Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-05-26

"a densely populated AMI wealthy country
like New England.
The provision of the G. institution in re
terence to raising revenue and taxation are |
in the most COT fIcting ard confused con-
ldition Already they have given rise to
the most serious and expensive litigation,
and will continue to do SO if not amended |
and reformed. Even the decisions mad 3
by the COURT on these subjects are often
unsatisfactory-the j1dge diff7ring widely |!
in their opinions from each other. |
There are other serious objections that
we I'd not now point cut, but which are
worthy the most serious consideration OF
every citizen Of the S ate, the remedy for
ali which is in and through a Convention
of true hearted native North C3rOlinians.
i Our Constitution won not be what 1T is
now If oar own people had framed it. 1t
Il the handl"ork, In greut measure, OF
! ign GRANT, unprincipled adventures, who
hal not the inclination to cops1lt the
wants, tastes, and necessities of the PEG
| pie, nor the capacity to put together dis
| jOinted paris, aud tragm snts taken from
other State Constitutions l IS the shame
ofevery North CaroliDian, white aud black,
that adventure rs and strangers, feeling no
interest ia us, lave made our Cons;itu-
ton, and such an atsurdity as it is! How
| ever may differ upon questions OF poll
tics. let the good and true of all parties
and culols stand together as North Carroll
mans to make a Constitution by and
through Convention Ct true-nearted
North liuians, and such one as will
be worthy the Cescandents Of a noble an
c stry.
TIE method adopted for calling the Con
vention is emir emily prOper-iudeed, We
undertake TO say that it is the only one
hat fully harmonizes With the great dem
ocratic principle underlying American
6 )vernmout-tue right of the people 10
RUE, and especially to make, amt Nd and
control their orgaLic las. The method
adopted is founded upon the great priEci-
pie of popular government common to ali
the States If the Union, and is in perfect
harmony with every provision, rs well as
| the pirit of our present State Constitution.
| There il 10 pI provision in the Constitution
which, in terms or by any reasonable i'm
pIication In the slightestE degree, abridRes
or impaifs the right of the people Of the
State to alter or amend it, or call a Con
vention for that purpose. There is no
word Of limitation on their power in any
of these Re pc IT'S, and although it was not
necessary that they should do SO, they
have been careful to provide in terms their
purpose not to part with such powers for
it i ) provided in our Bill of Rights n these
words
Sec. 2. That all political power is vested in ard
derived people: COVER ment or rig ut,
originates from the people, ~ founded upon their
will only and is instituted solely the good of
! the whole.
Sec. 3. That the people f tits State have the
Inherent sole and exclusive right of regulating
the in or rar government and pOIi0e thereof, ana
| OF altering and sbolishing their constitution aud
form Of govern mept, whenever it may be neces-
sary to their SAFETY and happiness; but eve~y
such nigh; should be exc ci+ed in pursuance of
United States.
keo 81. This enumer >tio of rights shall not
be coDstr1edto Impair or g. ny Others. retained
by the people, ard all poSers. not hercin deega-
tel, shall rem3in with il reol
The only Limitation in the c sutton
in reference to ealing a CvAvtutlun is i'm
posed on the LegisIdture-MM 6ody shall
not call Il Ccnvenfiou uuuts by the con
curreuce IF ltr0 thirds Of the votes If all g
membejs-b.t tbat body may, in the or
binary way Of legislation. provide meal S
by aud tLrOUgh which the people may, at
ahy time, cali a Convention the Legisla-
ture has sucu power by the whole tenor
aud spirit of the Constitution as well as
hy the express terms quoted above. The
people ay do what the Legislature can
hottie people limited the powers OF the
Legislature about calm a Convention
they did not IND lent take to limit them
selves. and it may we'll be questioned
VII Their, If they wished, they could do o,
in UGH way as to bind the present genera
ton, much less any succeeding one. But,
In addition to the plain meaning of the
Constitution and the grand principle OF
American government, underlying it, to
whichwe have adverted, the pie of North
Carolina have, time after time, sane toned
such method of calling Convention
they have, by their practice, not only
recognized the doctrine above mentioned
but have acted upon it and created pre-
cedents that have been acted upon in
most, if not all. the States Of the Union.
1t is sometimes said that in 1861 the
Legislature passed similar Convention
act by taco-thirds vote of the whole Legis-
lature-but that was then done out of
abundant caution and not for the purpose
of amending the Constitution, and was the
only Instance Of such action, and such n
vote was then unnecessary.
The plan adopted is SO mapifestly in &C
cordarce with every principle of the
| Constitution and the doctrines of popular
government, that we can scarcely credit
the sincerity CT those who suggest the
contrary.
The act providing for calling q Conven-
ton, wisely provides that it, if called, shall
not have power TO interfere with the
Homes cad provision of the present Con-
stitution, nor with the political and civil
rights Of the colored people, nor with the
pToviei IN for mechanics and laborer's
Leio.
This expression in favor of tho colored
people, ought TO satisfy them that there is
no purpose to disturb their rights, but it
may be as we'll for them to understand, if
they do not, that their political and civil
rights are established by the Constitution
of the United States, and the proposed
Convention would have no power to dis
turb them. !
There can be no reasonable objection to |
a laborer's lein-he is entitled to it upon |
every principle of good government ss
we'll as the spirit Of the scriptural maxim,
" the laborer is worthy of his hire
The propriety and necessity of Home |
stead for every family in the land, is rapid |
ly becoming the settled policy of the Amer
lean people as we'll "a the people OF this
State. 1t is wise, just and: humane, and
rests not only on these grounds. but on
the further ground Of sound public policy.
The State and society have direct inter
est in the proper rearing and culture of
every child within its borders it is matter
Of high moment that every child shall have
n hon 70 ho Il 1o. l.