The Hillsborough recorder., 1874-10-07
Nillsburuugb 4srqpusr,
wEpNEsnA ....a ..!ooT \ ::s74s


ihe Iunuamental dlihculty IN the Con-
sen,iou question appears to rs to be the
misconccption as to the true idea Of what i
Convention really il. Il i evident that
the general conception Of It is, body en-
tirely distinct from and above the people,
something totally independent of them,
having plenary and irresponsible powers
derived from some unkncwn or foreign
source. fruitful of danger, aud responsible
TO pobody--a body coming into existence
by legislative viii. let loose 10 prey upon
laws and Constitutions without restraint,
and to fasien apes the people jast sach a
frame Of government rs chance, or caprice,
crhasty passion may suggest.
Such is the idea, and such 4 one as de-
nngOgues OF timja men may incline 10 los.
TERN ahe minds ofahs people. too little apt
% seek fur. .rno defaitions when interest
has become alarmed. and stability Of insti.
tntions made "a seem iimperilled. II can
not haze been al any ,time diHicllttask 70
hasa cleared away the obscasiliss Sfaaean-
ins. anats sa0T that Conventions tfaI; are
thsassemblagcs of the people in their SOW
reign capacity. either IN person or BY dele
gates, sith the object Of securing, ehausing,
u Improving their organic Law.
'rhs difficulties which have been thrown
around this exercise Of popular majesty
have had much to daaMith the fear that
nov as,ends their call. It IS not 10 BE de-
niel, that if the call were answered witltoo
great facility. endless trouble would follow
the frequent inevitable changes If funda-
mental laws. because what might prove
hardensone. even temporarily. would de-
mand redress Through a popular revision u
the Constitution. fls
Hence obstacles. almost amounting to
pFpbi6itiODs. haye been he characteristics
ofaIi our Constitutions. The Conservative
temper of North. Caroline. opposed 70
cisaHge rAea al,irlate good i suppS,ed 70
lave been attained. vas illustrated in the
nSnstitutionSf lT7i. hisseemsd 70 per.
fsctto our fashsrs that there is not thc
slightest intination given ty which defects
ia that INSTRUMENT. sure 70 Dc ieye.oDed by
time. were 70 be made. Therefore. when
an altered coalition Of things took place,
when war gave place TO peace. when de
western wilderness Of our ssate wzs flled
up wit'. ! ssslxart white bopulatioil. whep
inequalities Of representation began to be
found in.OlsEable, then i was. that Sbiie !
revision of ths coDaitu,iOn became ilnps-
ratire. the means TO eject il hal NJ. been
provided. sbi $3.50 ses
The legislature Of 1851 toskrhe inilia.
tise 10 relief and sSlile iisclaiming all
iigilt and POKER shcmseIyes % alter the fun.
dsnrasai laF. fhey adopted measures u
.scerlaip ihs viii u The ysopls aana 20 csrry
It ists effect. They ordered an eleeti0l. %
hs hSId % asceFiain tie will % tic people
ideallius ; Cnveatiou afAdsi cebea,ioO.
wesH kimw, net IN 1885. and amended
CD csl,stitvti9n ~ much % their satisfas-
tDnstIlat they TO. iikesLs fsshers d IS.
tsSaghs i perfect. aud hcver sfysrwsrd to
be ispehpd. They DID go little fntLer.
il j. trae-slIsy give a poser Of legislative
aniens4ei.r, and node ~ Which Con.
feulipa 4 lie pespleinighl be cIllei by tho
Ieg;siasre--both methods % iramfoeIIed
" ee,lsiassbsie.. as seuteely essf 70 be
aTadayIe.
The eeonyettion u 1868 csnuot be cllled
. cansriJa ofits people Of Npus caro-
lala 4 was called into ezisscr.rs y ,aili.
tWy porer. IL work was rot lhc work oi
,lisFsoplosf North csrglins d VS. done
lsses-sol6issscf tie Upited sates afmy
iyishgefs w tlat army whsn ID 4 state "
waT drgPPsd rlea Esscceams or, vters
plassefsr rslisiosl prsisrusspts sssmed mos,
lrvmisia9; hysnegroe. hssEy FBefstea
iron tts ehaiSs % slayefy. Isa,orsi, 81 tIls
mrsaitg gof de VOID thsy u,iers4 sad
hlindiy aAeepseisa. Of flhstnaafhsy hsld
apJ IaslIy. " isv sstEse vhi,A. shOss
iudigsleses y iheir ssytI,sr state IN tue
l,vuf q hor peril hsa rspdered colrreienI
toihe oatIls ihry sosk.
itt ~ cepssn,ion IN tl.s Osnsstusisr
i ftslasd aiI - esGtsly cut u %,
'u,gpsef rf.isl, s.osid 4. TOO. Isose Op.
iacNie. Il lsil DC mc,hossld asnsnd.
ipsrt sua lkeiseds u eslliar Ueswossio.
pstbegssuna & n sho l'ohssGtasi5no 1855.
rIfy rsassnnsd ittS'iaea usess. !
uAts NC have secp yhsi constitutes I
cgpseplsof pf ghe peoples se basesesn 10
iwlpdilssnts tl,sovn 10 fhe msy of eallin,
oss'fori light and trsbaent eauses We bsv.
sNen lie fsftns efvtff to esll enc sfsu 4 /.