments proposed to the Consti-
tuition which said in plain, express words,
that whites should not be mingled with, or
placed under, blacks
Speaking in Brunswick.
According to appointment Col. CowAN
and Major ENGELHARD addressed large
number of citizens of Brunswick, at North
west on the 4th. Col. CowAN's speech, like
all the efforts OF that talented gentleman,
VAS able. thOrOu9h and convincing. and