Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-11-27

them with tie same calmness of tenn
per with which they would treat an
event of daily occurrence.
It is great mistake, nay a grievous
blunder, 80 to interpret the late cleo
ton as to make it a check upon The
movement toward constitutional re-
form. Equally so is it TO hold that it
demands pause in the movement.
The true lesson of that election IS the
reverse of this. So lar from being
warning against proceeding ful ther, it
10 harbinger Reckoning and urging
us onward to all needed reform. 1t
demonstrates an awakening of the peo-
pie to true perception of the issues
of the day. It Is q proclamation by
them, that all things are now ready.
Not to see it, is to be blind TO the signs
of the times.
Again as to the objection of ''impol-
icy" let it suffice to Say that the prin-
ciples with which we have now to do,
unierlie all property and personal
rights; that they do not admit of tenn
perizing expedients and that they de-
mand perpetual assertion, and unceas-
ing effort to give them effect-to put
them in operation. If a free people
assume any other attitude in the pres
ence of such questions they forego
their highest rights; they ignore then
most solemn duty.
Another more tangible ground of
opposition assigned is, the supposed
popular apprehensions on account of
the Homestead" IF there be any
| foundation for tllis impression, the
difficulty can be easily obviated. The
convention can be called under the
| limitations and restrictions set forth in
the act of the Legislature. Accord
| ing to the theory of our government
| (the language will be recognized as
that of Judge Gaston) sail political
| power was derived from the people,
and when they choose to make a grant
of power, they may make plenary or
restricted grant ; they may give it all
or in part" The Convention Of 1885
established the precedent.
But if it were an open Convention,
there would not be the smallest danger.
There is not an enlightened man in
North Carolina who does not know
that the policy Of the "Honestea2" is
sanctioned by the spieIt Of the age; by
the judgment Of all right thinking
men and by the example Of many
States. There is no man, no matter
what his reputation OF past services,
| who does not know that he could not
stand an hour in opposition to the
Honest cad Nay, the combined OPP
position OF all that we have among us,
| however distinguished for talents or
virtue, could avail nothing il opposi-
ton. If our public men were opposed
would be, not only uugatory, but fatal
to themselves.
But our public men are in peIfec:
accord with the spirit of the age il
this matter. Accustomed to the con
sideration of the subjects OF I lis IA
ture, they appreciate tho Homestead
more highly thar tho people them
selves do generally. In its principle
as the sure refuge Of the family III
case Of disaster, it comnends itself tc
tho warmest approval of the good and
wise. Beyond al doubt, our public
men az a class need lis protection as
much as any other.
Further, this objection assumes or
ignorance on the part Of the people
which does not exist. They know theil
, power and that they can command the
fidelity of Legislators and delegates i
/ they were disposed to be unfaithfuf
They know that if the Homestead wer.
! not demanded by the 81 irit Of Chris
tian Jurisprudence, yet after a desolat
ing civil war, it would be a necessity
They know that once fixed it take,
/ deep root in the institutions OF the
country, and is to be rs enduring a
our granite hills.
But yet again: Who viii be the dele
: gates in that Convention ? a yer,
! - 4
; their usual callings; undistinguisheC
from their fellow men; one with them
in feeling and interest, nay, part o
the people themselves. When the dr.
ties, to which on account Of thei
! shall be delegated have been perform
ed, they will go back and n2ingl,
among the mass of their fellow citi
zens, Will return among the people ant
: become par. Of the people again. I:
anything to be feared from Conven
ton SO constituted -? Not until The
people conspire against themselves
not unless they shall be supposed t.
be capable of plotting thsir own dc
structiOn ,
It is said, and this objection weigh
most with many, that this question
ultt IiOC CillGI 1L1tO tI4S 1dtJ tilI ass
70 this the answer is obvious. TIL.
, Conservative party of North Carolin'
is By its very origin and antecedents {
party of reform. It owes its ascen
dancy this day to conviction on tho
part Of the people, that its mission i:
to redress the grievances under which
they now labor. From the hour of it!
formation it has, through the press
through the Legislature, and through
it's pubic speakers, held up these
grievances to the public view. It wa:
asserted all along that these grievance:
being unwraught in the present Con
stitution could only be adequately
dealt with by thepeope in Convention
assembled. It proposed a Convention
hut it was voted down on account of @
vague alarm about tie Homestead anG
the supposed attitude Of the Genera
Government. About the Homestead
there is no delusion to-day;it IS rccog
nized IS an intregal part of our insti-
tutions; it exists by a consent more
nearly universal than any part of oul
organic law. It will be as enduring
as the government itself The gen
eral government no longer carries any
!. terror IN this matter. The people fee
that they incur 10 danger in the exer
else CT constitutional privilege
} They realiZo that the good of the
whole is made up of its eeperate parts
They know that the interest of the
general government cannot be better
promoted in the State of North Caro-
lima than by the establishment OF a
government in unison with the feelings
the interests, the traditions of oul
J people. They know the establishment
of such government would do more
: than aLy thing else to build up and
develop the material resources of the
South-which is now the master
question in American politics, and the
one upon which the future ofAmericar
finance SO intimately depends-and
that in such an effort they could have
the support of two-th;rds of the peo
pie of the North.
:. But I have trespassed too long and
must conclude. The peopleu under the
teachings of the Conservative party
have been led to examine this COnsti
tuition and they have examined it well
j