The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-08-01
A CRISIS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
The Situation in Some Respects Like
T.. that in West virginia,
From the Plttsbufgh Commercial

From the Pittsburgh Commercial.
The earliest, and perhaps the most I'M
portant political battle OF the year, come
of in North Carolina on Thursday OF the
present week; on which day the election
of delegates 10 the Constitutional COnven
ton ordered by the last Legislature, takel
place. The situation is quite complicated
and involves the possibility OF very serious
consequences. The present Constitution
was adopted three or four years ago, un
der the provisions Of the Reconstruction
Acts, aud was duly ratified by the people
Last year, for the first time since the war
the State went Democratic, whereupOE
the Legislature proceeded TO impeach and
remove Governor Holden, and 10 order q
Convention for the purpose Oi revising the
fundamental law. This bill was passed
by bare majority vote, and would there
tore upon the face oft appear to be I'm.
constitutional; since the organic law Of
the State provides that no alterations shall
be made in 1t unless q bill for the pur.
pose shall have passed the Legisla.
ture by three fif(hs majority, and shall
have been published six months previous
TO new election OF members, and shall
have passed the succeeding Legislature
by Il two.thirds majority, finally being
submitted to the people for ratification
by majority Of their votes. The move.
ment for Convention would therefore
seem to be illegal aud revolutionary: for
the reason that the people, by their raLi.
liCalion Of the present Constitution, have
CstOppGd themselves from the right Of
calling Convention except through the
primary action of tho General Assembly,
in conformity with the provisions Of the
Constitution. The main object OF the
movers Is, according to their own admits.
sion, to reconstruct the Judiciary. Prior
to the war, all Judges and Justices Of the
Peace were chosen by the Legislature,
and this method, should the Democrats
carry the Convention, II IA proposed to
re.Cstablish; the election Of all judicial
officers Of whatever grade To be transferred
from tho control OF the people TO the
Legislature, which intends TO invest them
with life tenure, and charge them with
the management of all Clections-it being
purposed TO make up the county election
boards from the justices so elected. Fur.
ther, the Democrats boldly RvOw their
purpose, should the result Of the election
prove favorable to their designs, to remove
all the present judges and justices, and
elect their SUCCESSORS at the first ensuing
session Of the Legislature. Put into plain
terms the scheme Is the initial attempt TO
overthrow the present State Constitutions
of the Southern States, and II therefore
possesses q national Significance Anoth.
or object Of the movement Is to repeal that
part Of the Constitution which excmpts q
poor mans homestead from attachment
for debt, This question has already been
tested before the Supreme Court OF tho
State, and by that body pronounced con.
slitutiOMl. Democracy seems bound
to destroy IT, however, even Il
10 resort 10 illegal meth.
DDS TO do so. The Republicans are
In hopes Of electing majority Of the mem.
bGrs Of the Convention, in which event
they will dissolve 1t without action. Tho
canvass has been exceedingly vigorous
and bitter on both sides. the control Of the
State fer 1872 and for many years there.
after being at stake. Should the Demo
rIats succeed in forming the convention,
It is possible that the General Govern.
ment win be called upon 10 decide between
The two rival State governments, while, Il
the revolutionary party Is defeated, 1t will
be compelled to change It's programme
the entire Southern States.
The probabilities of n Republican success
are decidedly encouraging, It being ex.
peCted that many Democrats will vote
for the Republican delegates partly be.
cause Of the threatened repeal OF the
clause, but more by reason o q
their dread Of q fresh interpoSition Of
Federal authority and n possible military
reoccupation Of the State,