Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-02-03
Convention.

/
on the 18th Of February.
Convention.
The virtual passage, by the Legislature,
lit only remaining fer the Senate to con-
cur, in a few immaterial amendments
adopted by the House,) of the Bill sub
hitting the question of "Convention" OF
"No Convention to the people OF North
Carolina, and providing for the election
of delegates, is, perhaps, the most i'm
portaut event that has transpiIcd since the
close of the war. That the action OF the
General Assembly will be sustained by an
overwhelming majority of the popular
vote we cannot permit ourselves to doubt
To suppose differently would be 10 brand
the State with self-imposed degradation
and the voluntary endorsement of the in
Vulnerable evils which terrorism aud the
sword forced upon the people, when they
were comparatively poworless to avert
them.
It would seem strange, if anything ema-
mating from such men could seem strange
after the experience we have had, that the
Radical leaders should deny the power of
the people TO act upon simple proposition
submitted to them by a majority of the
Legislature. A party that has recognized,
and triumphed by means of, the Widest
license of an illiterate mob. would appear
to be debarred from objection TO ony
appeal TO the people at large. 1t is es-
pecially singular if any of the eccentricl-
ties of that cratic individual cGt be
deemed singular, to see Mr.. Phillips, the
Radical leader in the House of Represen-
tatives, taking ground against the right
of majority of the Legislature to ask the
voice of the people on the question Of
Convention, in the face of the fact that,
in 1864, his opinion the other way was
unmistakably pronounced Mr.. Phillips
is, undeniably, a lawyer of ripe attain
ments, and the Macedonian appeal may
we'll be taken from Phillips drunk to
Phillips sober, to Mr.. Phillips, in the
possession of his right mind and the
honest convictions OF an unwarped judg-
ment, from Mr.. Phillips, now so lamentably
blinded by the seductions of reward and
the Establishments of place.
We take it that the people of North
Carolina are fully satisfied as to the power
of the General Assembly, and their own
rights. in the premises, and that, as we
have said, they will act accordingly. We
anticipate the happiest results from their
action-a return, as near as may be. under
the changed circumstances of our con-
dition, to the Constitution under which
we lived and prospered for SO many years.
which developed so much that was great
and good, and which was illustrated by
the genius. learning and craftsmanship of
MACON, CASTOR, MEAREs, RUFFIN, and a
host of others. When the baleful - archi-
tects of ruin have torn down, it is always
difficult to build up. The grand old
Cathedral at Strasbourg, or the gorgeous
walls of the Louvre, may be demolished in
q few days by few regiments of German
soldiery, but years Of severe industry, and
all the appliances of consummate skill
would hardly restore or replace them.
But when the wM exists the tCGy is sure.
Our people yearn to tread again the old
familiar paths, from which they have been
jOSI1OO ~ VIC OAoC duO ny IL
norant power too successfully enjoined by
designing and corrupt adventures and
scheming native aposatee.
Let us, then, 10 the good work Let us
have an organic law that will interfere
with no established immunities, that will
interfere with no mans civil rights, that
will recognize no obsolete theories But
let US have one that will accommodate it.
SELF to the wants, condition and exigen-
sies of our people that will purify the
judiciary; that will adjust the public bur
dens; that will afford no covert for thieves
and swindlers; that will give us back that
bsnignant mother of Education, the Uni
versity that will protect the general in
terests of ill the people. and be, what it
was, before the eruption of the Visigothe,
the object of proud and cheerful obedi-
ence and support.
RUMOR from Raleigh has it that the
impeachment mai ayers are eliciting, in
their informal Investigations, ample testi-
mony from Radical sources to sustain
their Bill of Indictment in the fullest par
tiouIorc