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

Ing the fullest scope 10 LIS tocAnS0,
passions and prejudices if he be bad
man. Moreover, if the Judge be IN
competent. it stops the wheels OF JUS
tiee in one district, for a whole term
of eight years. This system has made |
the judicial tribunal, in certain parts
of our State, the butt OF popular rld1-
cule and contempt.
9Th. The highest of allhumen rights
are the rights of citizenship. They
we're accordingly guarded by the old
man with the faint Of crime upon him.
WAS allowed to exercise that sacred
right.
The new Constitution breaks down
all distinction between man and man
upon this point 1t gives the same
power over the State to convicted
felon, that it gives to the most vlrtu-
GUS citizen; that is the same power to
him vino is seeking to destroy, as 10
him who is seeking to preserve ana
build up the State. Is not this pro-
vision a commentary upon the char
acter of the men who framed this Con
stitution? Is it not declaration that
their own fate was involved, If any
rule of exclusion was adopted.
It'll. The rights and duties OF cltl.
zen are reciprocal. The exercise OF
rights should be contingent upon the
peformance of duties. No man should
be admitted to suffrage till his dues to
the State are paid; until his tax receipt
is exhibited. Nothing would lmpart
such value and dignity to the right OF
suffrage.
The present Constitution gives to
the man VINO contributes nothing to
State, to the idle, the triftiess, the
| worthless-the same control over Its
resources, that it gives the most care
| ful, prudent and conscientious Of its
| citizens. In the two particulars last
mentioned, the trainers OF the Constl-
| tuition virtually declare that in laying
| the foundations Of a Commonwealth
! integrity and honor should command
no peculiar respect, while industry,
| prudence and thrift are 10 account IN
| the practical workiugof a Government.
The non recognition Of moral principle
| except in empty phrases is the most
married. and abnorrent feature Of this
| Constitution to mo. Ii 1t not telling
like deadly poison upon our com
! munitv, in the melancholy decline OF
! public morality among us?
Sth. The old Constitution embraced
only those principles which are funda-
mental and permanent; those which
were only temporary and expedlent
were left to be changed or altered as
| the people might deem best.
The new Constitution disrcgards
this old aud well recognized distinct
ion; confounds organic and legislative
principles; and ties up, with jealous
| distrust, the popular branch Of the
| government, to which. indeed It Is
every where iuimicai.
! The evils Of this are many; let 1t
suffice TO mention two; its influence
upon immi8Ta.Ion; its effect upon the
introduction Of capital, and the estab-
lishment Of manufactures in our State.
1st. immigration ID the most I'M
perative need OF our Statc--we want
laborers and citizens to till the waste,
aud strengthen the Commonwealth.
There are only two methods by which
immigrants can lie scared, the State
having 10 public domain; one is pay
lug tho costs Of Transporting inmi
grants, the ether IS eXempting then
from taxation Tor q series Of years
Both have been tIicd il the past his
tory Of the country, tina latter success
fully.
From this latter resort our only
hopc 70 accomplish this great md vita
objective ere absolutely and Who'll,
Gus eli by CUR presant Constitution
OF the former it is useless to speak, il
tie prcstGate condition Of our people
2d. Many OF our si8tcr States are IL
viting and fostering manufactures b.
eaGrnpting them from taxation ior
term Of ycara.
, OrE pyescns Constitution leaEos =,
, such resource. We are bound Will
: letters. We can only stand by, i'm
: potent aud hopeless, while capital ant
Immigration flow into OursIster State
f peopliDg and enTichipg them.
I I have thus touched some OF tn
, most salient points. / hoped when
, ! 81 down to observe upon many others
= | fear to tresspaas on your pa5ienc
: AMI thel efcre pass on,
Y X will be observed that all that
: haze said is grounded upon the valid
, itv OF the constitutional amendment.
recently made. II these amendment
, are declared invalid by the Suprem
3 ! Court, rs it is now said they will be
then the Old question of the "Statt
3 Debt" Census" Annual Legislature
: &c. which we hoped had been disposed
OF, loom up again to view ID all thei
= dread proportions, and strengthe,
: the considerations here subnitte,
with irresistible force. There is the,
! no room for argument. The decision
, Of the people in favor Of Constitution
+ al Amendments has, in that state O
/ things. been authoritatively pronoun
ced. There is nothing LETT to discuss
q But admitting the decisive characte
I OF he objections to the present Consti
= tuition, shall the proposed changes b,
, made by Legislative action or by
: Convention?
, The method Of amendment by Leg
islative action is subject, IL my judg
= ,nent, TO the very graves5, nay, to IN
answerab!a objections. It boasts,
know, IA honorable pedigree. 1t i
! drawn from our old Constitution, int
: which it was inserted by the Conver
ton OF 35. But 10 those who know
. the circumstances under which it wa
adopted, It's principles will need vindi
6 cation, notwithstanding the soUrc,
, from which it comes. 1t was not in tn
, Constitution Of '7G; it was inserted
, into the Constitution Of IS against tn
views OF the Gblcst Statesman.
/ wonlG Io5 have been proposed at al
OuG Tor the opposing attitude OF th'
| East and West on one question. Tha
question. through the changes brough
about by the war, has passed away for
! ever. Is there anything in it's princi
p.o to recommend it to adoption ani
use? As I said, tho objections to til;
principle seem to me 20 be invincible
!, LIST. This method is too slow anG
cunbrous wEoa the necessity for {
, change in the Constitution is pressing
1t requires the cooperation OF the e.
ecativc, the Legislature and the PEG.
pie. First, action by the Legislature
then by the Executive; then by the
Legislature again, and lastly, by the
people. 1t thus requires years to con.
sumate ono reform. If there be any
merit in the. principle, it can only ap.
ply in cases when delay is of no vital
consequence.
Cd. 1t complexities questions of Or
gaaic law, with mere matters of ordin-
airy legislation; neither would there
fore receive that calm and deliberate
attention which questions of the form
phoroc tar -