Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-09-11
Q0lilulinotol1 goutnal.
WILMINGTON, N. @.
SEPTEMBER II, 1874.
,C11C CONVENTION QUESTION
TtlE CONSTITUTION.

It is true that the old proverb says
"Time cures all things" but In our
simplicity we had thought that carpet
bag and scallawag Constitutions would
prove to hard for the old man with the
scythe.
The experience of the past few
weeks, however. has begun to make Us
doubt whether the old man is not su-
perior even to Constitution imposed
upon a people at the point of Canbys
bayonets, or rather that experience IS
teaching us that other people seem to
think so.
The Constitution of North Carolina
was forced upon us by Canby's bayo-
nets after having been fixed up by
Convention Of carpet-baggers, negroes
md scalIawags, lot Of wretohes that
amused some Of their lie sure moments
by unmar. wing white people, and
others by marrying White folks and
negroes.
This Constitution, the Democratic
Conservative party las, with one con-
sent, denounced as oppressive, tyran1-
cal, injurious to the best interests CT
the State and of the people, and as
obstructive to every effort at reform
and good government. Whenever the
question has been asked, why these
much needed reforms have not been
made, the reply has been. invariably,
"the villainous Radical Constitution
stands in the way of the Legislature,
and holds it impotent and powerless
for good" And but that there
was thruth in this reply, the
Democratic Conservative party ought
long ago to have been called to strict
account, for the reason that for four
years it has had charge of the Leglsla-
ture. Four years are certainly suffi-
ent for party, that has the power to
give relief, to devise some proper mode
in which to exercise that power IN
favor of people suffering under gre
vious burdens. For four years the
Democratic-Co Conservative party has
had control of the Legislature OF
North Carolina, and its only sufficient
excuse that it has not done more for
the people is and has been that under
the Candy Constitution it has no: had
the power to do more.
But the times change and we change
with them. Our Constitution "devll,
some seem to think is not half SO black
as he has been painted. On the other
hand the people are gravely told 1t
will be better for them to bear the ills
they have, than to fly to others they
know not Of They are told also that
as they have submitted TO tie lnta-
nous uutrages for several years III the
past they can do SO for several years
in the future. They have read that
one good turn deserves another, but
this looks as if the rule was that one
bad turn deserved another. The peo-
pie are told further that having stood
the Constitution during the Holden
Kirk war it will not be difficult to stand
it in these dull, piping times o. ,r"ace.
Experience is doubtless a most excel
lent teacher, but to say the lea't Of
it the school is very high-priced one.
We very much doubt, too, the
value of that knowledge that tells
a people how to submit to wrong,
and outrage, and oppression when
they have in their hands ample
power to assert and maintain their
rights and privileges as freemen. We
ledge-in other words we cannot see
why Constitution that permitted, III
the interest of the Radical party, the
Holden Kirk war in 1870 should not be
changed in 1874, when the Democratic
Conservative party has come into
power.
Others stu speak Of entertaining
"grave doubts" whether the people
would sustain q call for a Convention
Us if bill calling Convention, passed
by two-thirls OF each House of the
Legislature was not a tinality, but had
to be submitted to tie people for rati-
fcation
Others counsel harmony il our
ranks and express the hope that as the
party is not unanimous in opinion on
the point the "a9itation" and discus
sion Of the Convention question will
cease. Now peace and harmony are,
indeed, necessary to all well regulated
institutions. but we respectfully and
most deferentially submit it is rather
a cool proceeding for certain members
of party to say in effect to certain
other members harmony is essential
we oppose the Convention we intend
to oppose it !; now, therefore, if you
love the party and would preserve it's
harmony you too must oppose it. Har-
mony, dear brethren, harmony" We |
rather think such proceeding is both
cool and thin.
Others tell us the discussion about |
calling Convention is rather useless, |
rs there is no prospect of getting a
two-thirds vote. Doubtless that mo |
prospect ought to settle the matter.
Unfortunately, however, it does not;
for some people take the liberty of
thinking for themselves, and SO think
ing consider that with a clear two
thirds Democratic Conservative ma
jority of each House there is some
prospect of getting the required vote.
Others tell us that the necessary
changes can be made better and cheap
er, if not quicker, by Legislative enact
ment. than by a Convention. They
forget, however, to say that while the
Convention will not cost more than
300 par day, one House only of the
Legislature will cost that much, and
} forget also to tell the people ..
! i'erein consist the advantages a Leg
stature has over a Convention, in {
making Con Stitutioua1 Anap1n,a,@. I