Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-06-02

XIII, provides the way In which Legls
latnre, fresh from the people. may 'tself
call Convention that is, by two-thirds
vote. 1t does not attempt to prescribe how
THE PEOPLE could call Convention. be-
cause that was tan inherent right Sc
cured to them by Sec. 3 Of the BILL CT
RIGHTS.
Secondly. In the exercise Of this IN
herent right" it is menifestly roper to
avoid confusion and that the Legislature
should pass a bill regulating bow the Will
OF the people shall be ascertained. This
has been done by the Convention Acc CT
the last session Of the Legislature, sub
hitting the questions to each voter: "Con
vention 2? or "No Convention ?" When
the people shall have answered these ques
tiors through the baIlot-bSx, then they
will have expressed their opinion whether
they desire now TO exercise their 'iUhe-
rent right" to alter the Constitution, or
whether they desire to postpone.
So much for the constitutio naiity f the
measure It is plain and easy to lie IN
derssood. and We hope the friends cf the
mo1sure will take pains to explain to those
who have any doubts upon the subjec', SO
that q full expression OF tho will of the
peopIe NAV be obtained. Now as TO the
necessity of amending the Constitution.
This instrument was adopted the 10th day
of March, A. D. 1863. It has therefore
| been in operation over three years Surely
| time enough 10 try 1t fully and see If 1t
was adapted to our State. What has been
the result !? Financially tie State is
bankrupt Oar bonds which. at the time
the Constitution was adopted, were worth
from $50 to $50 per 500 in the market,
are now worth less than $25 per 500.
Ordinarily, when now Constitutions are
adopted, they place the State in better
| position to perform all its civil end po-
litical functions, give character and tone
to all its interests, and its financial po-
sition is at orce advanced. But with this
Constitution the effect from its very adop-
ton has been to dsteriorate the creds of
the State and reduce it to a deolorable
condition.
| Then again, look at the Judiciary. IN
! der tn old although it had
but short time to act after the war-our
Judges were gradually bringing order out
of chaos. crimes were being punished
promptly, and before this time if it had
continued. we should have hal suoh a
condition Of Thugs as would have secured
to ell classes those blessings guaranteed to
them by Section / of the Bill of Rights
''life, liberty, the enjoyment Of the fruits
of their own labor, and the pursuit of h 4p
piuess." How is it now ? If We had
! time We should like to quote from the
testimony tcfore the Ku-klux Coamittee
of Congress $50 that f'out of their own
mouths they might be condemned'0 Of
members of the party which formed, adopt
ell and has worked the present Constitu-
ton. That testimony shows that in theil
hands the judicial system is failure, and
if its friends pronounce it's inefGciency
! what greater damnation could it have. =
Hero then, are two grand reasons for alter
ing the Constitution. Its failure as on in
strument to sustain the financial position
of the State and main ain its credit, and lis
failure to give protection to all the people.
The .n--lI-AA-> -tl-~------:--4 ala
might be pressed and will be as the can
vass progresses. 1t will be our pleasure
from time to time to place them squarely
before the people, as The JOURNAL does
not 'tgive an uncertain sound" in this bat
tie for the right of the people of North
Carolina to adopt Constitution caIcula-
ted to protect their Interests ard bring
peace aud happiness.