The Hillsborough recorder., 1874-09-30
lalsburuugh Rstagnsr.
LOOK INTO III.

LOOK INTO III
The diikcalties 10 the way 70 the call Of
Convention might Seem tor-cede, if,hey
we're approached with sincere determina-
ton 10 remedy the imrerfections and abus-
\ - of tbc present Consultation Thcsc who
admi. the pressing necessity Of amendments
but Who fear to trust Convention to effect
them. might acquire assurance by examins,
tion into the authority and powers Of Con-
scntion.
A Convention is in its nature absolute
and supreme. Il Is reference 10 the bo-
dy 81 the people themselves Of the whole
organic law. II implies a surrender back
into their hands Of The powers they had pre-
vious:y delegated. and resumption Of the
authority they had previously parted with.
ia the vxercise Of their rights they are a.
J menable to no authority but their own. save
the paramount obligations they have ASSUME
ed Ia relation to the Constitution nc the
United States The Legislature in calling
Convention has but enc function to per-
form. aud that is. to call it il obedience to
the prescribed formsand sanction Of the ex-
isting Constitution. That doLe. the Leg
islature can no longer control the action Of
8 wv
is sosreign. the people. u
Now. assuming the Convention TO be
called. where is the danger that the people
are 70 sedulously made to bolievs vii! at
tend IL? Are they not absolute masters Of
The situation: Win they prescribe any
Observation-Disclosures to their own interests.
~ ssrstion any Infringement Of their re-
cosuizsd and established privileges.
In the composition Of Convention, il
FSill be necessary 10 select with judgment
lsthe most disrrset aud able citizens. To do
this. county meetings win be had, !, and a,
these. il will be the casies, and most natu.
raj thing ID the world TO instruct delegate.
as TO their action. This must necessarily
be done. How Is It possible then. that any
thing coald be engraftcd into new Constr
tuition reppgnant to the will or the wish oI
tbe peoplc7 Take the Homestead for ill-
stance. tho much dreaded subject. How
can Il bc supposed that the people would
fail tognard this from infractiOn or inter.
ferepeel woaA any body Of men cOuing
fresh from the people, the people them
selves IN . condensed form. undertake Il
DO of their own will an act 30 suicidal si
che overthrow Of provision they tbemselyei
declare inscparabIe from their security
So With other subjects that might be nam.
ed.
Apa sgaiD. Suppose By sby possibility
any clause unsatisfactory 10 The people yer,
engsfisd ipto..a new Constitution. hsy,
they not the fnql power Of revision. vii
il not, Or may il not. be Submitted % iben
for rsfifazfiOp?
They have iis fate 10 their hands. sb,
thsy can control. reject or stife Il befor,
.fhsre b ever danger that il ran be per
vsrled to their injury.
With such generally admitted nccessi
~ for sncbdments TO the coustituticn
With Iush opportunities q are now present
ed lor edecti;g them with such ample &C
euriiJ against perssrting .he powers ef
Convention. il strikes us as absolute fatal
" Or craven tisaidiiy hat cosBsels bal
non. We are no extremist. Ne ave u
advocate vf cssseles changes. We are
Conservative by name and by natsre. BO
We cannot give willing sdbesDn 20 an ia
struseBt u ssch base origin as The Consti
susiss Of 1850. NOR can ws consistently an
couseieniious,y be quiet 1t the bidding .
iimij eodpscls OF the whispers q policy
ssd see the golden n,omest pass By. ]
which. 4 riscly seized. tie most cnlurin
good can be accomplished .or tbe people .
Nuth CarvIina.
Let those wbo appear % base ceased i
their advocacy ot : Convention. o. VII
sesm 70 bave assumed 20 resJily popuIs
dhssnt. take second view q Ne subject
and retraes the steps which led 70 the pr,
msiase ides u abandonment. II i "a
grave stake 20 irias siih.
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