Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-09-25
CONVENTION.

The following communication IS
from the pen of one OF North Carroll
ra's ablest sons ard we commend it to
the calm and careful consideration Of
our numerous readers :
llcssls. Ediiul-S In a recent Edi-
torial you express tie opinion that to
call Convention of the people OF
North Carolina, is q duty incumbent
on the next Leg gislatUrc. and demanded
by the best interests Of the State.
Your article has elected much dis
cnss ion. Some seem to deprecate the
call OF a Convention as likely to rob us
Of the fruits OF victory whilst others
agree with yen i'll regarding it as es-
sontial to our welfare and prosperity.
1t is to be regretted that there is
any division Of sentiment among Con-
scrvatives on the subject, vet unanim-
ity is not, at first, to he expected. The
public are patient listeners; they hear,
weigh and determine, and there IS
ample time for their verdict to be
made mp and rendered before the meet
ing of the next Legislature. The mem
hcrs of that body, fresh from the pee =
VIII assemble with q fuit knowl-
edge Cf their wishes and wants, and
will, 10 doubt, regulate their publIc
action accordingly. The leading iour-
nais Of the State have invited commit
nications on the subject and taking
advantage Of this liberalitv, l beg to
submit, through your columns, my
reasons for thinking hat q Convention
should he called.
The Constitution for the guidance
Of q people should be adapted to their
genius and their wants, and should be
the work of men who have 4 perfect
knowledge of both. The Convention
of 1776 anG that of 1885, were COM
posed of members fully qualified II
this particular, and thoroughly idcnti-
fed with the interests Of North Carroll
na A brief reference to thor ac,iO' j,
and review of our Constitutional LIS
tory, is essential to an fair conSiGera-
ton of this question, and may not
prove unintcrestinG to the genera!
reader.
The Constitution formed ut Halifax
on the 18th day of December, 1916,
became Objectionable mainly on ac-
count Of the inequality of representa-
ton it had produced, i'll the course of
time, between the Eastern and West
ern sections Of the State. So great {:
grievance had this become to tie West
ern people. that they seemed to be de-
termined, if they could not cticc: a
change by any other means, TO do 50 hy
separating from the East, and, if ne
cessary, by force.
Under that Constitution each county
| was entitled to one Senator and two
| Commoners, without regard tn i'opui:;-
ton or taxable property. Certai n
| enumerated towns We're also cnjit!e /
! to one Commoner. Every free man
of the age of twenty-ono Yeas, who
had paid public taxes, and had been 4
resident of any county of the State
twelve months imm ediately preceding
| the day OF election, was entitled to
vote for members Of the House Of
| Commons, but an additional freehold
qualification OF fifty acres OF land was
required to vote for Senator.
It will thus be seen that free negro
males were equally entitled to vote
with white men. This had become an
intolerable nuisance. The free negro
voters seemed to be wholly incapable
of comprehending tie duties Of a citi-
zen; they became tools in the hands OF
demagogues, and, piled with whisley,
were driven to the polls Oh election
day, in herds as if they had been cat
tie. Yet some distinguished men III
the Convention of 1885, wishing to do
something for the elevation OF this
class, proposed to continue the sui
fraoe to such of them as might possess
a certain property qualification.
The Convention of 1885 changed the
Constitution of 1776 in the following
principal particulars:
It made Federal population tho ba
sis of representation in the Commons
It limited the number of Senators tt
fifty, and apportioned them through
out the State according to the proper
ton of taxes paid into the treasury o
counties thereof.
1t deprived the towns of representa-
ton in the Commons.
1t changed the elections and ses
sions of the Legislature from annua
to biennial, and took the election