Wilmington journal., 1871-07-14
The Necessity for . COnventiOn-sPeaksr
jarvis

The Necessity for . COnventiOn-sPeaksE
Jarvis.
The time has now PASSED for the further
discussion of the constitutionali,y Of the
Convention Act. In less than one month
the people of North Carolina will be called
upon to vote upon the question. It seems
to US that it is high time that we should
cease to theorize and devote ourselves to
practical questions. We propose to evote
our columns to the necessity for Conven-
ton, and urge our people to act from that
standpoint. We have already said much,
and have much more to say, in this re-
gard. Consequently. we know that our
readers will be glad to hear, through our
columns, from others who have considered
the subject. We therefore propose to pub
lish extracts from the speech of the Hon.
THOMAS J. JARVIS, Speaker OF the House of
representatives, upon the necessity of a
Convention, and invite attentiop there
to. He discusses the points touched in a
thorough and able manner. His argu-
ments are convincing. To-day We publish
ooly that portion in reference to the pay
ment of the principal and interest of the
Public Debt
now propose to cal your attention to
the necessity for Convention. In doing
SO shall point out some of the most i'm
portant features in our present CoIstitu-
ton, that experience teaches Us ought 10
bo changed at once.
I. A Convention is necessary to strike
f1om the Constitution section of article
VI. ~
shall, by appropriate legislation and b.
and regular payne ut of the interest OF to.
.ublic debt, and. after tho year 1880.
shall lay q specific annual tax upon the
real and personal properly Of the State,
and the sum thus realized shall be set
apart q. O sinking fund to be devoted 10
the payment OF the public debt" This lie
a command to the General Assembly"
and, while you are " the General Assem-
bIy," is command to you.
How are you obliged to obey this COM
mand ? By the solemn tauctlty of al
oath. Befor3 you were permitted to cas
4 single vote in this house, you were Ie
quised to walk up to the Speakers deck,
ed with your and resting upon the b. |
o G, take the follow ing oath. II I--
10 sol, mnly swear Tor atirm,) that 1 will
su pport and maintain the eConstltEtiOn anu |
Laws IF the Uult, d States aud the Cousti |
cution aud Laws ot North Caroin IA not III
consistent tberewith. and that will fai'h !
fully discharge the duties Of my UGtice. 81 J
help me God" That Is, you wear to do I
svery thing that the Constitution com-
nsnds you to do, and to refrain from DO
ng anything that it foIblds you to do
Anything less than this, il knowingly AID
Wilfully done, is perjury.
Now IL succeeded in making myse un-
lerstoC d in the beginning Of my remarks
md if was correct when / stated ''that
Vhea a duty is enjoined by the Constitu-
ion upon the General Assembly and no
ime is specified when that duty is to be
it may be done at any time
'efore the expiration of the term OF the
aenbers upon whom the duty was i'm
'osed," then you have till your JfoaL ad'
oulnment in the spriDg OF 1872 to dis
lsrge the duty imposed upon yOa IN this
tn section of article 5, which have just
sad, for no time is specified in the Con-
titution when it 10 20 be done.
Il must. however. be done before the [
rst Thursday of August, 1879. for then
or cease to be the General Assembly,
nd then the duty will be upon other men
''the General Assembly. II,
len, yo0 must perform the duty imposed :,