Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-10-30

TO speak alit 10 act, tree 70
elect .na to se.",-t, We can al together
a body of man, of enlarged patriot
ism, eminent for virtues and interitv,
identified with our interests, who will
do no wrong, who will form a Coneti :
tuition adap ed to our wants, fully pro
| tecting, at the same time, the rights of
all without regard to race, color or pre-
vlous condition.
But it is objected that by the call
of u Convention, we will excite the
| fears of the negroes lest we may cur
tail their rights, and of the timid
among the whites, lest we may strike
the homestead provision from the Con-
stit'ttion. While it is admitted that
such fears are entirely groundless, t
Is suggested t'r"t they may, neverthe-
less, be worked upon To our injury.
Since the first hour that the negroes
became entitled to vote, they have vo-
ted as a unit. Devoid Of political i'll
tel,iGeuc", they have followed, us if
by animn instinct, the lead of the dis
honest polficians; who have, SO far as
in Their power lay ruined and dis
graced the state. We have allowed
the negro to be used as q bugbear
long enough. Never rntil we marched
up and met him at the "color-line"
which he had SO long dared us to ap-
proach, did we succeed in the political
contest. Whether we propose to mod
ify the Constitution by Legislative en-
actment, or by a Convention, we will
alike meet with his opposition, and
we are also to do without his sup
port.
The Constitution Of the United States
protects the rights of the negro; we
I I..l
we would not if we could. If he can
not understand and appreciate this, it
is hopeless task to tly to enlighten
him. The white people concede to the
negro an equality of political rights,
but are not willing that he should be
vested with more. They viii not bend |
their necks to the yoke of negro SUI
premacy. Ifthere is to be any suprem-
acy in North Carolina, let it be that of |
law, order and prosperity, and not
negro supremacy.
There Is not white voter of respec-
liability in North Carolina, who wonld
sustain any attempt to set aside the
clause of the constitution
70 exempt from execution real prop
erty in fee, of the value of one thou
sand dollars; and personal property of |
the value of five hundred dollars, has
become the fixed policy of the State,
and 1t Is not in the power of any man,
be he knave or fool, to delude the peo-
pie into the belief that the Conserva-
tive party desire to overturn that pol
icy, in the preservation of which, the
white man and not the negro, is
mainly Interested
But all such objections must be eff
fectually sllenced by the fact that it is
not necessary to submit the call of
Convention to the popular vote. If
two-thlrds of the Legislature should
be in favor of it, that will be proof
positive that it meets with the public
sanction. The demagogue will not
then have any opportunity to "ply his
VOCATION by working on the fears of
the ignorant and the timid. When
the Convention shall have done its
work, the people will have an opportu-
nifty thoroughly to examine it. They
will then see that the rights of the
races preserve their equality, and that
the Homestead is fixed on a sure and
solid basis.
He who now remains silent is dere-
let in the duty which. as a citizen, he
owes to his State Whether for, or
against, a Convention, we ought to
speak out like men, and give to each
other the benefit OF our counsel. For
this reason, and because Of the impor-
tance Of the subject, ] have examined
and dis cusscd it at much length. For
tune favCrS us-lct l.s meet her half
way.
"Vs,ioIn and fortune combating together;
II tIat th- !orra"r d ,r., 'rt " t.:,5 il can,
No chance may SiI tAc K =