Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-07-28
From the Greensboro Patriot.
why we Desire a Convention.

Because We believe a Convention, in the
present financial condition Of the people
necessity.
Because through tue agency of a Con.
Vention only can they look for anything
like prompt relief from the burdens that
oppress and the dangers that threaten
them.
Because the people demand Conven.
ton and have q right to be heard.
Because we believe in the inalienable
right of the people to amend their Consti
tuition when in their judgment their wei
fare demands it.
Because the people who pay the taxes to
support the government ought TO be the
best judges of their capacity to pay and
they have said they are unable to pay the
ex or bitant demands that are made on them
and ask Convention to relieve them.
Because eeVen-eights of the taxpayers
of the State want q Convention, which
only those prompted by political and mer,
cenary motives oppose.
Because the present Constitution is OPP
pressive, burdensome and impracticable
in no way adapted to the wants and neces
stiles OF our people nor to the condition
of things.
Because it creates aud provides for e
multiplicity of supernumerary officers at
salaries disproportionately large when we
consider the amount of labor they perform
and difficulty the people have in provld-
ing the means of payment.
Because the reduction in the number Of
these officers will reduce the expenses ..
government thousands of dollars annually,
which may be devoted TO some usefal pur-
pose.
Because the present Constitution de-
mo nd Gil Of nod
people, end limits them to the period Of
ten years to pay the interest and principal
of debt which they will never be able to
pay if the provisions of the Constitution
they now seek to amend be carried ont.
Because the present Constitution is not
the Constitution of the people of North
Carolina, never having been endorsed by
majority Of them, but forced upon the
people by partiz4n Convention, and car.
ried through by the prescription Of thou
sands of the best men in the State.
Because many of lis provisions were
conceived In trickery and carried ont IN
fraud to strengthen and perpetuate the
domination of the party who made it,
while those who opposed it were powerless
to resist in consequence OF proscrpi7e
law.
Because many clauses in it conflict while
cial Interpretation for their meaning.
Because a we'll regulated school system
is essential to the welfare and happiness OF
the youth Of the State, and because the
present school system provided for III the
constitution is imperative and impractica-
BILE.
Because under the present plan large
numbers OF children will be deprived OF
the advantages of schools, whereas prop
erly arranged ali might derive the benefits:
Because we wish to see the la SO framed
that the poor man may be able to seeE
Justice In the courts, and not be compelled
to sacrifice all his substance to obtain 1t.
Because now to recover the amount Of
i've dollars in one of our courts It would
cost ten or perhaps more.
Because we want to see faxes made pro-
z ortionate to the ability to pay, and lie.
1uclon of the needless expenditures OF
he government.
Because we want to see the immense
1ebt of the State compromised honorably
with her creditors and even and exact JUS
ice done to all, in accordance with their
ust demands and our capacity to meet
hem.
Because we believe that Convention
an effect such terms with the creditors oil
he State as will relieve the people from
resent embarrassments and enable them
n little time to pay the debt without
ceiling it.
Because we want to sec immigration
our into our State, occupy her waste
laces, and develop her hidden resources
Which will not be while the financial con-
ition is no better than it is and while We
re- as heavily taxed as we are ; for laocl
nd capital will not encounter burdens ID
dvance.
Because We wish to see the poor lltteo
p and not crushed to the earth by loads
t taxation, which fall with much more
distressing effect on them than on then
neighbors, who, while they have
lore to pay, are better able TO pay it,.
These are some of the reasons that IN
uce as to advocate and desire Conven,,
ion, for we believe it will be for the goou
nd permanent benefit of the whole stare
nd of all the people in it.