Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-10-16

out success. They had turned from
side to side for relief, but found none.
No longer able to bear it, using the
power still happily left in them by the
laws, they now send to the Assembly
the suggestive number OF two-thirds
of Conservative Democrats opposed to
these laws and to this rule. This is
the way interpret the elections of the
summer.
If the work of changing the Consti-
tuition is lot done this winter it will
amount to an indefinite postponement.
It will be confession on the part of
the Conservative party that it is pow
erIess for good, and the good sense of
constituents will at once call for its
dissolution A two-thirds majority is
a rare providence in the history of par
ties in free governments. If we fail
to avail ourselves of it to accomplish
an acknowledged necessary good, it
would argue an indifference to the
to the future OF our State unworthy of
freemen.
The objection to a Convention aris-
ing from apprehensions, that certain
features in the Constitution, as it now
stands, might be interfered with
could be obviated in the organic law
of the Assembly by calling restrict
ed Convention. AS Convention can
only be legally constituted upon a
call of the Legislature, it follows that
any convention assembling without
call, or acting outside of the call,
| would be revolutionary and not constl-
tutional. The Convention called in
1885 was a astricted Convention. The
restriction was recognized as obliga-
| tory by the convention under the
| leadership of some of the greatest
minds North Carolina las ever pro-
duced. then in the Convention. L
| take it for granted, therefore, that q
Convention now called can be restrict
| ed from interfering with certain sub
| iects-as for instance, the condition OF
| the colored people Of the State and
| the homestead provision now made by
| law, and that such restriction would
| be scrupulously obeyed. Not that l
| think such restriction at all necessary;
! for the rights of the colored people are
secured by the Constitution of the
| United States which i he paramount
| law, and any change indeed would be
against the wishes OF our people; and the
homestead provision, is engraven
| deeply in the affections of all classes
of citizens, and no representative
body would dare to 60 contrary to this
| feeling. But nevertheless, to quiet
all apprehension let restricted Con-
ventior be called, and as an addi-
tional security, by all means, let the
Constitution, when amended. be sub
mitted to the people for their ap-
proval or rejection.
| It should be remembered that the
| Constitution cannot be changed ex-
cept when the dissatisfied party is in
two thirds majority and in posses
sion of the Incidental powers and per
quisites If this condition be "pcr
So" such . happy one that no amend
ment of the Constitution should be at
tempted, for fear of disturbing it, it
follows, logically. that we shall never
change our Constitution any more,
however much we may think it needed.
I conclude by repeating the sugges'
ton that tidal waves in politics are not
periodical as are the tides Of the ocean
They come now and then, when most
needed, and wise men avail themselves
Of them to get into a port of safety.
am, with much respect,
Your obedient servant,
NJ. e. MANLY.
VIII our Conservative exchanges IL
the State give their readers the bene
fit of Judge Nanly's views on the Con
| yontion 0restiOn